The Trinity Debates is a series of discussions on challenging issues related to the church, theology, and the Christian life. These conversations include presentations by experts followed by a time of open discussion. This debate series is intended to be a community resource which fosters deeper reflection and dialogue on difficult topics. All Trinity Debates will be free and open to the public.
PAST DEBATES
February 3, 2010 | How and When Will All Israel Be Saved? A Theological/Missiological Conversation on Scripture, the End-Times, and Jewish Evangelism
Location | ATO Chapel (TEDS)
Participants | Dr. Mitch Glaser (Chosen People Ministries); Dr. Douglas Moo (Wheaton College); Dr. Willem VanGemeren (TEDS); Dr. John Feinberg (TEDS)
Moderator | Dr. Richard Averbeck (TEDS)
On February 3, 2010 from 7pm-9:30 in ATO Chapel at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, the Henry Center, in conjunction with Chosen People Ministries, hosted a conversation entitled “‘All Israel’ and the Church: A Conversation on Scripture, Eschatology, and Evangelism”. Conversational partners included Dr. Mitch Glaser of CPM, Dr. Douglas Moo of Wheaton College, Dr. Willem VanGemeren of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Dr. John Feinberg of TEDS, and the moderator, Dr. Richard Averbeck of TEDS. The event was free and open to the public.
The following provided avenues for discussion:
- In Romans 11 Paul makes the case that God has not cast off his people Israel, despite their rejection as a nation of Jesus, their Messiah. His final argument that God isn’t finished with Israel is that “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:25-27). What did Paul mean and how will this come to pass? Who constitutes “Israel,” the biological seed of Abraham or his spiritual seed? Is the salvation in view spiritual, national, socio-economical, or all of these? Has this promise been fulfilled during the NT era by individual Jews and Gentiles turning to Christ and hence “filling up” the “all Israel?” Or is the promise to be fulfilled in the end-times at the return of Christ? If the latter, will only those biologically Jewish be saved, or will there also be a massive turning to Christ among the Gentiles? Whatever the answers to such questions, what are the implications for how Christians should understand the modern state of Israel? And, of most practical importance, how should one’s understanding of Rom 11:25-27 impact one’s attitudes toward and efforts in evangelizing Jews?
The event was webcasted live and live-blogged by the Center.
October 9, 2008 - 7:00pm | Do relations of authority and submission exist eternally among the Persons of the Godhead?
Location | TEDS Chapel (TEDS)
Participants | Dr. Bruce Ware (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) and Dr. Wayne Grudem (Phoenix Seminary) versus Dr. Tom McCall (TEDS) and Dr. Keith Yandell (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
This debate followed current argumentation in the academic sphere between the two sides. Though a theological exchange between expert scholars, the event proved beneficial for Christians of all backgrounds. The doctrine of the Trinity is at the heart of the Christian faith and takes into account questions of scriptural interpretation, theological synthesis, and philosophical reasoning. Determining the identities and roles of the persons of the Godhead is thus of great importance not only to the academician, but to the pastor, the layperson, the student and all who would seek to probe and comprehend the beautiful complexity of orthodox Christianity.
The debate was lively, informative, charitable, enjoyable, and, we trust, helpful to all in attendance.
April 10, 2008 - 7:00 pm | Can a Christian be a Religious Pluralist?
Location | Kantzer Lecture Hall (TEDS)
Participants | Dr. Paul Knitter (Paul Tillich Chair of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary) versus Dr. Harold Netland (Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies and Naomi A. Fausch Chair of Missions, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)
John 3:16 is undoubtedly among the most famous Bible passages of all time: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” But what happens to those who do not believe in Jesus? Is belief in the person and work of Jesus the only way to please God and thereby gain everlasting life? Or might Christians allow for the possibility that other pathways can lead to gaining God’s favor as well? What happens to people who haven’t heard the Gospel of Christ, who haven’t understood it, or who, for whatever reason, have chosen to pursue God from one of the many other (explicitly non-Christian) religious alternatives?
In this debate, Drs. Harold Netland and Paul Knitter probed these and other questions as part of the annual Trinity Debates. Formally, the evening featured a debate over the question, “Can a Christian be a Religious Pluralist?” What occurred was a passionate and engaging dialogue between two of Christendom’s most notable thinkers on the right relationship of Christianity to other religions. Dr. Knitter argues that a Christian can be a religious pluralist, while Dr. Netland suggests that a Christian cannot.
Paul Knitter is the Paul Tillich Chair of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary, and author of numerous books, including No Other Name? (NY: Orbis Books, 1985; now in its 11th printing).
Harold Netland is Professor of Philosophy of Religion and Intercultural Studies and Naomi A. Fausch Chair of Missions at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of Encountering Religious Pluralism (Downers Grove: IVP, 2001).
