Augustine's treatise on the Trinity was very insightful and helped me to further my knowledge of God. The beginning was especially good, however, as he went further into writing, he spent a lot of time showing trinities in man and then stating that they were not good models of the Divine Trinity. Those sections we're less helpful. Overall, I felt exhorted and edified.

Excellent. The first eight books are far surpassing the latter seven in terms of theological discourse and unique insights into trinitarian theology. The second half of the book is mostly a very Augustinian deviation from the subject in order to explore the trinitarian image of God ingrained in the human mind. The final books however make the latter half absolutely worthwhile.

Augustine models a thorough, rigorous theological reasoning that is likewise orthodox and pious. He has much to teach us all. I read it mostly for a Theology of Augustine course with Dr. Michael Haykin in college but left a few of the psychological books in the middle to read later.

I would most enthusiastically recommend it for any serious student of theology.

Augustine’s treatise on the Blessed Trinity is not his most famous work, but it may be his most important for Christians because he was so pivotal in shaping trinitarian theology in the western Church. This work was the primary textbook for a required course on the Trinity in my graduate theology program, and despite the difficulty or complete opacity of many passages, Augustine opened my eyes to the glory and perfection of the Trinity revealed both in orthodox Christian teaching and even in our own human nature. And being Augustine, he frequently gives vent to his passionate love for the triune God with beautiful, mind-bending, extremely quotable quotes like “[I]n the supreme triad one is as much as three are together, and two are not more than one, and in themselves they are infinite. So they are each in each and all in each, and each in all and all in all, and all are one.”

If you love wrestling with meaty philosophical texts, The Trinity is for you. Augustine, of course, gives a dogmatic introduction to Christian teaching on the Trinity, but he spends much of the work unfolding revealed truth with the tools available to him in Greek philosophy. The commentary is invaluable, providing insights into Augustine’s thinking and the theological battles in which he engaged.

Edmond Hill’s translation is clear and (relatively) easy to grasp for the modern reader, though if you’ve grown to love Augustine’s spiritual classics with all the “these” and “thous,” this version may seem a bit jarring for you.

had us in the first half ngl

Hilary is sometimes designated “the Athanasius of the West.” But I submit this fails to do justice to the vigor of Hilary’s own theological, philosophical, and exegetical refutation of the Arians. This book is rigorous, thorough, and readable. I prefer it to Athanasius’ Four Discourses Against the Arians, which is itself an excellent work.

A standard of Western trinitarian theology. I am not convinced by the logic of the double procession (of the Spirit from the Father and Son), but to his credit, Augustine stops short of the ill-fated step of making it necessary to secure the Son’s equality with the Father.

The Hill translation provides copious introductory material and commentary. These are so helpful, they nearly make up for Hill’s pretension. By Hill’s reading every writer before Augustine, and every commentator on Augustine before himself, was a buffoon.

Upon reading the first 8 books of Augustin’s ‘On The Trinity’ it’s hard to know what I have learned. In many ways I may ask ‘have I been left with more questions then answers? At times reading this work was frustrating and I found myself saying out loud “What on earth are you talking about you mad man?”. I suffered many times from major reading fatigue because it’s one thing to read these words, but another thing to comprehend Augustin’s intent and the context in which he writes.

On the upside, reading this work was like tirelessly raking leaves only to find gold hidden just below the surface. At times I found myself ‘raking’ glazed eyed whilst letting my mind wander, only to look down and see the end of my rake caught on a hefty gold nugget.

I was struck and refreshed by Augustin’s confidence in the word of God. His humility and desperation to find truth from scripture was strewn throughout. Likewise his personal humility and weakness was evident as he sort to “put into words that which cannot be put into words” and “to comprehend that which cannot be comprehended”.

Many times I was struck by the depth and glory of God and how he can be understood. This then was closely followed by the end of my own comprehension where I was left in awe at the majesty and immensity of our creator and saviour! He is both (somehow) fully comprehendible yet profoundly incomprehensible.

It's incredible how much we still hold to 1700 years later that is hidden in this (and in many other works by Augustin). I thank God for the truths contained in these writings.

The main helpful take home points for me were:

1) The trinity is a society within an essence – three persons in one.
2) This is not only the doctrine of the trinity but by His very nature this is a doctrine of divine eternity.
3) Jesus is light of light. He is the ‘brightness’ of the light of the Father.

While I am usually a big fan of Gussy's works, this volume is a very boring read. So much so, that I would not advise reading it in bed while smoking a cigar. Nonetheless, it contains many valuable theological insights. It is wise to read large portions of it at once because if you try reading small portions over a long period of time, it becomes very wearisome.

The most challenging of all St Augustine's works I have read to date. The problem is, simply, that he failed in his efforts to describe and understand The Holy Trinity. It's not, however, that he failed to prove its existence - it was never in doubt, that was not the issue.

"I found that no adequate expression followed whatever understanding I came to; and I was only too well aware that my attempt even to understand involved more effort than result." (p. 435)

But still, a great book, and an honor to be privy to the deepest thoughts of one of history's greatest saints and philosophers.

What words should I use to describe this fascinating work? What review could do it justice? One might be fooled by the title into thinking that this work is only about the Trinity. It is, yet it isn't. It is also about justice, happiness, and the clash of wills. What we tend to pull apart Augustine brings together, developing a stirring account of salvation, the human person, and the doctrine of the Trinity. Augustine develops a profoundly integrated vision of the Christian life and how we should seek that eternity, wisdom, and happiness, the Trinity who is God.

Finished! (Minus the intro, not by Augustine). I read this off and on over the course of about two and a half years. I enjoyed the earlier part much more than the latter which extended either beyond my comprehension or attention span or both. I'm an Augustine fan, but this seemed way longer than was necessary.

Augustine's work on the trinity is obviously a classic and hugely important to Christian theology. It's well worth reading what he actually says rather than just encountering his thoughts via secondary sources that sum up (and therefore often oversimplify or mischaracterize) this massive and complex work. What I particularly want to praise about this book is the translation, notes, and introductory essays which Edmund Hill has provided. This is THE translation to get! It's worth buying just for the introduction. HIGHLY recommended for anyone interested in this most central of all Christian doctrines.