Offers a new historical model explaining how the concept of the Trinity first emerged. It explores how early Christian authors came to the conclusion that the one God must be differentiable as three distinct persons through reading the Old Testament.

• Introduction


• 1: Reading as Birth - The Trinity Emerges


• 2: Divine Dialogues from the Dawn of Time


• 3: Theodramatic Stratagems - The Son's Mission


• 4: Cross-Shaped Conversations


• 5: Praise for Rescue


• 6: Triumphant Talks


• 7: Reading God Right


• Epilogue: The Read God


• References


• Index of Biblical References


• Index of Other Ancient Sources


• Index of Modern Authors Cited


• Index of Concepts and Other Names

Matthew W. Bates is Assistant Professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois