An Investigation on the Trinitarian Difference between Karl Barth and Jürgen Moltmann

Abstract

Jürgen Moltmann positively imbibed the theological perspective of Karl Barth, newly interpreted Barth’s theology from his Sitz Im Leben, and proposed his own specific theological thoughts. Concerning the doctrine of the Trinity, however, Moltmann castigated Barth’s Trinitarian perspective as Monarchianism, pointing out that there is no theological reflection on the personhood of the Holy Spirit in his understanding of the Trinity. Instead, Moltmann suggested that we should begin with the economic Trinity to arrive at the immanent Trinity, which includes the personhood of the Holy Spirit. That is to say, we can understand the personhood of the Holy Spirit through an investigation of the Monarchial, historical, eucharistic Trinity to the doxological Trinity, transcending the economic Trinity. This article aims at investigating the difference between Karl Barth’s and Jurgen Moltmann’s perspectives of the Trinity. While Barth focuses on the divine unity of the Three Persons found in the jargons of the “three modes” and “repetition of God,” Moltmann strives to interpret the Trinity from the perspectives of pneumatology, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, ecology, eschatology. Such a comprehensive Trinity challenges us to review the immanent Trinity from the perspective of the economic Trinity. We must synthesize these strong points of the Trinity proposed by these two theologians. Moreover, through forming a dialogue between Barth/Moltmann and other evangelical theologians, the Christian community strongly stands on a Trinitarian basis.