THEOLOGY IN THREE DIMENSIONS (Review)

One would expect to see God’s fingerprints and footprints all over His handiwork. By giving us, if you will, a God’s-eye view of things, John Frame, by his “Triperspectivalism”, shows us how creation reflects the triune God. Each member of the trinity of perspectives is looking inward from each one of the three points of an equilateral triangle: Situational Perspective, Normative Perspective, Existential Perspective. As per the equal ultimacy of the One and the Many, each perspective is equal to the others. No perspective lords it over the others. Thus, Triperspectivalism.

The book provides a helpful glossary at the end of each chapter. “Situational Perspective. A perspective of knowledge in which we focus on the objects in the world. Normative Perspective. A perspective of knowledge in which we focus on the world as a revelation of God’s will. Existential Perspective. A perspective of human knowledge, focusing on our internal experience in close proximity to God’s presence.” Thus, Triperspectivalism focuses on objects in the world, while understanding the world as a revelation of the will of God, while internally experiencing a God’s-eye view, processes this knowledge in God’s presence.

The equilateral triangle contains the objects, from the whole of which, God’s will can be seen by focusing on our experience under God’s watchful eye. The word “theology” in the book’s title, “Theology in Three Dimensions” lets us know that we are studying God and His creation in light of Scripture.

I hope I have not anywhere misconstrued any of Dr Frame’s teachings in this brief review of his book. I have merely tried to summarize them. Forgive me if I’ve misunderstood or mistakenly misstated anything. Our God is most gracious and He is triune. Theology in Three Dimensions has helped greatly to deepen my knowledge of Him, His creation, and me.