David Coffey – författare

David Coffey considers the full range of issues surrounding the Trinity, one of the central doctrines of Christian faith. He looks at these issues in historical and ecumenical context, with the goal of arriving at a balanced vision that incorporates the insights of both the Western and Eastern churches. In particular, he keeps in sight both the immanent aspect of the Trinity (the Godhead considered in itself) and the Trinity's economic aspect (its role within the economy of salvation). He also suggests a way to resolve the ecumenical problem of Filioquism vs. Monopatrism -- the issue that has divided East from West for nearly a millennium.

Recent years have seen a resurgence of interest in the doctrine of the Trinity, following a long period in which it was considered irrelevant to the rest of theology and to the challenge of Christian life. In this book, David Coffey claims that this resurgence is caused by a renewed appreciation of the fact that salvation itself has a Trinitarian structure. He argues that we cannot understand salvation without a solid understanding of the Trinity. Coffey considers the full range of issues surrounding this central doctrine of Christian faith. Viewing the doctrine of the Trinity in its historical and ecumenical context, he seeks to arrive at a balanced vision that incorporates the insights of both the Western and the Eastern Churches. In particular, he wants to keep in sight both the immanent Trinity (the Godhead considered in itself) and the economic Trinity (that is, its role within the economy of salvation). In Coffeys own model of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is seen as the objectivization of the mutual love of the Father and the Son. This idea is most closely associated with St. Augustine and Richard of St. Victor. Coffey, however, takes it much further, presenting it as an explanation of the origin of the Son and the Holy Spirit and of the manner of operation of the Trinity in the economy. From this model, he is also able to derive a suggestion for resolving the ecumenical problem of Filioquism vs. Monopatrism (concerning the procession of the Holy Spirit)-- the issue that has divided East from West for nearly a millennium. Presenting a new perspective on a topic of renewed theological interest, this comprehensive study has important implications for ecumenical discussions of the Trinity.

This is a new, that is, corrected and updated, edition of a book first published in 1979. It has been recast in inclusive language. As a systematic treatment of the theology of grace, it concentrates on what may be termed the key question in this branch of theology, the person of Jesus as the arena where the full drama of the interaction of God and humanity is played out. The book breaks new ground in that it attacks the long-standing dichotomy between the Incarnation and grace, and offers a new principle of synthesisation. This principle is that the Holy Spirit is Spirit of Sonship primarily for Jesus himself, so that it is the creative outpouring of the Spirit on him by the Father that brings about the Incarnation. The Spirit is seen as the Spirit of filiation for others only in function of his role in relation to Jesus. A more profound interpretation of the patristic expression ""sons and daughters in the Son"" emerges from this study. While the book is situated in the Catholic tradition, its ecumenical implications are manifold.

The beautiful and mysterious Princess Agnes Salm-Salm captivated East Coast society for a decade after 1861. She played a sometimes controversial, often conspicuous, and always colorful role in three of the century's major events: the American Civil War, the fall of Maximilian's empire in Mexico, and the Franco-Prussian War. An alluring American woman with an unknown past, she married a German soldier of fortune who served in the Union army and happened also to be a minor prince. Stories showed her alongside her husband in battle areas, treating the wounded and using her beauty and assertiveness to seek his professional advancement. Her exploits in Mexico included extravagant and verifiable efforts to save Maximilian from execution. As in the modern cases of Princess Grace of Monaco or Princess Diana of Great Britain, the contemporary fascination with this princess reveals something of the American desire for a paradoxical mix of aristocratic royalty with republican boldness.