THE GIFT OF PARTICIPATION: ON THE TRIUNE GOD AND THE CHRISTIAN MORAL LIFE

This paper argues for an affirmation as well as a qualification of a relational understanding of the Trinity through the notion of participation. This suggests that the “analogy” between the Trinity and the Christian moral life is not merely about correspondence that requires imitation, or about the funding of the moral imagination with metaphors, images and stories, but about participation in the Triune life. This claim is developed mainly in conversation with two recent studies in trinitarian theology, namely These Three Are One by David Cunningham and Participating in God by Paul Fiddes. The paper also argues that participation in the Triune life is a participation through the Spirit. Without such a pneumatological focus – without the gift of the Spirit – the moral life is robbed of the resources that enable a life of freedom, responsibility, generous hospitality and joy. Participation is, however, not a vague “spiritual” notion, because the participation in the Triune life through the Spirit is a participation in Christ. This participation is, as suggested by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a participation in reality. It is a participation in life