Experiencing The Trinity Analysis

The important role that healthy interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships play is depicted in the model of the Trinity. According to Darrell Johnson’s Experiencing the Trinity, “we are created and redeemed to enter into the love each person of the Trinity has for the other” (64). This statement encompasses both intrapersonal and interpersonal interactions. The Trinity is one; thus the love that each person in the Trinity has towards another person in the Trinity is the love that the Trinity has for itself as a whole. In essence, the Trinity relates to itself with love. Johnson’s statement also makes it clear that there is an interpersonal relational aspect to the model of the Trinity. God created people to enter into the love that the Trinity holds for itself. Thus, this model of the Trinity stresses both the …show more content…
In his description of the first meeting between Adam and Eve from Adam’s viewpoint, he includes Adam’s response to Eve. Adam states “Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, my self- / Before me: Woman is her name, of Man- / Extracted” (8.495-496). In essence, Adam views Eve as an exact reflection of himself. He considers her a part of himself, extracted from himself, thus he views Eve as an essential part of his being. Consequently, Adam relates to Eve in the way that he would relate to himself. Therefore, the prioritization of Adam’s relationship with Eve also suggests the prioritization of Adam’s relationship with himself. This model goes directly against Johnson’s doctrine of the Trinity. According to Johnson people are “co-lovers with God of God” (65). Therefore, people are invited to love God as God loves himself. Milton reveals Adam’s tendency to love himself more than other through his prioritization of certain relationships over others. Thus, Milton also defines unhealthy intrapersonal interactions as a mis-prioritization of