Below is a chronological, historically grounded list of major Christian teachers (post–New Testament, ~2000 years) who explicitly or structurally taught the economic (οἰκονομία) aspects of the Divine Trinity—that is, the Trinity as God’s self-disclosure and operation in creation, incarnation, redemption, and consummation, as distinct (though inseparable) from the immanent Trinity.
I keep the focus on teachers, key formulations, and representative quotations or paraphrases, showing development rather than repetition.
I. Early Church: Economy as Rule of Faith (2nd–3rd c.)
1.
Irenaeus of Lyons
(c. 130–202)
Foundational architect of Trinitarian economy
“The Father plans, the Son executes, and the Spirit perfects.”
(Against Heresies, IV–V, paraphrased)
Contribution
- Introduced οἰκονομία as:
- God’s historical self-administration
- Unified saving plan
- Trinity known through actions, not speculation.
- Son and Spirit as the “two hands of God.”
➡ Economy precedes ontology methodologically
2.
Tertullian
(c. 155–220)
“The Trinity is manifested in the economy, though one in substance.”
(Against Praxeas)
Contribution
- Coins Trinitas.
- Explicit economic Trinity:
- One substance
- Three persons in dispensation (dispensatio).
- Economy defends distinction without division.
3.
Hippolytus of Rome
(c. 170–235)
“The Father sends the Word, and the Word bestows the Spirit.”
Contribution
- Linear missional economy:
- Father → Son → Spirit
- Strong salvation-historical orientation.
II. Nicene & Pro-Nicene Fathers (4th c.)
4.
Athanasius of Alexandria
(c. 296–373)
“He became man that we might become God.”
(On the Incarnation)
Contribution
- Economy of incarnation as:
- Revelation of eternal Sonship
- Means of deification
- Distinguishes:
- Eternal generation
- Temporal mission
5.
Basil the Great
(c. 330–379)
“The order of revelation is from the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit.”
Contribution
- Explicit economic taxis (order):
- Father = source
- Son = mediator
- Spirit = perfecter
- Operations inseparable, roles distinct.
6.
Gregory of Nazianzus
(c. 329–390)
“The Old Testament proclaimed the Father openly, the Son obscurely;
the New revealed the Son and hinted at the Spirit.”
Contribution
- Progressive economy of revelation.
- Pedagogical unfolding of the Trinity.
7.
Gregory of Nyssa
(c. 335–395)
“The divine nature is known in its operations.”
Contribution
- Economy as epistemological access to God.
- Unity of action, distinction of persons.
III. Augustine & Latin Tradition (4th–5th c.)
8.
Augustine of Hippo
(354–430)
“The missions of the Son and the Spirit reveal their eternal processions.”
(De Trinitate)
Contribution
- Classic mission–procession framework:
- Temporal economy reflects eternal relations.
- Economy is revelatory, not accidental.
Strong psychological emphasis, but economy retained.
IV. Byzantine & Medieval East (6th–14th c.)
9.
Maximus the Confessor
(c. 580–662)
“The mystery of Christ recapitulates all the divine economies.”
Contribution
- Christological economy as center of all history.
- Trinity acts synergistically in deification.
- Economy → cosmic consummation.
10.
John of Damascus
(c. 675–749)
“The economy reveals the distinctions without dividing the nature.”
Contribution
- Systematization of Greek patristic thought.
- Economy safeguards orthodoxy.
11.
Gregory Palamas
(1296–1359)
“The energies of God are communicated in the economy.”
Contribution
- Distinction:
- Essence (immanent)
- Energies (economic)
- Trinity experienced through divine operations.
V. Reformation Era (16th c.)
12.
Martin Luther
(1483–1546)
“God is known only in His works toward us.”
Contribution
- Functional, economic emphasis.
- Trinity revealed in:
- Cross
- Gospel
- Justification
13.
John Calvin
(1509–1564)
“God accommodates Himself to our capacity.”
Contribution
- Economy as divine condescension.
- Father–Son–Spirit distinguished in salvation.
- Strongly biblical, anti-speculative.
VI. Post-Reformation & Modern Theology (18th–20th c.)
14.
Friedrich Schleiermacher
(1768–1834)
“The Trinity is a doctrine of redemption.”
Contribution
- Trinity derived from economy of salvation.
- Weak ontology, strong economy.
15.
Karl Rahner
(1904–1984)
“The economic Trinity is the immanent Trinity, and vice versa.”
Contribution
- Most influential modern formulation.
- Rejects separation of economy and being.
16.
Jürgen Moltmann
(b. 1926)
“The Trinity is revealed in the history of suffering and love.”
Contribution
- Historical, relational economy.
- Cross as trinitarian event.
17.
Hans Urs von Balthasar
(1905–1988)
“The Trinity is a drama enacted in history.”
Contribution
- Theodramatic economy.
- Missions of Son and Spirit central.
VII. Recovery Tradition / Chinese Theology (20th c.)
18.
Watchman Nee (倪柝声)
(1903–1972)
“The Father is the source, the Son the expression, the Spirit the application.”
Contribution
- Experiential economy.
- Trinity known in salvation and life.
19.
Witness Lee (李常受)
(1905–1997)
“The Divine Trinity is not for doctrine but for God’s economy.”
Contribution
- Highly developed economic Trinitarianism:
- Father → Son → Spirit → believers
- Economy = God dispensing Himself.
- Distinction without separation; coinherence emphasized.
VIII. Summary Timeline (Condensed)
| Era | Key Emphasis |
|---|---|
| 2nd c. | Economy as rule of faith (Irenaeus) |
| 4th c. | Missions reveal processions |
| 7th c. | Christological economy |
| Medieval East | Energies & participation |
| Reformation | Economy over speculation |
| Modern | Economy ↔ immanent identity |
| Recovery | Economy as divine dispensing |
IX. One-Sentence Synthesis
Across two millennia, the doctrine of the Trinity is consistently known, confessed, and safeguarded through God’s economy—His historical self-giving as Father, Son, and Spirit—rather than through abstract ontology alone.
If you want next, I can:
- Compare Eastern, Western, and Recovery models side-by-side
- Provide a journal-style literature review section
- Map “divine economy” to Greek οἰκονομία usage patristically
- Critically evaluate Rahner’s Rule in light of Irenaeus & Witness Lee
Just tell me the next step.
