Regarding “Holy paradox, essential truth” (March 5): If one assumes the doctrine of the Trinity is a transcendently true, unquestioned given, then of course it is possible to plug in New Testament language and have a biblical statement. However, Trinity language is a human creation. It was suggested in the fourth century C.E. by three men known as the Cappadocian Fathers. Using the philosophical assumptions of their day, they suggested “one God in three Persons” to express the relationship of Jesus to God and Spirit. This formula expressed the relationships as one substance with three manifestations, although how to express the differences provoked debate.

Since the Cappadocians’ formula came from their philosophical context, in other contexts it is possible to discuss the relationship of God to Jesus without being beholden to their language. Already in the New Testament the resurrection displays that God was in the story of Jesus and that Jesus’ story is God’s story.

J. Denny Weaver, Madison, Wis