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Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith
In this brief and winsome book, Michael Reeves presents an introduction to the Christian faith that is rooted in the triune God. He takes cues from preachers and teachers down through the ages, setting key doctrines of creation, the person and work of Christ, and life in the Spirit into a simple framework of the Christian life. A rich and enjoyable read on the basic beliefs of Christianity that avoids dumbing down its profound and life changing truths.
135 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2012
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About the author
Michael Reeves
76 books576 followersMichael Reeves (PhD, King's College, London) is President and Professor of Theology at Union School of Theology in the UK (www.ust.ac.uk). He is Director of the European Theologians Network, and speaks and teaches regularly worldwide. Previously he has been Head of Theology for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship and an associate minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,435 reviews
November 7, 2019
Incredible. Insightful.
Never have those two words been such an understatement.
This is the gold standard for what theology books should do and be. Simple. Clear. Profound. Accessible. Inspiring. Witty. WELL-WRITTEN.
Never have those two words been such an understatement.
This is the gold standard for what theology books should do and be. Simple. Clear. Profound. Accessible. Inspiring. Witty. WELL-WRITTEN.
October 24, 2016
A winsome introduction to basic Christian thinking. Very enjoyable.
June 16, 2021
First thoughts: Whoa. Just whoa.
Further thoughts, a week later:
I once thought that (to use Michael Reeves' own words) the Trinity was a strange "appendage" or "awkward math," useful only for those who were super into deep theological debates. Reeves has utterly convinced me that the Trinity is the foundation of everything I enjoy in my faith: that it is essential, and that it is SO, SO GOOD.
That being said, it is hard to wrap my head around. Like C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity, I'm like a two-dimensional personality trying to understand a three-dimensional one. After reading the chapter about what God was doing before creation, I was still struggling to understand, and I said to myself, "Mmmmmaybe this book is like one of those board games where you have to actually play a few rounds in order to understand the basics." Good news: it was! By the end of the book, and several re-reads of the "Before Creation" chapter later, I may still not fully understand the Trinity itself, but I do delight in the Trinity. Mission accomplished.
My friend Denham is right in his observation that this book is almost like a Trinity apologetics course. Reeves consistently loves to show how the universe and the Gospel as we know it only make sense with Trinitarian theology. I also discovered that I, too, was often living under more of a "single-person" God model than the true Trinitarian God. If you struggle with believing God finds you disappointing or trivial, if you've ever thought the word "task-master" about Him or the word "pawn" about yourself, if you have a hard time believing that the king of the universe loves you specifically, you may benefit from this book as much as I did.
I will also add this: Reeves is delightful. He's charming and understandable (as much as one can be about the Trinity). He not only knows church history, but he also LOVES church history like I've never seen anyone love church history before. So throughout the book, you get these text boxes distilling a famous moment or debate within church history, often with a fun image, which gives the book the feel of an excited professor giving a presentation that he is super stoked about.
I have already had cause to think of this book's teaching as a source of comfort several times a week since I finished it. I think it will continue to inform and enrich my life for a long while.
Further thoughts, a week later:
I once thought that (to use Michael Reeves' own words) the Trinity was a strange "appendage" or "awkward math," useful only for those who were super into deep theological debates. Reeves has utterly convinced me that the Trinity is the foundation of everything I enjoy in my faith: that it is essential, and that it is SO, SO GOOD.
That being said, it is hard to wrap my head around. Like C. S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity, I'm like a two-dimensional personality trying to understand a three-dimensional one. After reading the chapter about what God was doing before creation, I was still struggling to understand, and I said to myself, "Mmmmmaybe this book is like one of those board games where you have to actually play a few rounds in order to understand the basics." Good news: it was! By the end of the book, and several re-reads of the "Before Creation" chapter later, I may still not fully understand the Trinity itself, but I do delight in the Trinity. Mission accomplished.
My friend Denham is right in his observation that this book is almost like a Trinity apologetics course. Reeves consistently loves to show how the universe and the Gospel as we know it only make sense with Trinitarian theology. I also discovered that I, too, was often living under more of a "single-person" God model than the true Trinitarian God. If you struggle with believing God finds you disappointing or trivial, if you've ever thought the word "task-master" about Him or the word "pawn" about yourself, if you have a hard time believing that the king of the universe loves you specifically, you may benefit from this book as much as I did.
I will also add this: Reeves is delightful. He's charming and understandable (as much as one can be about the Trinity). He not only knows church history, but he also LOVES church history like I've never seen anyone love church history before. So throughout the book, you get these text boxes distilling a famous moment or debate within church history, often with a fun image, which gives the book the feel of an excited professor giving a presentation that he is super stoked about.
I have already had cause to think of this book's teaching as a source of comfort several times a week since I finished it. I think it will continue to inform and enrich my life for a long while.
November 23, 2020
Que livro!!!! Lendo coisas assim eu compreendo mais claramente que conhecer a Deus sacia nossa alma! Pensei que seria um livro difícil por se tratar da Trindade, mas o autor consegue ser claríssimo. Michael Reeves me fez entender que a doutrina da Trindade não é principalmente sobre termos difíceis, é sobre aprender sobre o próprio Deus e deleitar-se imensamente nesse processo!! Duas palavras pra esse livro: prazer e beleza!
July 14, 2021
O livro que me fez perceber que sei menos sobre Deus do que imagino. Michael Reeves mostra como a Trindade é a essência da fé cristã, o que a diferencia de todas as outras religiões e de todos os outros deuses, o que dá sentido ao que cremos e que nos motiva a adorar. Como o autor diz: "O ser de Deus como Pai, Filho e Espírito é justamente o que embeleza a vida Cristã." A linguagem é clara, fácil de entender e me deu uma nova percepção sobre o Deus Triúno. Com certeza "Deleitando-se na Trindade" mudou a forma como penso em Deus a partir de agora, como vou adorá-Lo no culto, como me relaciono com as pessoas e me fez amá-Lo mais, ao refletir sobre a glória do Deus Pai, Deus Filho e Deus Espírito. Magnífico!
May 24, 2024
Overly technical, dry, confusing - that’s what I thought I would get on a book on the trinity (and shame on me for that assumption) but after several separate passionate recommendations, I figured maybe I was wrong in my initial assumption.
And indeed I was wrong.
What is God?
This book makes the case that we should define God not first and foremost as creator (sorry new city catechism) but as TRINITY and why that most fully shows the glory and beauty of the God of love we worship.
This is probably the most aptly named book I have ever read in my life. Do you want to DELIGHT in the trinity? Read this book.
And indeed I was wrong.
What is God?
This book makes the case that we should define God not first and foremost as creator (sorry new city catechism) but as TRINITY and why that most fully shows the glory and beauty of the God of love we worship.
This is probably the most aptly named book I have ever read in my life. Do you want to DELIGHT in the trinity? Read this book.
July 21, 2018
One of the best Christian books I have ever read.
January 22, 2023
Took me awhile just because I wanted to take it slow and understand.
Such a deep subject- The Trinity. Yet the author approached it in a way I have never heard of before.
“What is your Christian life like? What is the shape of your gospel, your faith? In the end, it will be all depend on what you think God is like. Who God is drives everything. So what is the human problem?
The choice remains: which God will we have? Which God will we proclaim? Without Jesus the Son, we cannot know that God is truly our loving Father. Without Jesus the Son, we cannot know him as a loving Father. But as Luther discovered, through Jesus we may know that God is a Father, and “we may look into his Fatherly heart, and sense how boundlessly He loves us. That would warm our heart, setting them aglow.” Yes, it would, and more: it would bring about reformation.”
Such a deep subject- The Trinity. Yet the author approached it in a way I have never heard of before.
“What is your Christian life like? What is the shape of your gospel, your faith? In the end, it will be all depend on what you think God is like. Who God is drives everything. So what is the human problem?
The choice remains: which God will we have? Which God will we proclaim? Without Jesus the Son, we cannot know that God is truly our loving Father. Without Jesus the Son, we cannot know him as a loving Father. But as Luther discovered, through Jesus we may know that God is a Father, and “we may look into his Fatherly heart, and sense how boundlessly He loves us. That would warm our heart, setting them aglow.” Yes, it would, and more: it would bring about reformation.”
February 28, 2025
Micheal Reeves is now one of my favorite authors. Wow! This book was an absolute joy - and such a feast! I just read his Rejoicing in Christ and now this. Honestly I’m sad that this book ended.. guess I’ll just have to pick up his ‘Enjoying your Prayer Life’ and keep this ball rolling.
[As a side note, I’m really bummed the publisher changed the name of this book to ‘The Good God,’ which, along with the cover art, is a massive step down from the original]
[As a side note, I’m really bummed the publisher changed the name of this book to ‘The Good God,’ which, along with the cover art, is a massive step down from the original]
May 5, 2024
I’ve been in a reading slump lately and the density of this at times made it hard to read quickly but it was worth sitting in. I would’ve said I understood the trinity before reading this book but this really helped me understand how precious and crucial this doctrine really is to Christian faith.
July 3, 2024
I will definitely be rereading this one! It was incredible. So well written. Reeves was able to explain a confusing and murky theological topic of the Trinity and bring out the beauty of it! The core of God’s identity has always been as a Father who loves His Son and brings us into that love through His Spirit.
June 2, 2023
2023: fantastic.
Beautiful. Deep. Easy to read. Loved it.
Beautiful. Deep. Easy to read. Loved it.
August 20, 2024
So refreshing and easy to understand. I will definitely recommend this to new Christians and to people ( like me) who have never thought deeply about this topic.
May 2, 2024
Father son Holy Spirit.
Live laugh love them
Live laugh love them
December 31, 2023
This is one of the best Christian books I've read in my 24 years on this earth.
Although the subtitle says it's an "Introduction to the Christian Faith", that reflects the length more than the depth of this book. It's not a massive tome, but this isn't just for new Christians. I honestly needed to dust up some cobwebs in my own mind in how I think about God.
I recommend reading the introduction (if you normally don't) as it answers many of the common questions levied against the trinity and how unique the Trinity (true God) is compared to other religions. This book is full of Scriptural references and Scriptural backed arguments packed into a relatively short book.
It really got me to think about how I think about God and really delight in the Trinity, not just think about "the trinity" as a theological concept. Praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“Such are the problems with nontriune gods and creation. Single-person gods, having spent eternity alone, are inevitably self-centered beings, and so it becomes hard to see why they would ever cause anything else to exist. Wouldn’t the existence of a universe be an irritating distraction for the god whose greatest pleasure is looking in a mirror? Creating just looks like a deeply unnatural thing for such a god to do. And if such gods do create, they always seem to do so out of an essential neediness or desire to use what they create merely for their own self-gratification. God’s Ecstasy Everything changes when it comes to the Father, Son and Spirit. Here is a God who is not essentially lonely, but who has been loving for all eternity as the Father has loved the Son in the Spirit. Loving others is not a strange or novel thing for this God at all; it is at the root of who he is.”
**Re-read in 2023. Still a 10/10 book.
Although the subtitle says it's an "Introduction to the Christian Faith", that reflects the length more than the depth of this book. It's not a massive tome, but this isn't just for new Christians. I honestly needed to dust up some cobwebs in my own mind in how I think about God.
I recommend reading the introduction (if you normally don't) as it answers many of the common questions levied against the trinity and how unique the Trinity (true God) is compared to other religions. This book is full of Scriptural references and Scriptural backed arguments packed into a relatively short book.
It really got me to think about how I think about God and really delight in the Trinity, not just think about "the trinity" as a theological concept. Praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“Such are the problems with nontriune gods and creation. Single-person gods, having spent eternity alone, are inevitably self-centered beings, and so it becomes hard to see why they would ever cause anything else to exist. Wouldn’t the existence of a universe be an irritating distraction for the god whose greatest pleasure is looking in a mirror? Creating just looks like a deeply unnatural thing for such a god to do. And if such gods do create, they always seem to do so out of an essential neediness or desire to use what they create merely for their own self-gratification. God’s Ecstasy Everything changes when it comes to the Father, Son and Spirit. Here is a God who is not essentially lonely, but who has been loving for all eternity as the Father has loved the Son in the Spirit. Loving others is not a strange or novel thing for this God at all; it is at the root of who he is.”
**Re-read in 2023. Still a 10/10 book.
February 9, 2021
This is a spectacular little book that will transform how you think of being a Christian. I have to admit that for most of my Christian life I have not thought of God in very trinitarian terms. As I suspect is true of others, my main "visualization" of Christianity has been the loving Son appeasing the wrath of a gracious but upset Father. The Holy Spirit....does something. What a tragedy! This book laid out in irresistibly clear terms why the Trinity doesn't just matter, but matters ultimately. There is simply nothing truer of God than the reality that He is triune. And this reality is nothing less than a fountain of self-giving love that circulates in the nature of God and that his children, by grace, are caught up into.
Reeves is such a meekly captivating writer. His British wit and conversational tone make this book feel like a delightful and rich sermon that fills up the heart to go and know and love God and others. This book is an absolute treasure: filled with clear theology, faithful exposition of Scripture, and a lot of Christian history. I cannot recommend this enough. Put it by your bed and read a few pages at night and you'll wake up worshiping.
Reeves is such a meekly captivating writer. His British wit and conversational tone make this book feel like a delightful and rich sermon that fills up the heart to go and know and love God and others. This book is an absolute treasure: filled with clear theology, faithful exposition of Scripture, and a lot of Christian history. I cannot recommend this enough. Put it by your bed and read a few pages at night and you'll wake up worshiping.
January 6, 2018
Livro Excelente onde o autor trabalha com simplicidade e profundida. Seu foco é falar do que significa para nós o fato de Deus ser Trindade. Ele constrói toda nossa concepção de Deus, relacionamento com Ele e deleite nele a partir de sua triunidade. Um ótimo livro para você se deslumbrar com a beleza de Deus e perceber o quão importante é a realidade e a doutrina da Trindade!
March 11, 2025
Read this book as a CFC women’s study. For someone who grew up in Christian circles, I always thought I understood the Trinity or “as much as any human can.” This book completely changed that! Praise our God who is loving and life giving and beautiful and glorious and eternal.
June 18, 2025
Absolutely terrific.
May 1, 2023
I think this book should be a ~requirement~ for all christians. Opened my eyes to the beauty of the trinity for sure!!
Edit: second read-through = still an absolute banger
Edit: second read-through = still an absolute banger
December 9, 2023
I've known about the doctrine of the Trinity for years and thought that was a theological area I had crossed off and moved on from long ago. But. Reeves truly led me to more delight in the Trinity.
This is not a book that just debates what the Trinity is, although he does begin with that. Instead, this is a book that expounds on why the Trinitarian God is so fundamental to orthodox Christianity, leading you to a deeper appreciation and love for who God is.
This is not a book that just debates what the Trinity is, although he does begin with that. Instead, this is a book that expounds on why the Trinitarian God is so fundamental to orthodox Christianity, leading you to a deeper appreciation and love for who God is.
December 28, 2024
I had been meaning to read this for a while. I’m glad I was able to do so before the year was out. It’s a delightful little volume laying out the foundation of true theology: God Himself, just as He is—Trinity.
August 31, 2022
This little book is an absolute treasure. The beauty of who the Trinity is, and what that means for us, explained by a witty British professor? Yes please.
November 11, 2022
a must read for every believer. Reeves fosters an invitation to gaze on the glory of God through unpacking how God’s triune nature is intrinsic to who He is and how this overflows in all He does.
February 18, 2022
If I was put in charge of catechizing a group of new converts, I would first assign this book, and do so with confidence and joy. Not since Rowan Williams' Being series have I been so drawn into a book about the basics of our faith. Reeves is cheeky, articulate, and concise. Read this book first for its contents, and stay for Reeves' style. Its really quite fun.
In terms of content, Reeves is adamant that the doctrine of the Trinity, quite literally, is the doctrine upon which our faith stands or falls. He thus writes:
"For what makes Christianity absolutely distinct [from other religions] is the identity of our God. Which God we worship: that is the article that stands before all others...every aspect of the gospel--creation, revelation, salvation--is only Christian insofar as it is the creation, revelation, and salvation of *this* God, the *triune* God" (15-16).
Before we say anything about the Christian faith, we must say that the Christian God is not the singular Allah, or a tritheistic Vishnu-Brahma-Shiva. No, the Christian God--the one who establishes the very ground of all being, and holds together the cosmos--is three persons that share one essence, and exists together in unity, without competition, division, or confusion. The trinity is the only way we know we are loved. And if we don't know we are loved, then Christianity becomes a joyless, monstrous, fear inducing religion.
I also admire Reeve's answers to some very big questions. For example...
Q. What was God doing before creation?
A. "Before He ever created, before He ruled the world, before anything else -- this God was a Father loving His Son" (21).
Q. Why did the Father send the Son, and why did the Son obey the Father?
A. "The Father sent the Son because of how He so loved [the Son] and wanted that love to be shared and enjoyed; and because [the Son] so loved his Father and wanted that love to be shared and enjoyed. The mission [of Jesus] comes from the overflow of love, from the uncontainable enjoyment of fellowship" (106).
Q. What does the Son offer us in salvation?
A. "To know and grow to enjoy [the Son] is what we are saved *for*" (10).
(to add to Reeves' point, which he later explains: we are saved in order to know and grow in the same love the Father has for the Son, and the Son for the Father. In salvation we do not receive some qualitatively different, fallen-creature style love. No, we receive the same love that the Father had for the Son, for all time. *That* is the reality we are saved for, to enter into and enjoy!)
In all, I commend this book to everyone. Tolle lege! Take and read!
In terms of content, Reeves is adamant that the doctrine of the Trinity, quite literally, is the doctrine upon which our faith stands or falls. He thus writes:
"For what makes Christianity absolutely distinct [from other religions] is the identity of our God. Which God we worship: that is the article that stands before all others...every aspect of the gospel--creation, revelation, salvation--is only Christian insofar as it is the creation, revelation, and salvation of *this* God, the *triune* God" (15-16).
Before we say anything about the Christian faith, we must say that the Christian God is not the singular Allah, or a tritheistic Vishnu-Brahma-Shiva. No, the Christian God--the one who establishes the very ground of all being, and holds together the cosmos--is three persons that share one essence, and exists together in unity, without competition, division, or confusion. The trinity is the only way we know we are loved. And if we don't know we are loved, then Christianity becomes a joyless, monstrous, fear inducing religion.
I also admire Reeve's answers to some very big questions. For example...
Q. What was God doing before creation?
A. "Before He ever created, before He ruled the world, before anything else -- this God was a Father loving His Son" (21).
Q. Why did the Father send the Son, and why did the Son obey the Father?
A. "The Father sent the Son because of how He so loved [the Son] and wanted that love to be shared and enjoyed; and because [the Son] so loved his Father and wanted that love to be shared and enjoyed. The mission [of Jesus] comes from the overflow of love, from the uncontainable enjoyment of fellowship" (106).
Q. What does the Son offer us in salvation?
A. "To know and grow to enjoy [the Son] is what we are saved *for*" (10).
(to add to Reeves' point, which he later explains: we are saved in order to know and grow in the same love the Father has for the Son, and the Son for the Father. In salvation we do not receive some qualitatively different, fallen-creature style love. No, we receive the same love that the Father had for the Son, for all time. *That* is the reality we are saved for, to enter into and enjoy!)
In all, I commend this book to everyone. Tolle lege! Take and read!
August 18, 2022
an excellent gospel primer for all believers! michael reeves does a great job weaving in quotes and sources from scripture, puritans, and various theologians. his writing is understandable and digestable, yet he doesn't compromise/water down the trinity.
February 11, 2025
The first time I read this book, it became my favorite. I’ve read it again, and it remains my favorite!
August 5, 2021
Essential.
December 31, 2025
This may very well be my favorite book I've read all year, and to think it comes right at the end.
My wife read this early on in our marriage and recommended it to me, I'm ashamed it took 3 years to actually get to it.
I've been a Christian 15 years and oh how this book would have blessed me in years 1-5 of my Christian life. Here now it is still a great blessing, to more clearly perceive the nature and character of the Triune God who saved me. I think this is a book that every Christian ought to read. Growing up non denominational and then Southern Baptist doctrinal clarity has never been the hallmark of my church experience (nor many in America) and the Trinity has always been more of a footnote that distinguishes us from cults than something that shapes my daily life. However as I've moved more into the reformed world I see the beauty and depth of the study of God and His Triune nature makes objectively better than any other God that man could imagine.
Reeves has written an accessible book that can be read by most readers and is rich and penetrates to your hearts affections. I will need to consider and ponder on this book more as the year turns. Highly recommend.
Great quote at the end of the book: "If we reject the Trinity as the sole ground of all reality and all thought, we are committed to a road that leads nowhere... in death. Between the Trinity and hell there lies no other choice."
*Fair Warning: I'm not personally settled on application of 2nd Commandment and images of Christ, but if you are this book has many violations
My wife read this early on in our marriage and recommended it to me, I'm ashamed it took 3 years to actually get to it.
I've been a Christian 15 years and oh how this book would have blessed me in years 1-5 of my Christian life. Here now it is still a great blessing, to more clearly perceive the nature and character of the Triune God who saved me. I think this is a book that every Christian ought to read. Growing up non denominational and then Southern Baptist doctrinal clarity has never been the hallmark of my church experience (nor many in America) and the Trinity has always been more of a footnote that distinguishes us from cults than something that shapes my daily life. However as I've moved more into the reformed world I see the beauty and depth of the study of God and His Triune nature makes objectively better than any other God that man could imagine.
Reeves has written an accessible book that can be read by most readers and is rich and penetrates to your hearts affections. I will need to consider and ponder on this book more as the year turns. Highly recommend.
Great quote at the end of the book: "If we reject the Trinity as the sole ground of all reality and all thought, we are committed to a road that leads nowhere... in death. Between the Trinity and hell there lies no other choice."
*Fair Warning: I'm not personally settled on application of 2nd Commandment and images of Christ, but if you are this book has many violations
August 29, 2024
Great book!
Gonna have to be a re read for sure.
“Such are the problems with nontriune gods and creation, Single-person gods, having spent eternity alone, are inevitably self-centered beings, and so it becomes hard to see why they would ever cause anything else to exist. Wouldn't the existence of a universe be an irritating distraction for the god whose greatest pleasure is looking in a mirror? Creating just looks like a deeply unnatural thing for such a god to do. And if such gods do create, they always seem to do so out of an essential neediness or desire to use what they create merely for their own self-gratification.”
.
“Everything changes when it comes to the Father, Son and Spirit.
Here is a God who is not essentially lonely, but who has been loving for all eternity as the Father has loved the Son in the Spirit.
Loving others is not a strange or novel thing for this God at all; it is at the root of who he is.”
Shout out to Isaac Jones for the book🙏🏾
Gonna have to be a re read for sure.
“Such are the problems with nontriune gods and creation, Single-person gods, having spent eternity alone, are inevitably self-centered beings, and so it becomes hard to see why they would ever cause anything else to exist. Wouldn't the existence of a universe be an irritating distraction for the god whose greatest pleasure is looking in a mirror? Creating just looks like a deeply unnatural thing for such a god to do. And if such gods do create, they always seem to do so out of an essential neediness or desire to use what they create merely for their own self-gratification.”
.
“Everything changes when it comes to the Father, Son and Spirit.
Here is a God who is not essentially lonely, but who has been loving for all eternity as the Father has loved the Son in the Spirit.
Loving others is not a strange or novel thing for this God at all; it is at the root of who he is.”
Shout out to Isaac Jones for the book🙏🏾
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