Augustine brought to a close centuries of discussion, debate and heretical affirmations on the Trinitarian theme. It would seem that Augustine started delving into the Trinitarian theology when a certain Nebridius wrote to him asking about how it was that if the Trinity does all things together in unity, the Son alone was to be incarnated and not the Father and the Holy Spirit as well. Augustine structured his theology around the inseparable activities of the Trinity, with the Son as revealer of God the Trinity.
Augustine had come to know very early in his search that he had no hope of ever advancing into the Trinitarian mystery unless he embedded this mystery into practical life. He thus contextualized the Trinitarian mystery within the Christological framework; he hoped to arrive to it through Jesus Christ, since he is the sacrament of the Trinity; Christ lost nothing in becoming man. ... He thus hoped to catch a glimpse of the Trinitarian mystery thanks to the practise of love (caritas): “You will be able to see the Trinity when you see love”. ...
One must always keep in mind that Augustine had approached the Trinitarian mystery also from the biblical aspect, from the speculative aspect in defence of the Trinitarian dogma and from the analogical and psychological aspects. ... This was his way of expressing the difference between the theology and the economy of salvation.
It is noteworthy that Augustine’s deliberation is also based on scripture – he also mentions Trinitarian theophanies found in the Old Testament wherein God already hints He is made up of three persons. ... For him community life becomes the privileged place for the understanding of Trinitarian life. ... This could be described as the existential thrust in Augustine’s Trinitarian theology.
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