Between Ontology, Epistemology and African Context: The Trinity in Edwards and Barth

Abstract

Contemporary African theology continues to wrestle with the challenge of expressing the doctrine of the Trinity in ways that are theologically faithful and culturally resonant. While Western Trinitarian formulations have been shared by metaphysical and epistemological paradigms, they often fail to account for the African relational and Communal worldview. Although rooted in orthodox Trinitarian confession, African Christianity lacks a contextual theological framework that meaningfully integrates its socio-spiritual realities. Through a Historical Retrieval and Reappropriation Methodology, this article examines the implications of Edward’s 18th-century metaphysical framework and Barth’s 20th-century revelatory approach for contemporary theology. Edwards' relational ontology, grounded in love and articulated through the Spirit as the bond between the Father and Son, aligns with the African conception of Communal identity and personhood. In contrast, Barth’s revelatory epistemology offers methodological clarity, emphasizing divine self-revelation as a safeguard against syncretism. This study situates Edwards and Barth in a conversation within an African context, offering a relational and revelation-based approach to Trinitarian theology that affirms the interconnectedness of divine life and human community. This article contributes to ongoing Trinitarian discourse by advancing a contextual theological framework that bridges Western doctrinal traditions and African epistemologies, aiming to shape orthodox and socially transformative theology.