Definitions of preaching abound but a biblically faithful definition goes something like this: Christian preaching is the Triune God’s ordained means by which he uses men filled with his Spirit to reveal the meaning of his written word to a particular congregation of the bride of Christ Jesus for the glory of the Father. Truly, more could be said. After all, I just defined preaching the gospel in relation to the infinite and eternal Triune God (it is the eternal gospel, Rev. 14:6)! Of course, more could be said! Let’s try.

Every Sunday I have the astoundingly gracious and mercifully miraculous privilege to preach God’s written word to some of God’s precious covenant people. But why does God require that his word is not merely read but preached? Put another way, wherein lies the difference between preaching and reading God’s word? Specifically, it has to do with God as Triune, and the capacity he gave us to reason and enter into the meaning of his word. As we hear the gospel faithfully preached, we are “entering more thoroughly into the meaning of Scripture” not merely reading the Scripture, and this moves us into all the doctrines of the Christian faith.[1] Central to all Christian doctrines is the doctrine of the Trinity.

Definitions of preaching abound but a biblically faithful definition goes something like this: Christian preaching is the Triune God’s ordained means by which he uses men filled with his Spirit to reveal the meaning of his written word to a particular congregation of the bride of Christ Jesus for the glory of the Father. Truly, more could be said. After all, I just defined preaching the gospel in relation to the infinite and eternal Triune God (it is the eternal gospel, Rev. 14:6)! Of course, more could be said! Let’s try.

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity affirms, among other things, that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are the source of, and means, to all meaning. Put another way, we cannot understand the significance or importance (this is what is meant by meaning) of anything apart from understanding it in relation to something other than itself. This all reflects who God is as Trinity. God is real, true personal unity and real, true personal diversity simultaneously. Note that based on how I have described meaning and affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity that God is inherently meaningful, or we might say he is meaning-filled. In order for any of us to truly know, there must be true unity and true diversity simultaneously at the very essence of Reality and all realities. Realities can be distinguished from each other, yet they are also inherently united to each other. This dynamic marks what we call knowledge and meaning.

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