Christian apologists argued the Trinity from Adam’s generation and emanation analogically

Evidence

The great scholastic theologians did not attempt ‘proof’. ‘Nullo modo trinitas personarum est cognoscibilis per creaturam rationabiliter ascendendo a creatura in Deum’, said St Bonaventura. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 977 (#complicates, via linked claim)

In practice, Ricoldo was fond of the counter-attack upon the Islamic interpretation; for example, he said that to assert that God has no Son because He has no wife is like saying that He is not living because He does not draw breath. … He also made an image for the Incarnation, in order to defend the Crucifixion: a king might send his words in a book, and the book be burned, but his words would not burn. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1012 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Christian theologians argued for the Trinity using an analogy from Adam’s generative nature; A rationalistic account of creation was deployed to prove the Trinity.; Christian apologists used rational creation arguments to prove the Trinity — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 827 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Theologians thought proving the Trinity rationally was impossible #complicates (0.78) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 977
• Medieval Christian apologists argued the divine essence transcends biological analogy #complicates (0.75) — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1012