This week on Things Unseen, we're trying to think together about the Trinity.

And one of the questions we need to ask is this, does this doctrine of the Trinity make

any difference to us?

I suspect it's the case that one barometer of our theology and our Christianity is

found in the themes of the hymns and songs that we sing together in church.

I wonder how many modern Christian songs are obviously trinitarian.

Compare that with the way, for example, that Paul just loves to weave references to the

Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit into his teaching.

Shouldn't we do the same in our singing?

But back to the question, why is the doctrine of the Trinity so important?

Today I want to mention one theological reason that I've hinted at already.

And I want to do it first by talking about a theologian with whose name you may not

be wholly familiar.

Richard the Scott of St. Victor.

Yes, he was actually Scottish, although most of his life he didn't live in Scotland.

He eventually became prior of the abbey of St. Victor on the outskirts of Paris, around

the second half of the 12th century.

He died in 1173.

Now you probably know that theologians and theological traditions have their own particular

emphasis, don't they?

Sometimes we know that something is a special burden, a kind of God-given emphasis to

a preacher.

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