The Trinity is a speaking God: three divine persons who share the same essence and commune with each other in love and glory. How does this truth shape the way we view the world and our place in it? The Speaking Trinity and His Worded World explores these questions by presenting all of life through the lens of language. Understood as communion behavior, language has its roots in God himself. What's more, God has used language not only to create our world, but to sustain and direct it. Because of this biblical fact, we live in a place that always and everywhere reveals the trinitarian God whose speech upholds it. All things ""speak"" of God by revealing aspects of his character (Romans 1). We live in a worded world, a world that was spoken and speaks of God. Thus, language is far more than a means of human communication; it is at the center of who God is, who we are, and what our world is like. Join the author as he walks through redemptive history and points out not only how all things can be perceived through the lens of language, but what this means for us practically in our use of language. ""Hibbs has given us an excellent book to present in accessible form the biblical basis for the centrality of language in God's communion with us, in God's creation and providence, and in human living. The book combines biblical exposition, practical examples, and clear, winsome writing. There is nothing like it on the subject of language!"" --Vern S. Poythress, author, In the Beginning Was the Word: Language--A God-Centered Approach ""The last century has witnessed a major preoccupation with language among philosophers. Theologians, too, have tried often to understand the language of God--his word. . . . Hibbs stresses the centrality of language to reality and to human life, and he persuasively expounds his view that language is communion behavior. This thesis has huge importance, and therefore I hope that the book finds many readers."" --John M. Frame, author, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief ""What a bracing theology Pierce Taylor Hibbs has given those of us who have been called to preach the word! Those who read and meditate on The Speaking Trinity and His Worded World will find their knowledge of God and his word expanded and elevated. Preachers will find their hearts on fire to preach God's holy word."" --R. Kent Hughes, author, Disciplines of a Godly Man ""This extraordinary book brings together themes from linguistics, biblical theology, and apologetics, arguing that human language derives from the communion behavior of the divine Trinity. . . . No one is more qualified to accomplish this task than Pierce Hibbs. His years of experience both as a theologian and a language instructor bear fruit in this profoundly edifying study. Accessible to the specialist and the non-specialist alike, the book bristles with insights. It has the makings of a classic."" --William Edgar, author, Created and Creating ""In a post-postmodern age that despairs of language, meaning, and truth, Pierce Hibbs's reminder that language--communicative and expressive behavior--is ultimately rooted in the triune God comes as a welcome Christian relief. Of particular importance is the claim that language is always personal and covenantal, oriented to communion, and that God is a speaking, communicative being. Anyone interested in God and language will profit from this book."" --Kevin J. Vanhoozer, author, Is There a Meaning in This Text? ""Building on the work of Van Til, Frame, and Poythress, Hibbs has written a fascinating account of the Trinity as communicative, with language integral to creation and the nature of humanity in communion with God. Superbly written, his highly accessible discussion should do much to stimulate thought about God as Trinity. . . . He mounts a credible case that the Trinity is discernible all around us."" --Robert Letham, author, The Holy Trinity ""God created the world by speaking and his own
Industry Reviews
“Hibbs has given us an excellent book to present in accessible form the biblical basis for the centrality of language in God’s communion with us, in God’s creation and providence, and in human living. The book combines biblical exposition, practical examples, and clear, winsome writing. There is nothing like it on the subject of language!”
—Vern S. Poythress, author, In the Beginning Was the Word: Language—A God-Centered Approach
“The last century has witnessed a major preoccupation with language among philosophers. Theologians, too, have tried often to understand the language of God—his word. . . . Hibbs stresses the centrality of language to reality and to human life, and he persuasively expounds his view that language is communion behavior. This thesis has huge importance, and therefore I hope that the book finds many readers.”
—John M. Frame, author, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief
“What a bracing theology Pierce Taylor Hibbs has given those of us who have been called to preach the word! Those who read and meditate on The Speaking Trinity and His Worded World will find their knowledge of God and his word expanded and elevated. Preachers will find their hearts on fire to preach God’s holy word.”
—R. Kent Hughes, author, Disciplines of a Godly Man
“This extraordinary book brings together themes from linguistics, biblical theology, and apologetics, arguing that human language derives from the communion behavior of the divine Trinity. . . . No one is more qualified to accomplish this task than Pierce Hibbs. His years of experience both as a theologian and a language instructor bear fruit in this profoundly edifying study. Accessible to the specialist and the non-specialist alike, the book bristles with insights. It has the makings of a classic.”
—William Edgar, author, Created and Creating
“In a post-postmodern age that despairs of language, meaning, and truth, Pierce Hibbs's reminder that language—communicative and expressive behavior—is ultimately rooted in the triune God comes as a welcome Christian relief. Of particular importance is the claim that language is always personal and covenantal, oriented to communion, and that God is a speaking, communicative being. Anyone interested in God and language will profit from this book.”
—Kevin J. Vanhoozer, author, Is There a Meaning in This Text?
“Building on the work of Van Til, Frame, and Poythress, Hibbs has written a fascinating account of the Trinity as communicative, with language integral to creation and the nature of humanity in communion with God. Superbly written, his highly accessible discussion should do much to stimulate thought about God as Trinity. . . . He mounts a credible case that the Trinity is discernible all around us.”
—Robert Letham, author, The Holy Trinity
“God created the world by speaking and his own Son is identified as the eternal Word. God’s works of creation, providence, redemption, and consummation are all attributed to his powerful speech. So biblical faith is bound up with words—with language—in a unique way. That’s why this is such an important book. Regardless of whether one agrees with all of the arguments, I expect it to strike up a fresh and crucial conversation about God and language.”
—Michael Horton, author, The Christian Faith
“This is a well-written book with a provocative thesis. Whether one ultimately agrees with all of Hibbs’ contentions, his is a voice worth taking seriously.”
—Jonathan Master, editor, Place f
