In this, his doctoral dissertation for the University of Erlangen in Germany, Torrance (systematic theology, U. of St. Andrews, Scotland) addresses three theological issues. They are the propriety or otherwise of describing the members of the Trinity as persons; the manner in which language functions in the context of Trinitarian description; and the underlying models of the theological enterprise as these characterize the nature of human participation within it. He does so by critically evaluating Swiss theologian Barth's (1886-1968) exposition of theological methods, the relationship between issues to semantics and ontological issues, and his arguments in favor of the term Seinsweise rather than person when referring to members of the Trinity. Only names are indexed. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)