A Trinitarian Theology of <i>Lectio Divina</i> : Locating the Practice of <i>Lectio Divina</i> Within the Economy of Grace

This paper proposes a Trinitarian theology of lectio divina , situating its fourfold structure— lectio , meditatio , oratio , and contemplatio —within the economy of grace. Drawing from patristic and medieval sources, particularly Guigo II’s Ladder of Monks , the study argues that lectio divina is a theologically grounded response to the triune God’s acts in redemption: the Spirit’s inspiration of Scripture, the Spirit’s illumination and regeneration of the believer’s mind, and the believer’s adoption through and union with Christ. By aligning each stage of lectio divina with specific Trinitarian works, the paper demonstrates how the practice fosters communion with God and how doctrine can guide and delimit the practice. The result is a model of reading Scripture that is deeply personal, doctrinally robust, and spiritually formative.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care
Published
2026-05-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909261446271
Primary Topic
Karl Barth and Christian Theology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

A Trinitarian Theology of Lectio Divina : Locating the Practice of Lectio Divina Within the Economy of Grace

Bryan Shuler
Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care
Karl Barth and Christian Theology
article

A Trinitarian Theology of Lectio Divina : Locating the Practice of Lectio Divina Within the Economy of Grace

Bryan Shuler
article en

Abstract

This paper proposes a Trinitarian theology of lectio divina , situating its fourfold structure— lectio , meditatio , oratio , and contemplatio —within the economy of grace. Drawing from patristic and medieval sources, particularly Guigo II’s Ladder of Monks , the study argues that lectio divina is a theologically grounded response to the triune God’s acts in redemption: the Spirit’s inspiration of Scripture, the Spirit’s illumination and regeneration of the believer’s mind, and the believer’s adoption through and union with Christ. By aligning each stage of lectio divina with specific Trinitarian works, the paper demonstrates how the practice fosters communion with God and how doctrine can guide and delimit the practice. The result is a model of reading Scripture that is deeply personal, doctrinally robust, and spiritually formative.

Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care
Methodist Theological School in Ohio (US)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 3%
Karl Barth and Christian Theology
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.