Tag: ESS

Looking for more – a disappointing read of Simply Trinity

Well, you got a little bit of a taster of what is coming in this review in my previous two articles. You will have realised by now that the book I was referring to when I described how my judgements are formed was Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett. I then addressed a specific example looking… Continue reading Looking for more – a disappointing read of Simply Trinity

How not to be a heretic – be teachable

One of the people who has been right at the centre of the EFS controversy has been Wayne Grudem. When the charge of heresy is made it is primarily targeted against Grudem and Bruce Ware. This is understandable because I have to admit that out of the “EFS” proponents, it has been their language that… Continue reading How not to be a heretic – be teachable

How not to be a heretic – preaching the negatives

One well known preacher allegedly once said that if we are to preach the Gospel properly, so that it’s full force is heard, then we are likely to be accused of being anti-nominans.  An anti-nomian (against law) is someone who believes and teaches that the law only applied before Christ, we are now under grace… Continue reading How not to be a heretic – preaching the negatives

The court for determining heresy is the court of Scripture

Since my last article on the difference between heresy and error I’ve had some push back. The question has come “how do we decide if it’s error or heresy?” It’s been suggested that the risk is that it becomes my opinion against someone else’s. Don’t worry though because my Presbyterian friends have offered a solution.… Continue reading The court for determining heresy is the court of Scripture

No! Error isn’t always heresy

I’ve recently revisited the “EFS/ESS” controversy, a theological disagreement about how we talk about the Father and the Son in Trinitarian doctrine.  As I mentioned in my previous article, some people have been quick to use the “H word” accusing their interlocutors of falling into heresy.  Now, charging people with heresy is a serious thing.… Continue reading No! Error isn’t always heresy

EFS/ESS – revisiting a recent Trinitarian controversy

Every so often, a little debate about the Trinity and specifically about the relationship of the Father to the Son rears its head again. You may have heard it referred to as either The Eternal Subordination of the Son” (ESS)  or “Eternal Functional Subordination” (EFS). The debate got particularly heated back in 2016, people started… Continue reading EFS/ESS – revisiting a recent Trinitarian controversy

The obedient son

Does The Son of God submit to and obey his Father? Over the past few weeks, I’ve been writing some articles about the relationship between The Father and the Son and responding to a particular controversy. The controversy is over whether or not The Son submits to The Father in eternity. Some Christians believe that… Continue reading The obedient son

How should we talk about the Father and the Son (concluding thoughts 2)

In yesterday’s post I said that I believed that it is possible to make application from our Doctrine of the Trinity to life now.  We should do it cautiously and carefully. However, it is possible to do so all the same. If we see that the incarnation reveals the Son relating to his Father in… Continue reading How should we talk about the Father and the Son (concluding thoughts 2)

How should we talk about the Father and Son (concluding thoughts part 1)

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been revisiting the controversy around the Eternal Functional Subordination debate.  In this article, I want to sum up and share my own position and conclusion on the topic. I will then follow this up by asking the question “Can we make any application from the relations within the Trinity… Continue reading How should we talk about the Father and Son (concluding thoughts part 1)