Tag: The Trinity

Keep within the lines

Remember when you learnt to colour in as a child? The priority was not to be an amazing artist on day one or to demonstrate your creativity. You had one job. Keep within the lines.  The rule rule applies to theology too, especially when talking about the Trinity. There are a few new books coming… Continue reading Keep within the lines

John MacArthur – Eternal Sonship and Incarnational Sonship

In a previous article, I wrote that John MacArthur had in the past denied the eternal sonship of Jesus arguing for incarnational sonship -that Jesus became “Son” at his birth.  I thought it might be helpful to trace back exactly what the issue was.  MacArthur has since amended his views but here is his original… Continue reading John MacArthur – Eternal Sonship and Incarnational Sonship

My big concern about the Trinity Debate

In the debate and conversations about The Trinity one thing has particularly concerned me. To be clear, it’s not that I’m unbothered about the risk of theological error. I hope that comes through in my own articles. However, I’ve been struck by our struggle to disagree well and how much of that arises out of… Continue reading My big concern about the Trinity Debate

Eternal Generation revisited

One of the key elements of the recent debate about the Trinity is the place of Eternal Generation in our understanding of who The Son is.  For many years some of those who held to the so called Eternal Functional Subordination position expressed scepticism about this, notably Wayne Grudem and Bruce Ware.  Grudem has commented:… Continue reading Eternal Generation revisited

The Trinity Debate revisited: How are the Son and the Father revealed?

Over the past few years, a little debate keeps cropping up about the Trinity and how The Father and The Son relate to each other.  There are three parts to the question. Does the Son submit to the Father? If the Son does submit, is this with regards to his human nature only or is… Continue reading The Trinity Debate revisited: How are the Son and the Father revealed?

Knowing God … knowing Jesus

This is a kind of footnote to my article that looked at what we can say about The Trinity and what we can learn from the Trinity. In response to that article, Daniel Blanche made these provocative remarks. Was his comment fair? Well, yes, I think there is a fair challenge to be answered here. … Continue reading Knowing God … knowing Jesus

Is it impossible to learn from the Trinity?

One of the bones of contention in the debate between EFS advocates and neo-classical theists is whether or not we can apply things from the inner relationships of the Trinity to life today.  EFS has predominated amongst theologians and pastors from a complementarian background. The idea that the Father and Son are equal in nature… Continue reading Is it impossible to learn from the 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

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