Eternal Functional Subordinationism

“I’ll try to help you understand [Eternal Functional Subordination] if this terminology is new to you. After my best explanation we’ll connect back to John 1:18 in the 2025 ESV.” - Mark Ward

The EFS topic starts around 4:14.

“What is the cause of this? There’s probably not one single answer to that question. Some of it is… overreaction to the retrieval of classical theism and Thomas Aquinas in Reformed circles.” - Ref21

James R. Gordon argues against the Eternal Functional Subordination view of Ware and Grudem and in favor of the “doctrine of divine simpicity.” - Credo

Banner of Truth: It is the contention of this article that ESS is untrue and unbiblical. And that it has dangerous implications for the doctrine of Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity and indeed the doctrine of salvation.

Reformation21: The question of whether a relation of authority and submission obtains between Father and Son in the eternal life of the Trinity is an important one.

Reformation21: There is still undoubtedly an authority involved, but this change is a very significant one: κεφαλή becomes a term describing an empowering union, not just a hierarchical relation.

The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals put together a chronological list of the various articles from the controversy this past Summer about Jesus, the Father, and eternal functional subordinationism. Carl Trueman summatrized the issue: “Do you consider Nicene orthodoxy to be a non-negotiable part of your movement’s beliefs?”