Evangelical Feminism: A New Path to Liberalism?

27: SON NOT SUBORDINATE TO FATHER IN TRINITY? 213

The Nicene fathers still teach, like their predecessors, a certain sub-

ordinationism, which seems to conflict with the doctrine of consub-

stantiality. But we must distinguish between a subordinationism of

essence (ousia) and a subordinationism of hypostasis, of order and

dignity. The former was denied, the latter affirmed.^10

And historian J. N. D. Kelly similarly says,

[speaking of the Cappadocian father Gregory of Nyssa] It is clearly

Gregory’s doctrine that the Son acts as an agent, no doubt in subor-

dination to the Father Who is the fountainhead of the Trinity, in the

production of the Spirit.... As stated by the Cappadocians, however,

the idea of the twofold procession from Father through Son lacks all

trace of subordinationism, for its setting is a wholehearted recogni-

tion of the homoousion of the Spirit.^11

Finally, church historian Geoffrey Bromiley writes,

Eternal generation.... is the phrase used to denote the inter-

Trinitarian relationship between the Father and the Son as is taught

by the Bible. “Generation” makes it plain that there is a divine son-

ship prior to the incarnation (cf. John 1:18; 1 John 4:9), that there is

thus a distinction of persons within the one Godhead (John 5:26), and

that between these persons there is a superiority and subordination

of order (cf. John 5:19; 8:28). “Eternal” reinforces the fact that the

generation is not merely economic (i.e., for the purpose of human sal-

vation as in the incarnation, cf. Luke 1:35), but essential, and that as

such it cannot be construed in the categories of natural or human gen-

eration. Thus it does not imply a time when the Son was not, as

Arianism argued.... Nor does his subordination imply inferiority....

the phrase.... corresponds to what God has shown us of himself in

his own eternal being.... It finds creedal expression in the phrases

“begotten of his Father before all worlds” (Nicene) and “begotten

before the worlds” (Athanasian).^12

(^10) Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 8 vols. (original 1910; Grand Rapids, Mich.:
Eerdmans, 1971 [reprint]), 3:681, italics added.
(^11) J. N. D. Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines, 2nd ed. (New York: Harper & Row, 1960), 263,
italics added.
(^12) Geoffrey W. Bromiley, “Eternal Generation,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, ed.
Walter Elwell (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker, 1984), 368.