16 February 2006

What is "Subordinationism?"


Subordinationism:
Subordinationism is a Christological perspective viewing Jesus as subordinate to the Father.

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Over the years, this term has been used of an estimation of the Son as either "subject" to the Father (especially in His redemptive role) or as essentially (or, in very essence) "inferior" to the Father. Theologians thus differentiate between a functional subordination and an ontological subordination.

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*functional subordination -- having to do with office, role, duty, position;

*ontological subordination -- having to do with nature, essence, being, oneself;

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I do not believe that the Bible supports the position of ontological subordination. I do support the functional subordination viewpoint. I believe that I am Biblically justified in claiming that we could take this a step further into the doctrine of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology), saying that the Holy Spirit is functionally subordinate to Jesus the Son who is then functionally subordinate to the Father.

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