subordinationism

Subordinationism is a theological concept in Christianity that holds that the Son is subordinate to the Father in the Trinity. This doctrine is often seen as a response to Arianism, a heresy that denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Subordinationists, such as the early church father Origen, believed that the Son was inferior to the Father in some way. They often used biblical passages, such as 1 Corinthians 11:3 and 1 Corinthians 15:28, to support this view. However, other early church fathers, such as the Cappadocian Fathers, strongly rejected subordinationism as a heresy.

The Council of Nicaea in 325 CE and the Council of Constantinople in 381 CE explicitly condemned subordinationism as a heresy. The Councils affirmed the divinity and coequality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, some late 4th- and 5th-century theologians, such as Eunomius and the followers of Apollinaris, revived subordinationist ideas.

Some modern theologians and interpreters have also been accused of promoting subordinationist views. This includes biblical scholars who have interpreted certain passages as implying the Son's subordination to the Father. Critics argue that these interpretations contradict the clear affirmation of the Trinity and the historic orthodox understanding of Christ's divinity.

In recent times, some Evangelical theologians have proposed a revisionist understanding of subordinationism, often referred to as "subordination in being" or "eternal functional subordination." This view posits that the Son's subordination is a temporary or functional aspect of the Trinity, rather than an essential feature of their relationships within the Godhead. However, these proposals have also been met with criticism and debate from within academia and among mainstream theologians.