In the Triune God, is Jesus the Son eternally subordinate to the Father? Some argue that the Son, while ontologically equal to the Father, is functionally eternally subordinate to the Father. Or was the Son only subordinate during the incarnation during his humiliation (Phil 2:5-8)? This is an issue that respected, orthodox theologians disagree on.

Keith Johnson, PhD in Christian theology, authored an excellent article here entitled “Trinitarian Agency and the Eternal Subordination of the Son: An Augustinian Perspective” drawing upon Augustine’s monumental work “On The Trinity” Augustine’s 4th century work (which I am currently reading) is the most significant treatment of the Trinity and deserving of close examination. (There is a very nice hardcopy edition here.)

We must also take care elaborating on the Triune nature of God because as Augustine cautions, “in no other subject is error more dangerous, or inquiry more laborious, or the discovery of truth more profitable.”

After exploring Augustine’s position, Johnson concludes,

“There is no evidence that Augustine believed that the hypostatic distinction between the Father and the Son is constituted by eternal “authority” (on the part of the Father) and eternal “submission” (on the part of the Son). To the contrary, this element of EFS is incompatible with his account of trinitarian agency.“

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I used to believe that the Son is functionally eternally subordinate (EFS) to the Father, but after wrestling with it, have concluded that EFS is not the correct understanding. Instrumental to my understanding the Trinity is the key insight that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit operate indivisibly in every action that God undertakes.