Michael Terran

THIS E-MAIL WAS SEND TO ME FROM A CHURCH THAT TEACHES HIARCHY!

Michael,

Thanks for your follow-up email. I must say, it’s a better attempt than your previous “that’s how cults interpret 1 Corinthians 15:28.” But I’m still not convinced. Here are a couple of thoughts:

First, your interpretation of 1 Cor. 15:28 below results in a faulty division of the personhood of Christ. I find it very difficult to imagine how you can speak of the “third person of the Trinity” as somehow different than the “glorified Jesus who is the human son.” Jesus is not two separate persons—one human and one divine. The ancient Christian dogmas regarding Christology insist that Christ is one person, existing in two natures. It seems to me that you are confusing Christ’s singular personhood with his dual natures. Also, this verse isn’t about “the incarnate human son who for a time subjected himself.” Clearly 1 Cor. 15:28 speaks of Jesus, the glorified divine/human person—who, upon entering the eternal age—permanently subjects himself (his entire person, not just his human nature) to God the Father. The idea that Christ is merely subjecting his human nature to God is redundant in that Christ’s humanity has always been subject and inferior to the divine nature (even his own). This passage makes sense only when we read it in light of Christ’s personhood—of which he only has one, not about his dual natures. I welcome your thoughts on this.

Second, as I’m sure you’re aware, the egalitarian/complementarian debate involves more than the Trinity issue. How do you understand the New Testament teaching regarding the parallel relationship between Christ and the Church, and the Husband and the Wife (Ephesians 5:21-32)? Do you deny that there is hierarchy in respect to the Church’s relationship with Christ? What does it mean to you that Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23)? Does this mean the same thing when the NT speaks of the husband as the head of the wife (1 Corinthians 11:3)?

Respond as you have time, and if you desire.

Many blessings, my brother,

Gerald