Cheryl

Sam,

My work on 1 Cor 15 is focused on the refutation of the complementarian position that Jesus is less in authority than the Father (the Father is considered as the supreme authority a position highlighted by Bruce Ware in his book “Father, Son and Holy Spirit”) and the position that 1 Cor. 15 means that Jesus is giving over his authority and rule to the Father and taking a subordinate position for all of eternity.

I am not going to go into the full refutation especially since I am still working on my DVD on the Trinity, but since the question about 1 Cor 15 was brought up, it is good to state some foundational points from scripture.

1. We know that 1 Cor 15:24-28 cannot be interpreted to mean that Jesus gives up his rule, since scripture tells us that his reign will never end.

2. We also know that 1 Cor. 15:24-28 cannot be interpreted to mean that the Father has authority that Jesus does not have because Jesus said that he himself has all authority (Matt 28:18) and there is nothing at all in 1 Cor. 15 that says that Jesus is giving up this authority. Since turning over the kingdom to the Father cannot mean that Jesus stops reigning as King, then Jesus’ submission also cannot mean that Jesus is giving up his full authority over all things.

All three in the Trinity have one will and all three have one authority because they are all united as the one God. When Jesus said that all authority had been given to him (Matt 28:18), that didn’t leave his Father without authority. Turning over the kingdom to his Father also does not leave Jesus without authority and it does not leave him without a kingdom or take away his throne or his Kingship.

In verse 24 of 1 Cor. 15 we see Jesus as the triumphant Son turning over the spoils, the kingdom, to his Father. In verse 25 we see that God the Father has put all enemies underneath the feet of Jesus so that Jesus is supreme, the ruler of all.

The Father for a time has stepped back from judging and from ruling as he has given the priority to the Son during the 1,000 year reign. Just as the Father has served the Son by making his enemies as a footstool for the Son, the Son now serves the kingdom back to the Father so that it is not just the Son who has the priority but the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

So the human Son who has been given the priority, subjects himself voluntarily and the subjection is not “under” the authority of the Father but in “unity” with the Father so that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are “all” in “all”, in complete unity as they were before creation. (The Greek is very important to pay attention to in verse 27 & 28)

The Son does not “give up” the kingdom nor does he “give up” authority or rule. The purpose of the Son’s subjection is for God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to be all in all and there will be no division of authority or rule but complete unity.

There is much more to this passage but this should suffice for now until my DVD comes out.