Having spent some time studying this issue, and having published my examinations in both monograph and essay form, I wish to go on record, again, of affirming Nicene Trinitarianism is both biblically grounded and necessary for Christian teachers who wish to be recognized as orthodox. (Michael A.G. Haykin, a longtime colleague of mine in historical theology, today corroborated my thoughts.)
While I have interacted only somewhat formally with the modern theology known as Eternal Functional Subordination, it seems increasingly likely the churches and their responsible theologians will be required to address these teachings more formally. May the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, who participates without any limit whatsoever in the divine nature, will, and authority equally with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, guide his people as they do so.
The following works trace my understanding of the biblical doctrine of the Trinity and of various historic responses:
- Malcolm B. Yarnell III, God the Trinity: Biblical Portraits, especially the Epilogue
- Malcolm Yarnell and Karen Yarnell, “Trinity and Authority” (5 part blog series), especially Part 5
- Keith S. Whitfield, ed., Trinitarian Theology: Theological Models and Doctrinal Applications, chapter 2 is my proposal, chapter 5 is my response to Ware on the one hand and to Emerson and Stamps on the other
- Matthew Y. Emerson et al, ed., Baptists and the Christian Tradition: Toward an Evangelical Baptist Catholicity, chapter 3, “Baptists, Classic Trinitarianism, and the Christian Tradition”
- Stephen Copson, ed., Trinity, Creed and Confusion: The Salters’ Hall Debates of 1719, chapter 6, “The Point in Question at Salters’ Hall: Baptists Contending for Trinity, Scripture and Freedom”
If you wish to see my lectures on the matter, please feel free to sign up for the Master's elective and/or research doctoral seminar which I teach on “God the Trinity” at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The PhD seminar will next be offered in Spring 2022.
