Why the Son Submits to the Father Without Being Less God

Why the Son Submits to the Father Without Being Less God

August 26, 2026 · 31 min

The Trinity is three distinct persons and yet one Godhead — but we still can't help but ask, who's really in charge? In this episode, we continue our conversation on the Trinity by naming a few more historic heresies, including Arianism (the belief that the Son was created) and subordinationism (the belief that the Son, while not created, is still less than fully God).From there we dig into a doctrine that's often misunderstood even by Christians: the eternal functional subordination of the Son. The Son submits to the Father — not because He is lesser in being, but because He chooses to, in His role. Dr. Abidan Shah connects that distinction directly to something surprisingly practical: why the Bible calls men to servant leadership in the church and the home, and how that relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is actually reflected in the relationship between husband and wife.0:00 – Who's Really in Charge? Continuing the Trinity Conversation4:20 – Illeism: The Rhetorical Trick That Isn't What Some Scholars Claim9:03 – Splinter Groups and the Councils That Drew the Line10:54 – Meeting Harold O.J. Brown, the Man Who Wrote the Book on Heresy13:00 – Arianism and Subordinationism Explained14:37 – Function, Not Essence: What Eternal Functional Subordination Means16:45 – Why This Debate Became a Battleground Over Church Leadership27:20 – How the Trinity Is Reflected in Marriage Support the showDr. Shah writes a personal letter every week — reflections on Scripture, faith, and living it out with clarity and purpose. GET THE LETTER If you enjoyed the show, please like and follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, and also subscribe to our YouTube channel. This is an excellent way to stay connected to the Clearview team and ensure you don't miss a thing.PRE-ORDER BYZANTINE TEXTFORM: https://subsplash.com/u/-MPJ586/forms/d/1090d08a-49c0-498a-ad97-5c0fd575fa9eSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:MIGHTY MUSCADINE SUPPLEMENTSLEBLEU ULTRA-PURE WATERKEEP YOUR KIDS PROTECTED ONLINE--->> DR SHAH'S BOOKS>> SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE>> CHECK OUT ALL OUR SHOWS

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Dr. Abidan Shah is a New Testament text critic, author, professor, and pastor of Clearview Church in North Carolina. His desire is to make biblical scholarship accessible and applicable to all people.