A Development, Not a Departure

The Lacunae in the Debate of the Doctrine of the Trinity and Gender Roles

This dissertation examines the missing elements in the current debate about the doctrine of the Trinity where it relates to gender roles. Yang provides biblical solutions for evaluating the arguments of this debate, as well as its relevant issues and significance.

By examining key lacunae in the current debate about the doctrine of the Trinity and its relation (or lack thereof) to gender roles, Hongyi Yang illuminates many areas that need to be more carefully addressed by those on both sides of the debate. Yang argues that the contemporary teaching of the Son’s eternal subordination to the Father in role, function, and authority is a doctrinal development of, not a departure from, biblical teaching, and that this development has arisen as a response to the prevalent egalitarianism in theological circles. This volume engages all the major texts and authors in the current Trinitarian debate as it is related to gender roles, and it provides a history of this debate.

“A truly impressive analysis of recent debates about the eternal submission of the Son to the Father in the Trinity. Her work is carefully reasoned, remarkably insightful, and comprehensive in scope. Where she pointed out shortcomings in my own writings on this topic, I found her evaluations to be thoughtful and useful. I am happy to give this book a strong commendation.”

—Wayne Grudem, Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies, Phoenix Seminary