What the Bible says about Authority, God the Father Greater
(From Forerunner Commentary)
To further confound the Trinity doctrine, this verse says that the Father and the Son are not even co-equal! They are equal in terms of what they are—They are God (even as we humans are equal in terms of what we are—we are human beings). But the Father is greater; He is superior in terms of authority and responsibility. There is government even within the Godhead, and the Son takes orders from the Father. They are not equal in every area.
And if the Holy Spirit exists at all as a personality, then it is not co-equal either. Again, if it exists as a personality, it may be equal in terms of being God, but it is not equal in terms of authority and responsibility.
In I Corinthians 11:3, Paul gives a clear order of authority and responsibility. The Father is the Head over all creation. As he puts it so simply, the head even of Christ is the Father.
John W. Ritenbaugh
The Holy SpiritRelated Topics: Authority, God the Father Greater | Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit as Force | Holy Spirit as Power | Supreme God | Trinity
Twenty-three times a similar statement is made in the Scriptures. Someone else, the Father, God, raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus could not do it Himself! He was dead.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Fully Man and Fully God?