God the Father is the Initiator of All Divine Activity

No doubt Facebook has its problems, but it does keep me informed about new book releases. One of the latest of these looks very interesting: Ryan L. Rippee, That God May Be All in All: A Paterology Demonstrating That the Father Is the Initiator of All Divine Activity (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2018). I think the subtitle makes it fairly clear what the book’s about, but in case there’s any doubt, here is the thesis as outlined on p. 3 (accessed through the publisher’s website):

Through a biblical and exegetical study of the Father’s roles and works, this book will argue that within the inseparable operations of the Triune God, the Father is the initiator of all divine activity. This does not mean that God the Son or God the Holy Spirit are inferior, for initiation is a question of order, not rank. Scripture repeatedly affirms that there is one and only one God; that God exists eternally in three distinct persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and that these persons fully possess the divine essence and attributes. Furthermore, the initiating role of the Father is consistent with inseparable operations. Again, Scripture teaches that there are real distinctions, without ultimate separation, in regard to how the three persons of the Trinity operate. As such, this book will quite often shift the lens from their unity to their uniqueness. Thus, what this book will demonstrate is that within the undivided work of the Triune God, the distinct appropriation of the Father is to be the initiator. In the context of a loving eternal relationship with the Son and Spirit, the Father has planned and purposed all things, creating through the Son and by the Spirit, promising and accomplishing redemption through the sending of the Son and the Spirit, and perfecting salvation by bringing about a new heavens and new earth through his Son and Spirit. Finally, I believe that the role and works of the Father are best discovered through an exegetical study of all the relevant biblical texts rather than beginning with historical, philosophical or theological systems. Nevertheless, because those studies are useful in the formation of theology, I will engage them throughout the discussion.

Seems good, at least in theory. Rippee is using ‘Paterology’ as referring to the Father (cf. ‘Christology’ = Christ, ‘Pneumatology’ = Spirit), and it will be interesting to see if the term catches on (Rippee says he has found only one instance of it elsewhere). I’m sympathetic to what Rippee’s outline says, but I admit I’m wary that his overall case might lead to or imply eternal subordinationism, which I don’t agree with. The idea of the Father as initiator might encourage or be used to support male headship, the subordination of women, and the like. Still, I haven’t read the book, so I’ve no idea if Rippee will go on to say or imply anything like this at all. Regardless, That God May Be All in All could well be a good read.