What is the intention of Scripture when it speaks of God as Father and God as Son? What does it mean that God the Son is eternally begotten by God the Father? Does “Father” and “Son” language imply a fixed ordering of rank or authority within the Godhead as some evangelicals argue today? Theologian Kevin Giles explores the biblical, historical, and theological bases for a historically orthodox understanding the eternal generation of the Son, defending throughout the book the historically orthodox position showing its fundamental meaning which is indispensable and faithful to Christian revelation.

The book will be especially helpful in the current discussion of this doctrine. It will also be of interest to students, pastors, and laypersons who want to delve into the Christian understanding of the identity of the Son of God and serious study of trinitarian theology.

"In The Eternal Generation of the Son, Kevin Giles hits a home run in terms of defending the traditional, orthodox doctrine mentioned in its title. He does it in three ways: this doctrine is the only way reasonably to interpret Scripture; it is the consensual teaching of historic Christianity; it alone safeguards against the heresy of subordinationism of the Son. Game won; case closed. Let's move on."--Roger E. Olson, professor of theology, George W. Truett Theological Seminary

IVP, 2012
6 x 9 inches 270 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0-8308-3965-0

KEVIN GILES (ThD, Australian College of Theology) is an ordained Anglican minister who was in parish ministry for forty years. He has studied in Australia, England and Germany, publishing broadly on topics such as the doctrine of the church, leadership in the apostolic age, the equality of men and women, the Trinity, and congregational life. Giles has contributed numerous articles to scholarly journals, and to IVP's Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels and Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Development. Among his books are What on Earth Is the Church?, Patterns of Ministry Among the First Christians, Jesus and the Father, and The Trinity and Subordinationism. He has also served as a minister and consulting theologian for World Vision Australia. Giles and his wife Lynley live in Melbourne, Australia and have four grown children and nine grandchildren.