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# ‘Simply Trinity,’ with Dr. Matthew Barrett
- URL: https://mereorthodoxy.com/simply-trinity-dr-matthew-barrett/
- Published: 2021-05-04T07:41:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-20T19:20:35.000Z
- Description: ‘Simply Trinity,’ with Dr. Matthew Barrett
- Author: Mere Orthodoxy
- Tags: Matthew Lee Anderson, Mere Fidelity

Punching back against Eternal Functional Subordination theory, Dr. Matthew Barrett has written [*Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit*](https://www.amazon.com/Simply-Trinity-Unmanipulated-Father-Spirit/dp/154090007X?ref=mereorthodoxy.com). Matthew, Derek, and Alastair have questions. If you’ve ever wondered why God gave us the names “Father” and “Son,” or what implications the Trinity has for our society, then this is the conversation for you. (Some free copies of Dr. Barrett’s book are available for the Merrie Band of Patreon Supporters.)

Mere Fidelity is sponsored by [Lexham Press](https://lexhampress.com/?ref=mereorthodoxy.com), and features the Lexham Press Book of the Month.

The Book of the Month is [*Funerals: For the Care of Souls by Tim Perry*](https://lexhampress.com/product/197377/funerals-for-the-care-of-souls?ref=mereorthodoxy.com). Death will strike your congregation. Are you ready? Are they? Perry’s *Funerals* will help pastors disciple their people to see through the valley of the shadow of death and into the hope beyond.

[Note that *Funerals* is still under the pre-order discount, so the usual Mere Fidelity monthly discount code does not apply.](https://lexhampress.com/product/197377/funerals-for-the-care-of-souls?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)

**Timestamps:**

Matt Anderson wants more funerals. \[0:00\]

Dr. Matthew Barrett \[2:02\]

[Book Giveaway for Patreon Supporters](https://www.patreon.com/merefidelity?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) \[3:05\]

Who’s manipulating the Trinity? \[3:17\]

How then shall we use the doctrine of the Trinity? \[9:47\]

Rahner’s Rule \[16:27\]

The Relevance of the Trinity for Worship and Ethics \[19:03\]

Eternal Functional Subordination \[24:08\]

The Social Trinity \[32:49\]

Why do we say Father and Son? \[35:37\]

To support Mere Fidelity financially, visit our Patreon [here](https://www.patreon.com/merefidelity?ty=h&ref=mereorthodoxy.com).

Follow [Derek](https://twitter.com/dzrishmawy?ref=mereorthodoxy.com), [Andrew](https://twitter.com/ajwtheology?ref=mereorthodoxy.com), and [Alastair](https://twitter.com/zugzwanged?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) for more tweet-sized brilliance. Thanks to [Timothy Crouch](https://twitter.com/program%5Fnotes?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) for keeping us organized. Thanks to [Tim Motte](https://twitter.com/biotrom?ref=mereorthodoxy.com) for sound editing. [And thanks to The Joy Eternal for lending us their music, which everybody should download out of gratitude for their kindness.](http://www.noisetrade.com/thejoyeternal/a-sweet-and-bitter-providence-single?ref=mereorthodoxy.com)