theos. The terminology had to reflect the relationship between them: and that was best done, in the Saviour’s case, by calling him Son, Word or Servant. Moreover, at key points (for example, John 3:16, Romans 8:32) the New Testament shows a clear desire to focus on the activity of God the Father, almost as if it were deliberately seeing the cross in the light of the story of Abraham offering up Isaac. In these passages the stress falls on the Father’s initiative and love. He did not spare. he gave.