Father
In Nee/Lee’s Triune theology, the Father is not abstract transcendence, but source of life—the starting point from which God’s life proceeds, from which Son and Spirit draw their operation, and from which all genuine life originates.
Father as source
Nee/Lee’s Triune schema positions:
The Father is the source of life, life itself … The Father in the Son is manifested among men; therefore the Son is the manifestation of the Father.
The Father is not “first person” in abstract sense, but divine origin. All life begins here; everything of Son and Spirit proceeds from this source. It is as if Father is the spring, Son the stream flowing from it, and Spirit the water that enters us.
Fatherly content: uncreated and eternal
Nee/Lee establish the Father-content:
Only God is uncreated; only He is ‘of old and forever’ (Ps. 90:2), that is, without beginning or end. He is ‘I AM WHO I AM’ (Exodus 3:14), and always ‘the same’ (Ps. 102:27).
These are the two marks of true life: uncreated (not dependent) and eternal (unchanging). The Father possesses both fully and transmits both through His life operative in Son and Spirit.
Father against Son and Spirit
Nee/Lee’ deepest discovery is that Father, Son, and Spirit are one in content but distinct in function:
The Holy Spirit dwelling in us is as ointment oil; therefore what He does in us is to anoint. Christ dwelling in us is as life; therefore what He does in us is to live. God [Father] dwelling in us is a matter of working; therefore what He does in us is to work.
- Father — working (continuous governance)
- Son — life (inner transformation)
- Spirit — anointing (continuous imparting)
Though three operations are distinguished, they are numerically one reality.
Father’s work continuous
Nee/Lee see Father not as retreated into heaven, but continuously operative:
God [Father] dwelling in us is a matter of working; therefore what He does in us is to work.
This work is not one-time creation, but continuous inworking. The Father working makes all things operative. In the believer: Father works through Spirit and Son to reshape all things toward God’s plan.
Source: Watchman Nee & Witness Lee, The Knowledge of Life (Living Stream Ministry, 1973), chapters 1–2.