Carson begins by surveying three common interpretations of John 5:26 among modern interpreters, including the traditional interpretation that connects this passage to eternal generation. Carson argues in favor of the traditional interpretation. He notes that in context Jesus was claiming to be God in such a way that he is not a “second” God alongside the True God. And yet the Son distinguishes himself from the Father. He does only what he sees the Father doing. But this claim to do what the Father does is a claim to be God—because he is doing all that God does. So when John 5:26 says that just as the Father has life in himself, so also the Father has given the Son life in himself, the context would affirm that this this is the self-existent life of God and that in some way the Father granted it to the Son. This does point to the doctrine of eternal generation of the Son.
Carson also reflects briefly on Lee Irons’s works on μονογενης (since the usage of that term in John forms the broader context for this text). Carson explains that Irons’s work has convinced him to change his position. However, he issues the following helpful caveats. Irons demonstrates “only begotten” as one meaning, but not as the only meaning of the term. The sense “‘only’ seems to be a perfectly adequate understanding” in Luke 7:12; 8:42; and 9:38. Second, the sense “only begotten” does not itself require eternal generation. The lexical argument that Irons makes is only a component of a much larger argument. Third, Carson dissents from Irons’s interpretation of Hebrews 11:17. He holds that “unique son” is the best understanding of that text. I would agree with Carson on these points.
Carson concludes by briefly surveying other potential eternal generation texts. He finds Hebrews 1:3 to be a compelling text, but he argues that Psalm 2:7 refers to the Messianic kingship of Christ rather than to eternal begetting.
In conclusion, Carson argues for a taxis or ordering between Father, Son, and Spirit while acknowledging that the terminology of subordination at the very least carries problematic connotations.