|
|
|
5. Each Divine Hypostasis is of the same
nature and dignity as the other two.
6. The chief office of one Most Holy Hypostasis is best expressed, as in
holy Scripture; by the titles Creator and Father; of the second by the terms the
Word of God, the Son of God, the Redeemer; of the third by the words Sanctifier
and Comforter.
7. As the three Most Holy Divine Hypostases are one in nature, so they
are in will, purpose, power, eternity and in all other attributes.
8. Yet the Bible teaches that the Father is the Fountain of Deity
(πηγη
Θεοτητος : منبع
الالوهيّة), and
in this sense is greater than the Son, though in nature
(ذات) they are one.
Another statement of the doctrine of the Trinity in Unity is often given in
the following terms, which express the same truth more briefly though less
clearly:—
'There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body, parts or
passions; of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; the Maker and Preserver of all
things both visible and invisible. And in the unity of this Godhead there be
three Persons
(Hypostases اقانيم), of one substance
(ذات), power, and eternity; the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.'
We have already seen that the unity of God is taught in both the Old and the
New Testament. |
|
|
DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY TRINITY
|
139 | |
|
We now proceed to show that the existence of the three Most Holy Hypostases
in the divine unity is quite as clearly revealed.
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself showed this and taught that belief in the Most
Holy Trinity is incumbent upon all Christians. For, just before His ascension
into heaven, when giving His last commands to his disciples and sending them
forth to preach the Gospel throughout the whole world, He said: 'All 1
authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore, and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.' Here we see that the Lord Jesus Christ
speaks of these three Hypostases as being all three called by only one name.
They are three, yet they are one in the unity of the Deity. The whole doctrine
of the Trinity is here taught. For it is impossible to conceive of the Son and
the Holy Spirit as having in common with the Father the great and holy name of
God, were they in nature distinct from or inferior to Him. In the first chapter
of this tractate we have seen that both the Old and the New Testament bear
witness to the Deity of Christ, the Word of God. To that of the Father there is
no need to quote testimony, for almost every page of the holy Scriptures as well
as every page of the Book of the Universe testifies thereto.
|
|
