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| It is Shown by Reason that in God Three are Not Anything Greater Than One Person.
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Chapter 1.—It is Shown by Reason that in God Three are
Not Anything Greater Than One Person.
2. For we say that in this Trinity
two or three persons are not anything greater than one of them;
which carnal perception does not receive, for no other reason
except because it perceives as it can the true things which are
created, but cannot discern the truth itself by which they are
created; for if it could, then the very corporeal light would in no
way be more clear than this which we have said. For in respect to
the substance of truth, since it alone truly is, nothing is
greater, unless because it more truly is.662
| 662 [In this and the following
chapter, the meaning of Augustin will be clearer, if the Latin
“veritas,” “vera,” and “vere,” are
rendered occasionally, by “reality,” “real,” and
“really.” He is endeavoring to prove the equality of the three
persons, by the fact that they are equally real (true), and the
degree of their reality (truth) is the same. Real being is true
being; reality is truth. In common phraseology, truth and reality
are synonymous.—W.G.T.S.] | But in respect to whatsoever is
intelligible and unchangeable, no one thing is more truly than
another, since all alike are unchangeably eternal; and that which
therein is called great, is not great from any other source than
from that by which it truly is. Wherefore, where magnitude itself
is truth, whatsoever has more of magnitude must needs have more of
truth; whatsoever therefore has not more of truth, has not also
more of magnitude. Further, whatsoever has more of truth is
certainly more true, just as that is greater which has more of
magnitude; therefore in respect to the substance of truth that is
more great which is more true. But the Father and the Son together
are not more truly than the Father singly, or the Son singly. Both
together, therefore, are not anything greater than each of them
singly. And since also the Holy Spirit equally is truly, the Father
and Son together are not anything greater than He, since neither
are they more truly. The Father also and the Holy Spirit together,
since they do not surpass the Son in truth (for they are not more
truly), do not surpass Him either in magnitude. And so the Son and
the Holy Spirit together are just as great as the Father alone,
since they are as truly. So also the Trinity itself is as great as
each several person therein. For where truth itself is magnitude,
that is not more great which is not more true: since in regard to
the essence of truth, to be true is the same as to be, and to be is
the same as to be great; therefore to be great is the same as to be
true. And in regard to it, therefore, what is equally true must
needs also be equally great.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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