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| Chapter I. Not only were the prophets and apostles sent by the Spirit, but also the Son of God. This is proved from Isaiah and the evangelists, and it is explained why St. Luke wrote that the same Spirit descended like a dove upon Christ and abode upon Him. Next, after establishing this mission of Christ, the writer infers that the Son is sent by the Father and the Spirit, as the Spirit is by the Father and the Son.
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Chapter I.
Not only were the prophets and apostles sent by the
Spirit, but also the Son of God. This is proved from Isaiah and
the evangelists, and it is explained why St. Luke wrote that the same
Spirit descended like a dove upon Christ and abode upon Him.
Next, after establishing this mission of Christ, the writer infers that
the Son is sent by the Father and the Spirit, as the Spirit is by the
Father and the Son.
1. In the former
book1229
we have shown by the clear evidence of
the Scriptures that the apostles and prophets were appointed, the
latter to prophesy, the former to preach the Gospel, by the Holy Spirit
in the same way as by the Father and the Son; now we add what all will
rightly wonder at, and not be able to doubt, that the Spirit was upon
Christ; and that as He sent the Spirit, so the Spirit sent the Son of
God. For the Son of God says: “The Spirit of the Lord
is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me, He hath sent Me to preach the
Gospel to the poor, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and sight to
the blind.”1230
And having
read this from the Book of Isaiah, He says in the Gospel:
“To-day hath this Scripture been fulfilled in your
ears;”1231
that He might
point out that it was said of Himself.
2. Can we, then, wonder if the Spirit sent both
the prophets and the apostles, since Christ said: “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me”? And rightly did He say
“upon Me,” because He was speaking as the Son of Man.
For as the Son of Man He
was
anointed and sent to preach the Gospel.
3. But if they believe not the Son, let them
hear the Father also saying that the Spirit of the Lord is upon
Christ. For He says to John: “Upon whomsoever thou
shalt see the Spirit descending from heaven and abiding upon Him, He it
is Who baptizeth with the Holy Spirit.”1232
God the Father said this to John,
and John heard and saw and believed. He heard from God, he saw in
the Lord, he believed that it was the Spirit Who was coming down from
heaven. For it was not a dove that descended, but the Holy Spirit
as a dove; for thus it is written: “I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven as a dove.”1233
4. As John says that he saw, so, too, wrote Mark;
Luke, however, added that the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as
a dove; you must not think that this was an incarnation, but an
appearance. He, then, brought the appearance before him, that by
means of the appearance he might believe who did not see the Spirit,
and that by the appearance He might manifest that He had a share of the
one honour in authority, the one operation in the mystery, the one gift
in the bath, together with the Father and the Son; unless perchance we
consider Him in Whom the Lord was baptized too weak for the servant to
be baptized in Him.
5. And he said fittingly, “abiding
upon Him,”1234
because the
Spirit inspired a saying or acted upon the prophets as often as He
would, but abode always in Christ.
6. Nor, again, let it move you that he said
“upon Him,” for he was speaking of the Son of Man, because
he was baptized as the Son of Man. For the Spirit is not upon
Christ, according to the Godhead, but in Christ; for, as the Father is
in the Son, and the Son in the Father, so the Spirit of God and the
Spirit of Christ is both in the Father and in the Son, for He is the
Spirit of His mouth. For He Who is of God abides in God, as it is
written: “But we received not the spirit of this world, but
the Spirit which is of God.”1235
And
He abides in Christ, Who has received from Christ; for it is written
again: “He shall take of Mine:”1236
and elsewhere: “The
law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of
sin and death.”1237
He is,
then, not over Christ according to the Godhead of Christ, for the
Trinity is not over Itself, but over all things: It is not over
Itself but in Itself.
7. Who, then, can doubt that the Spirit sent
the prophets and apostles, since the Son of God says: “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me.”1238
And elsewhere: “I am
the First, and I am also for ever, and Mine hand hath founded the
earth, and My right hand hath established the heaven; I will call them
and they shall stand up together, and shall all be gathered together
and shall hear. Who hath declared these things to them?
Because I loved thee I performed thy pleasure against Babylon, that the
seed of the Chaldæans might be taken away. I have spoken,
and I have called, I have brought him and have made his way
prosperous. Come unto Me and hear ye this. From the
beginning I have not spoken in secret, I was there when those things
were done; and now the Lord God hath sent Me and His
Spirit.”1239
Who is it
Who says: The Lord God hath sent Me and His Spirit, except He Who
came from the Father that He might save sinners? And, as you
hear, the Spirit sent Him, lest when you hear that the Son sends the
Spirit, you should believe the Spirit to be of inferior
power.
8. So both the Father and the Spirit sent
the Son; the Father sent Him, for it is written: “But the
Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My
Name.”1240
The Son sent
Him, for He said: “But when the Paraclete is come, Whom I
will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of
Truth.”1241
If, then,
the Son and the Spirit send each other, as the Father sends, there is
no inferiority of subjection, but a community of
power.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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