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Section X.

iii.iv.i.x328 words

X.

And again, if the impious say, How will there not be three Gods and three Persons, on the supposition that they have one and the same divinity?—we shall reply: Just because God is the Cause and Father of the Son; and this Son is the image and offspring of the Father, and not His brother; and the Spirit in like manner is the Spirit of God, as it is written, “God is a Spirit.”312 And in earlier times we have this declaration from the prophet David: “By the word of the Lord were the heavens stablished, and all the power of them by the breath (spirit) of His mouth.”313 And in the beginning of the book of the creation314 it is written thus: “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”315 And Paul in his Epistle to the Romans says: “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”316 And again he says: “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.”317 And again: “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”318 And again: “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.”319 And again: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”320

Footnotes

  1. 312

    John iv. 24.

  2. 313

    Ps. xxxiii. 6.

  3. 314

    Κοσμοποιΐας.

  4. 315

    Gen. i. 2.

  5. 316

    Rom. viii. 9.

  6. 317

    Rom. viii. 11.

  7. 318

    Rom. viii. 14, 15.

  8. 319

    Rom. ix. 1.

  9. 320

    Rom. xv. 13.