Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

They are thus overthrown by their own selves, while our position will be on both sides
made sure. Suppose it proved that the passage refers to the Son, “of whom” will be found
applicable to the Son. Suppose on the other hand it be insisted that the prophet’s words
relate to God, then it will be granted that “through whom” is properly used of God, and
both phrases have equal value, in that both are used with equal force of God. Under either
alternative both terms, being employed of one and the same Person, will be shewn to be
equivalent. But let us revert to our subject.
9. In his Epistle to the Ephesians the apostle says, “But speaking the truth in love, may
grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ; from whom the whole body
fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body.” 752
And again in the Epistle to the Colossians, to them that have not the knowledge of the
Only Begotten, there is mention of him that holdeth “the head,” that is, Christ, “from which
all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered increaseth with the increase
of God.” 753 And that Christ is the head of the Church we have learned in another passage,
when the apostle says “gave him to be the head over all things to the Church,” 754 and “of
his fulness have all we received.” 755 And the Lord Himself says “He shall take of mine, and
shall shew it unto you.” 756 In a word, the diligent reader will perceive that “of whom” is
used in diverse manners. 757 For instance, the Lord says, “I perceive that virtue is gone out
of me.” 758 Similarly we have frequently observed “of whom” used of the Spirit. “He that
soweth to the spirit,” it is said, “shall of the spirit reap life everlasting.” 759 John too writes,
“Hereby we know that he abideth in us by (ἐκ) the spirit which he hath given us.” 760 “That
which is conceived in her,” says the angel, “is of the Holy Ghost,” 761 and the Lord says “that
which is born of the spirit is spirit.” 762 Such then is the case so far.
752 Eph. iv. 15, 16.
753 Col. ii. 19.
754 Eph. i. 22.
755 John i. 16.
756 1 John xvi. 15.
757 πολύτροποι. cf. the cognate adverb in Heb. i. 1.
758 “ἐξ ἐμοῦ ” The reading in St. Luke (viii. 46) is ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ. In the parallel passage, Mark v. 30, the words
are, “Jesus knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him,” ἐξ αὐτοῦ which D. inserts in Luke viii. 45.
759 Gal. vi. 8.
760 1 John iii. 24.
761 Matt. i. 20.
762 John iii. 6.
That v: not found “of whom” in the case of the Son and of the Spirit.
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