st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

"
ON THE MAHOMETAN CONTROVERSY. 95
CHR. Then, as none but God could create them,
there must have been a time when God was without
Word and without Spirit. Take care that you leave
us not an imperfect and mutilated Godhead, in your
aversion from the principle of Association."
MAH. But this is playing with the terms we use.
You call your Scriptures the Word of God. You
would not maintain by that that they too are un
created.
CH-R. No, for the term used to denote them is
different. We call the Scriptures rhemata, not logia ;
and if in any passage (as in the Psalm : The words of
the Lord are pure words) the latter term is employed,
we account for it
by saying that the writer is speaking
figuratively, and not with literal precision. We apply
not to the written word of Scripture the title due to
the incarnate Word of God.
"
MAH. Incarnate Word of God," you say. Now
if this Christ of yours be God, how should we read
of His eating and drinking, of His sleeping, of His
crucifixion and death ?
CHR. I answer : in respect of His human nature,
taken from the Holy Virgin, he was subject to those
affections, and did perform those acts. But in so far
as He was the eternal Word of God, it was otherwise;
for that part of his nature could not feel human
weaknesses, could not sleep or die.
MAH. Does not your worship of Christ lead to
idolatry? You adore the cross, a thing to us
detestable.
CHR. You, at any rate, are not entitled to reproach
us with idolatry. Do you not absolutely wear away