NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

That v: not found “of whom” in the case of the Son and of the Spirit.ility, but rarity, as in the passage “Who will rise up for me against the evil doers?” 739 and“What man is he that desireth life?” 740 and “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” 741So is it in the passage in question, “Who hath directed [lxx., known] the Spirit of the Lord,or being his counsellor hath known him?” “For the Father loveth the Son and sheweth himall things.” 742 This is He who holds the earth, and hath grasped it with His hand, whobrought all things to order and adornment, who poised 743 the hills in their places, andmeasured the waters, and gave to all things in the universe their proper rank, who encompasseththe whole of heaven with but a small portion of His power, which, in a figure, theprophet calls a span. Well then did the apostle add “Of him and through him and to himare all things.” 744 For of Him, to all things that are, comes the cause of their being, accordingto the will of God the Father. Through Him all things have their continuance 745 and constitution,746 for He created all things, and metes out to each severally what is necessary forits health and preservation. Wherefore to Him all things are turned, looking with irresistiblelonging and unspeakable affection to “the author” 747 and maintainer “of” their “life,” as itis written “The eyes of all wait upon thee,” 748 and again, “These wait all upon thee,” 749 and“Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” 7508. But if our adversaries oppose this our interpretation, what argument will save themfrom being caught in their own trap?For if they will not grant that the three expressions “of him” and “through him” and “tohim” are spoken of the Lord, they cannot but be applied to God the Father. Then withoutquestion their rule will fall through, for we find not only “of whom,” but also “throughwhom” applied to the Father. And if this latter phrase indicates nothing derogatory, whyin the world should it be confined, as though conveying the sense of inferiority, to the Son?If it always and everywhere implies ministry, let them tell us to what superior the God ofglory 751 and Father of the Christ is subordinate.739 Ps. xciv. 16.740 Ps. xxxiv. 12.741 Ps. xxiv. 3.742 John v. 20.743 ἰσοῤ& 191·οπία. cf. Plat. Phæd. 109, A.744 Rom. xi. 38.745 διαμονή. cf. Arist. de Sp. i. 1.746 cf. Col. i. 16, 17.747 Acts iii. 15.748 Ps. cxlv. 15.749 Ps. civ. 27.750 Ps. cxlv. 16.751 Ps. xxix. 3; Acts vii. 2.150