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

In how many ways “Through whom” is used; and in what sense “with whom” is moresuitable. Explanation of how the Son receives a commandment, and how He is sent.ever things He sees the Father doing, “these also doeth the Son likewise;” 887 but He enjoysour wonder at all that comes to pass out of the glory which comes to Him from the OnlyBegotten, rejoicing in the Doer Himself as well as in the greatness of the deeds, and exaltedby all who acknowledge Him as Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, “through whom [by whom,A.V.] are all things, and for whom are all things.” 888 Wherefore, saith the Lord, “All mineare thine,” 889 as though the sovereignty over created things were conferred on Him, and“Thine are mine,” as though the creating Cause came thence to Him. We are not to supposethat He used assistance in His action, or yet was entrusted with the ministry of each individualwork by detailed commission, a condition distinctly menial and quite inadequate tothe divine dignity. Rather was the Word full of His Father’s excellences; He shines forthfrom the Father, and does all things according to the likeness of Him that begat Him. Forif in essence He is without variation, so also is He without variation in power. 890 And ofthose whose power is equal, the operation also is in all ways equal. And Christ is the powerof God, and the wisdom of God. 891 And so “all things are made through [by, A.V.] him,” 892and “all things were created through [by, A.V.] him and for him,” 893 not in the dischargeof any slavish service, but in the fulfilment of the Father’s will as Creator.20. When then He says, “I have not spoken of myself,” 894 and again, “As the Fathersaid unto me, so I speak,” 895 and “The word which ye hear is not mine, but [the Father’s]which sent me,” 896 and in another place, “As the Father gave me commandment, even so Ido,” 897 it is not because He lacks deliberate purpose or power of initiation, nor yet becauseHe has to wait for the preconcerted key-note, that he employs language of this kind. Hisobject is to make it plain that His own will is connected in indissoluble union with the14887 John v. 19.888 Heb. ii. 10. cf. Rom. xi. 36, to which the reading of two manuscripts more distinctly assimilates the citation.The majority of commentators refer Heb. ii. 10, to the Father, but Theodoret understands it of the Son, and theargument of St. Basil necessitates the same application.889 John xvii. 10.890 ἀπαραλλάκτως ἔχει. cf. Jas. i. 17. παρ᾽ ῷ οὐκ ἔνι παραλλαγή. The word ἀπαράλλακτος was at first usedby the Catholic bishops at Nicæa, as implying ὁμοούσιος. Vide Athan. De Decretis, § 20, in Wace and Schaff’sed., p. 163.891 1 Cor. i. 24.892 John i. 3.893 Col. i. 16.894 John xii. 49.895 John xii. 50.896 John xiv. 24.897 John xiv. 31.168