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

In what manner in the confession of the three hypostases we preserve the pious dogma ofthe Monarchia. Wherein also is the refutation of them that allege that the Spirit issubnumerated.in Himself bestowing on them that love the vision of the truth the power of beholding theImage, not making the exhibition from without, but in Himself leading on to the fullknowledge. “No man knoweth the Father save the Son.” 1106 And so “no man can say thatJesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.” 1107 For it is not said through the Spirit, but bythe Spirit, and “God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit andin truth,” 1108 as it is written “in thy light shall we see light,” 1109 namely by the illuminationof the Spirit, “the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” 1110 Itresults that in Himself He shows the glory of the Only begotten, and on true worshippersHe in Himself bestows the knowledge of God. Thus the way of the knowledge of God liesfrom One Spirit through the One Son to the One Father, and conversely the natural Goodnessand the inherent Holiness and the royal Dignity extend from the Father through the Onlybegottento the Spirit. Thus there is both acknowledgment of the hypostases and the truedogma of the Monarchy is not lost. 1111 They on the other hand who support their subnumerationby talking of first and second and third ought to be informed that into the undefiledtheology of Christians they are importing the polytheism of heathen error. No otherresult can be achieved by the fell device of sub-numeration than the confession of a first, asecond, and a third God. For us is sufficient the order prescribed by the Lord. He whoconfuses this order will be no less guilty of transgressing the law than are the impious heathen.Enough has been now said to prove, in contravention of their error, that the communionof Nature is in no wise dissolved by the manner of sub-numeration. Let us, however, makea concession to our contentious and feeble minded adversary, and grant that what is secondto anything is spoken of in sub-numeration to it. Now let us see what follows. “The firstman” it is said “is of the earth earthy, the second man is the Lord from heaven.” 1112 Again301106 Matt. xi. 27, “οὐδεὶς οἶδε τὸν πατέρα εἰ μὴ ὁ Υἱ& 231·ς” substituted for “οὐ δὲ τὸν πατέρα τὶς ἐπιγνώσκειεἰ μὴ ὁ Υἱ& 231·ς.”1107 1 Cor. xii. 3.1108 John iv. 24.1109 Ps. xxxvi. 9.1110 John i. 9.1111 cf. note on p. 27 and the distinction between δόγμα and κήουγμα in § 66. “The great objection whichthe Eastern Church makes to the Filioque is, that it implies the existence of two ἀρχαὶ in the godhead; and if webelieve in δύο ἄναρχοι; we, in effect, believe in two Gods. The unity of the Godhead can only be maintained byacknowledging the Father to be the sole ᾽Αρχὴ or πηγὴ θεοτήτος, who from all eternity has communicated Hisown Godhead to His co-eternal and consubstantial Son and Spirit. This reasoning is generally true. But, as thedoctrine of the Procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son presupposes the eternal generation of theSon from the Father; it does not follow, that that doctrine impugns the Catholic belief in the Μία ᾽Αρχή.” Bp.Harold Browne, Exp. xxxix Art., Note on Art v.1112 1 Cor. xv. 47.203