|
HOME | GREEK LANGUAGE |
LIBRARIES |
BLOG | HELP | SEARCH | BOOKSTORE | FREEWARE |
|
|
Translated by W. Moore and H. A. Wilson
St Gregory of Nyssa Resources Online and in Print
|
This Part: 128 Pages
Page 108
Book VII.
ยง1. The seventh book shows from various statements made to the Corinthians and to the Hebrews, and from the words of the Lord, that the word "Lord" is not expressive of essence, according to Eunomius' exposition, but of dignity. and after many notable remarks concerning "the Spirit" and the Lord, he shows that Eunomius, from his own words, is found to argue in favour of orthodoxy, though without intending it, and to be struck by his own shafts.
Since, however, Eunomius asserts that the word "Lord" is used in reference to the essence and not to the dignity of the Only-begotten, and cites as a witness to this view the Apostle, when he says to the Corinthians, "Now the Lord is the Spirit [811] ," it may perhaps be opportune that we should not pass over even this error on his part without correction. He asserts that the word "Lord" is significative of essence, and by way of proof of this assumption he brings up the passage above mentioned. "The Lord," it says, "is the Spirit [812] ." But our friend who interprets Scripture at his own sweet will calls "Lordship" by the name of "essence," and thinks to bring his statement to proof by means of the words quoted. Well, if it had been said by Paul, "Now the Lord is essence," we too would have concurred in his argument. But seeing that the inspired writing on the one side says, "the Lord is the Spirit," and Eunomius says on the other, "Lordship is essence," I do not know where he finds support for his statement, unless he is prepared to say again [813] that the word "Spirit" stands in Scripture for "essence." Let us consider, then, whether the Apostle anywhere, in his use of the term "Spirit," employs that word to indicate "essence." He says, "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirit [814] ," and "no one knoweth the things of a man save the Spirit of man which is in him [815] ," and "the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life [816] ," and "if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live [817] ," and "if we live in the Spirit let us also walk in the Spirit [818] ."
[811] 2 Cor. iii. 17.
[812] 2 Cor. iii. 17.
[813] It is not quite clear whether palin is to be constructed with legoi or with keisthai, but the difference in sense is slight.
[814] Rom. viii. 16.
[815] 1 Cor. ii. 11.
[816] 2 Cor. iii. 6.
[817] Rom. viii. 13.
[818] Gal. v. 25.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/nyssa/against-eunomius-2.asp?pg=108
