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Translated by W. Moore and H. A. Wilson
St Gregory of Nyssa Resources Online and in Print
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This Part: 128 Pages
Page 11
For the Son gives the name of "Comforter" equally to Himself and to the Holy Spirit [455] ; and the Father, where He is said to work comfort, surely claims as His own the name of "Comforter." For assuredly he Who does the work of a Comforter does not disdain the name belonging to the work: for David says to the Father, "Thou, Lord, hast holpen me and comforted me [456] ," and the great Apostle applies to the Father the same language, when he says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who comforteth us in all our tribulation [457] "; and John, in one of his Catholic Epistles, expressly gives to the Son the name of Comforter [458] . Nay, more, the Lord Himself, in saying that another Comforter would be sent us, when speaking of the Spirit, clearly asserted this title of Himself in the first place. But as there are two senses of the word parakalein [459] ,--one to beseech, by words and gestures of respect, to induce him to whom we apply for anything, to feel with us in respect of those things for which we apply,--the other to comfort, to take remedial thought for affections of body and soul,--the Holy Scripture affirms the conception of the Paraclete, in either sense alike, to belong to the Divine nature. For at one time Paul sets before us by the word parakalein the healing power of God, as when he says, "God, Who comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus [460] "; and at another time he uses this word in its other meaning, when he says, writing to the Corinthians, "Now we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God [461] ." Now since these things are so, in whatever way you understand the title "Paraclete," when used of the Spirit, you will not in either of its significations detach Him from His community in it with the Father and the Son. Accordingly, he has not been able, even though he wished it, to belittle the glory of the Spirit by ascribing to Him the very attribute which Holy Scripture refers also to the Father and to the Son.
[455] S. John xiv. 16
[456] Ps. lxxvi. 17.
[457] 2 Cor. i. 3-4.
[458] 1 S. John ii. 1. (The word is in the A.V. rendered "advocate.")
[459] From which is derived the name Paraclete, i.e. Comforter or Advocate.
[460] 2 Cor. vii. 6.
[461] 2 Cor. v. 20.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/nyssa/against-eunomius-2.asp?pg=11
