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22. Wherefore, having mastered this rule for interpreting the
Scriptures concerning the Son of God, that we are to distinguish in
them what relates to the form of God, in which He is equal to the
Father, and what to the form of a servant which He took, in which
He is less than the Father; we shall not be disquieted by apparently
contrary and mutually repugnant sayings of the sacred books. For both
the Son and the Holy Spirit, according to the form of God, are
equal to the Father, because neither of them is a creature, as we
have already shown: but according to the form of a servant He is less
than the Father, because He Himself has said, "My Father is
greater than I;" and He is less than Himself, because it is said
of Him, He emptied Himself;" and He is less than the Holy
Spirit, because He Himself says, "Whosoever speaketh a word
against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever
speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven Him."
And in the Spirit too He wrought miracles, saying: "But if I
with the Spirit of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God
is come upon you." And in Isaiah He says, in the lesson which He
Himself read in the synagogue, and showed without a scruple of doubt
to be fulfilled concerning Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord
God," He says, "is upon me: because He hath anointed me to
preach good tidings unto the meek He hath sent me to proclaim liberty
to the captives," etc.: for the doing of which things He therefore
declares Himself to be "sent," because the Spirit of God is upon
Him. According to the form of God, all things were made by Him;
according to the form of a servant, He was Himself made of a woman,
made under the law. According to the form of God, He and the
Father are one; according to the form of a servant, He came not to
do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. According to
the form of God, "As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He
given to the Son to have life in Himself;" according to the form of
a servant, His "soul is sorrowful even unto death;" and, "O my
Father," He says, "if it be possible, let this cup pass from
me." According to the form of God, "He is the True God, and
eternal life;" according to the form of a servant, "He became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." 23. According
to the form of God, all things that the Father hath are His, and
"All mine," He says, "are Thine, and Thine are mine;"
according to the form of a servant, the doctrine is not His own, but
His that sent Him.
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