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15. But in their mutual relation to one another in the Trinity
itself, if the begetter is a beginning in relation to that which he
begets, the Father is a beginning in relation to the Son, because
the begets Him; but whether the Father is also a beginning in
relation to the Holy Spirit, since it is said, "He proceeds from
the Father," is no small question. Because, if it is so, He will
not only be a beginning to that thing which He begets or makes, but
also to that which He gives. And here, too, that question comes to
light, as it can, which is wont to trouble many, Why the Holy
Spirit is not also a son, since He, too, comes forth from the
Father, as it is read in the Gospel? For the Spirit came forth,
not as born, but as given; and so He is not called a son, because
He was neither born, as the Only-begotten, nor made, so that by
the grace of God He might be born into adoption, as we are. For
that which is born of the Father, is referred to the Father only when
called Son, and so the Son is the Son of the Father, and not also
our Son; but that which is given is referred both to Him who gave,
and to those to whom He gave; and so the Holy Spirit is not only the
Spirit of the Father and of the Son who gave Him, but
He is also called ours, who have received Him: as "The salvation
of the Lord," who gives salvation, is said also to be our
salvation, who have received it. Therefore, the Spirit is both the
Spirit of God who gave Him, and ours who have received Him. Not,
indeed, that spirit of ours by which we are, because that is the
spirit of a man which is in him; but this Spirit is ours in another
mode, viz. that in which we also say, "Give us this day our
bread." Although certainly we have received that spirit also, which
is called the spirit of a man. "For what hast thou," he says,
"which thou didst not receive?" But that is one thing, which we
have received that we might be; another, that which we have received
that we might be holy. Whence it is also written of John, that he
"came in the spirit and power of Elias;" and by the spirit of Elias
is meant the Holy Spirit, whom Elias received. And the same thing
is to be understood of Moses, when the Lord says to him, "And I
will take of thy spirit, and will put it upon them;" that is, I
will give to them of the Holy Spirit, which I have already given to
thee. If, therefore, that also which is given has him for a
beginning by whom it is given, since it has received from no other
source that which proceeds from him; it must be admitted that the
Father and the Son are a Beginning of the Holy Spirit, not two
Beginnings; but as the Father and Son are one God, and one
Creator, and one Lord relatively to the creature, so are they one
Beginning relatively to the Holy Spirit. But the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit is one Beginning in respect to the
creature, as also one Creator and one God.
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