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He who is first begotten is called first-born, whether he is
only-begotten or the first of a number of brothers. If then the Son
of God was called first-born, but was not called Only-begotten, we
could imagine that He was the first-born of creatures, as being a
creature. But since He is called both first-born and
Only-begotten, both senses must be preserved in His case. We say
that He is first-born of all creation since both He Himself is of
God and creation is of God, but as He Himself is born alone and
timelessly of the essence of God the Father, He may with reason be
called Only-begotten Son, first-born and not first-created. For
the creation was not brought into being out of the essence of the
Father, but by His will out of nothing. And He is called
First-born among many brethren, for although being Only-begotten,
He was also born of a mother. Since, indeed, He participated just
as we ourselves do in blood and flesh and became man, while we too
through Him became sons of God, being adopted through the baptism,
He Who is by nature Son of God became first-born amongst us who
were made by adoption and grace sons of God, and stand to Him in the
relation of brothers. Wherefore He said, I ascend unto My Father
and your Father. He did not say "our Father," but "My
Father," clearly in the sense of Father by nature, and "your
Father," in the sense of Father by grace. And "My God and your
God." He did not say "our God," but "My God:" and if you
distinguish with subtle thought that which is seen from that which is
thought, also "your God," as Maker and Lord.
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