Synopsis of the Epistles
SYNOPSIS OF THE EPISTLES
EPISTLE I
1. Introduction. The Character of the new heresy.
2. Tropicism destroys: the unity of the Triad and involves that the Son, as well as the Spirit, is a creature.
3-10. Refutation of the Tropicist exegesis of Amos 413.
3. The Tropici appeal to the words 'createth spirit' in Amos 413.
But 'spirit' has not the article here.
4-6. The Holy Spirit is not designated in sa be without the article. Examples.
7-8. Various meanings of 'spirit' in Scripture. Here it refers to the wind.
9. The Tropici reinforce their argument from the fact that the passage also speaks of Christ. If the force of this be conceded, we may take 'spirit' here to refer to the human spirit which is renewed by His Incarnation.
10. The rest of the passage can be accommodated to this interpretation.
10-14. Refutation of the Tropictst exegesis of 1 Timothy 521.
The Tropici argue from the silence of Paul as to the Holy Spirit in 1 Timothy 521 that He is to be numbered with the creatures.
11-12. The Spirit is never called an angel in Scripture. Zechariah 19 no exception. The Spirit is always carefully distinguished from the angels; as can be seen from Exodus 33 and other passages.
13-14. The absence of any reference to the Spirit in 1 Timothy 521 justified and paralleled. True explanation of the passage.
15-21. Refutation of the argument that the Spirit, if not a creature, must be a son.
15. The argument stated. Athanasius shows its absurdity by applying it to the Father.
SYNOPSIS OF THE EPISTLES
16. Generation in God is not as it is in man. Both Father and Son are unique.
17. We know that the Spirit is one with God in the Triad and that He is not a creature. Further speculation is futile and impertinent.
18. We do not understand the universe, let alone God.
19-20. The Scriptural illustrations of fountain and stream, light and radiance, show us that the Spirit is active in every activity of the Son. That the Son is in the Spirit as the Father is in the Son proved from Scripture.
21. Therefore, if the Spirit is a creature, the Son must be a creature also.
22-27. Proof from Scripture that the Spirit pertains to the Son, and has no likeness to the creatures.
22. He is from God; they are from nothing.
He is Spirit of holiness and renewal; they are sanctified and renewed.
23. He bestows life; they receive it.
He is unction and seal; they are sealed and anointed. f 24. In Him we partake of God; He is creator; and the Image of the Son.
-25. Though not a son, He is none the less in God and from God.
26. The Spirit is incapable of change and alteration; the creatures change.
He is omnipresent; they are circumscribed.
27. He is partaken; they partake.
He is one; they are many.
28-31. Appeal to the tradition and life of the Church.
28. The Church confesses God to be indivisible and co-active Triad.
29-30. By asserting that God is not Triad but dyad, the Tropici confess the creature with the Creator, and thus invalidate their own baptism.
THE LETTERS OF ST. ATHANASIUS
30-31. Proof of the unity of the divine activity from the Apostolic Benediction. Other passages of Scripture, notably illustrating the unity of the Spirit and the Word in the inspiration of prophecy, and in the Incarnation.
32-33. Conclusion. Exposition of 'Fohn 421, etc.
EPISTLE II-III
II. 1-9. Against the doctrine that the Son is a creature.
1. Introduction. Athanasius promises to abridge the first letter.
The scepticism of the Arians.
2. That God is fountain, light, and Father involves that His Son is coeternal and coequal. Proofs of this from Scripture.
3-4. Unity of essence involves likeness and identity of nature.
Can this be discovered between the creatures and the Son?
Relevant illustrations.
5. Having no likeness to the creatures but possessing all the qualities of the Father, the Son was confessed at Nicaea to be one in essence with Him.
6. The fact that God is Father implies that the Son is coessential.
7-8. Discussion of Proverbs 822.
9. Discussion of Mark 1332. Conclusion.
III. 1-7. Against the doctrine that the Spirit is a creature.
1. Why Athanasius has begun his abridgement by writing against the Arians. We must derive our knowledge of the Spirit from our knowledge of the Son. He is proper to the Son as the Son to the Father. Thus He is proper also to the Father.
2-4. Considerations which show that the Son is not a creature show the same of the Spirit. He comes from God; He is unction and seal; one, not many; omnipresent; creator.
5-6. The indivisibility of Son and Spirit shown from their coactivity in the inspiration of prophecy and in the Incarnation.
This is the faith of the Church which is rooted and grounded in the 'Triad.
7. If God is Triad, then the Spirit is eternal. If the Spirit is a creature, then God is a dyad expanding into a triad; and thus
His existence is contingent. Therefore God is eternally Triad.
Conclusion.
SYNOPSIS OF THE EPISTLES
EPISTLE IV
1. The obstinacy of the Tropici in insisting that if the Spirit is not a creature, He must be son either to the Father or to the Son.
2. Athanasius retorts their question upon them. Is the Spirit a son ? If so, why is Scripture silent ? If not, why is He said to be from God?
3-4. Similar questions to expose the impertinence of such speculation.
We must keep to what Scripture says. The Son is Son and the Spirit, Spirit.
5. Yet they are not to be divided. Nor may we invert the names, for that would be Sabellianism.
6. To rely on the analogy of human generation is to be led back to paganism. Men do not beget as God begets.
7. Conclusion.