30. That is, neither like the Son nor like the Holy Spirit.
Book VII 345
Conclusion: he hopes readers will at least have learned how to discuss hard questions without making rash assertions
43. Now, at any rate, I will affirm nothing as certain about the soul, which God breathed into the man by blowing into his face, except that it comes from God in such a way as not to be the substance of God and yet to be incorporeal; that is, not a body, but a spirit, not begotten of the substance of God nor proceeding from the substance of God,30 but made by God; and not made in such a way that the nature of any kind of body or of non-rational soul can be turned into its nature; and consequently made from nothing. Also that it is immortal as regards life in the ordinary sense, life which it cannot lose in any way at all; but that as regards a kind of mutability by which it can change for better or for worse, it cannot improperly also be seen as mortal, since he alone has true immortality about whom it is strictly and exclusively said, who alone has immortality (I Tm 6:16).
I trust that everything else I have said in this volume by way ofdiscussion will at least have this value for readers, that they will either have learned how matters on which scripture does not speak plainly are to be investigated without making rash assertions; or else, ifthey are not satisfied with this mannerofinvestigation, that they will let me know how they would set about it. Then if they have some thing to teach me, I hope I will not reject it, while if they have not, let them join me in seeking the one from whom we all have lessons to learn.
30. That is, neither like the Son nor like the Holy Spirit.