Chapter XI:
CHAPTER XI: WHICH CONTAINS THE FOURTH ARGUMENT DRAWN FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT FOR AFFIRMING THE MYSTERY OF THE TRINITY
[The fourth argument from the Old Testament: The Aaronic benediction.]
§ 152. The fourth principal foundation drawn from the Old Testament for asserting the mystery of the Trinity is taken from the ecclesiastical benediction in Num. 6:22–27: “The Lord spoke to Moses saying: ‘Say to Aaron and his sons: You will bless the sons of Israel by saying to them: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His face upon you and give you peace. And they will put My name upon the sons of Israel, and I shall bless them.’ ” We showed in a special disputation on this benediction that this formula of benediction was considered and also should have been considered by the Israelites to be of the greatest value and importance. We showed this: (1) From the naming of its principal author. (2) From the condition of its instrumental cause. (3) From the promise added. (4) From the solemn recitation of the benediction. (5) From the daily, frequent use of this benediction.
We demonstrated the mystery of the Trinity from this benediction by proving from it (1) the trinity of persons and (2) the unity of the divine essence. We showed that the trinity of persons is expressed in it: (a) From the threefold repetition of the name “Jehovah.” (b) From the enumeration of distinct benefits. (c) From the application of each to the analogy of faith. (d) From a comparison with other passages of Scripture. (e) From the testimony of Christian interpreters. (f) From the ritual that they customarily observed in pronouncing that blessing in a special way.
The unity of the divine essence is revealed by: (a) The singular name “Jehovah.” (b) The singular pronoun or suffix. (c) The singular verb. All this we proved in detail, and to those points that our adversaries have brought up in opposition we have responded in the disputation that is found in Disputat. theol., part 2, to which we send our kind reader.