we to make of the Holy Spirit? You see, if what's said about the Father and
178 SAINT A UGUSTINE - SERMONS
The Holy Spirit is true God
2. We've extricated ourselves completely from that problem. But what are we to make of the Holy Spirit? You see, if what's said about the Father and Christ, that they may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent, means "that they may know you and Jesus Christ as the one true God," we have the hard task of showing that the Holy Spirit too is true God. Well, just because he wasn't mentioned, it doesn't mean the Holy Spirit was overlooked. He is not the Spirit only of the Father, or only of the Son, but he is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son. So when he's not mentioned, and they are both named, he is understood in them, because he is both of theirs.
I am going to tell you about a particular scriptural manner of speaking, which will help you to understand what we are saying. The apostle says, Nobody knows the things of a person, except the spirit of the person which is in him. What are the things of a person? What a person thinks as a person; that, you see, is where the person properly is, in his thoughts. Does your spirit know my thoughts, or my spirit know your thoughts? Nobody knows the things of a person, except the spirit of the person which is in him, said the apostle; and he added, In the same way, the things that are God's, nobody knows except the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:11). How are we to take that? It is a very precise statement. So if the things that are God's nobody knows except the Spirit of God, then the things that are God's the Son of God doesn't know? Away with such a diabolical idea, we must banish it far away. So does the Word of God not know the things of God? So does the only Son of God not know the things of God? Does the one through whom all things were made4 not know the things of God? He knows them; and who knows them like that, but the Spirit of God? So then, just as when you hear Nobody knows the things that are God's except the Spirit of God, you don't exclude the Son from that; in the same way, when you hear that they may know you, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent, the only true God, don't exclude the
Holy Spirit.
* Father and Son are one God
3. "If he is the only true God," says heresy,5 "I don't know what it is that you people know; because none but the Father is the only true God, to whom Christ said, that they may know you, the only true God."
"Add, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." "I refuse," he says, "to add it." "But he added it himself." "But I," says he, "refuse to add it." And I refuse to listen to you. And anyway, as by your definition only the Father is true God, what are you going to say about the letter of John, where we read about Christ, He is true God and life everlasting (1 Jn 5:20)? Lastly, to whom, or about whom was it said who alone works wonders (Ps 72:18)? About the Father, or about the Son, or about both? If about the Father, then the Son doesn't work wonders. And then where do you fit in what he said himself, Just