![](/graphics/NEW_SIDE_REF_E3.jpg)
Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| The Son of God, Who Ever Is, is To-Day Begotten in the Minds and Sense of the Faithful. PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP
Chapter IX.—The Son
of God, Who Ever Is, is To-Day Begotten in the Minds and Sense of the
Faithful.
Now, in perfect agreement and correspondence with what
has been said, seems to be this which was spoken by the Father from above
to Christ when He came to be baptized in the water of the Jordan,
“Thou art my son: this day have I begotten
thee;”2731 for it is to
be remarked that He was declared to be His Son unconditionally, and
without regard to time; for He says “Thou art,” and not
“Thou hast become,” showing that He had neither recently
attained to the relation of Son, nor again, having begun before, after
this had an end, but having been previously begotten,2732
2732
Certain phrases like this have led to the opinion that Methodius
was inclined to Arianism. There is no ground for the
supposition. In the writer’s mind, as is clear from the
previous statements, the previous generation was
eternal.—Tr. | that He was to be, and was the
same. But the expression, “This day have I begotten
thee,” signifies that He willed that He who existed before the
ages in heaven should be begotten on the earth—that is, that He
who was before unknown should be made known. Now, certainly,
Christ has never yet been born in those men who have never perceived
the manifold wisdom of God—that is, has never been known, has
never been manifested, has never appeared to them. But if these
also should perceive the mystery of grace, then in them too, when they
were converted and believed, He would be born in knowledge and
understanding. Therefore from hence the Church is fitly said to
form and beget the male Word in those who are cleansed.2733
2733
In the baptismal font. | So far
I have spoken according to my ability concerning the travail of the
Church; and here we must change to the subject of the dragon and the
other matters. Let us endeavour, then, to explain it in some
measure, not deterred by the greatness of the obscurity of the
Scripture; and if anything difficult comes to be considered, I will
again help you to cross it like a river.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|