Chapter
VIII
.—
In reply to those who ask whether
2031
the natures of the
Lord are brought under a continuous or a discontinuous quantity
2032
.
If any one asks concerning the natures of the Lord
if they are brought under a continuous or discontinuous
quantity
2033
, we will say
that the natures of the Lord are neither one body nor one
superficies
2034
, nor one line,
nor time, nor place, so as to be reduced to a continuous
quantity. For these are the things that are reckoned
continuously.
Further note that number deals with things that differ,
and it is quite impossible to enumerate things that differ from one
another in no respect: and just so far as they differ are they
enumerated: for instance, Peter and Paul are not counted
separately in so far as they are one. For since they are one in
respect of their essence they cannot be spoken of as two natures, but
as they differ in respect of subsistence they are spoken of as two
subsistences. So that number deals with differences, and just as
the differing objects differ from one another so far they are
enumerated.
The natures of the Lord, then, are united without
confusion so far as regards subsistence, and they are divided without
separation according to the method and manner of difference. And
it is not according to the manner in which they are united that they
are enumerated, for it is not in respect of subsistence that we hold
that there are two natures of Christ: but according to the manner
in which they are divided without separation they are enumerated, for
it is in respect of the method and manner of difference that there are
two natures of Christ. For being united in subsistence and
permeating one another, they are united without confusion, each
preserving throughout its own peculiar and natural difference.
Hence, since they are enumerated according to the manner of difference,
and that alone, they must be brought under a discontinuous
quantity.
Christ, therefore
2035
, is one, perfect God and perfect
man: and Him we worship along with the Father and the Spirit,
with one obeisance, adoring even His immaculate flesh and not holding
that the flesh is not meet for worship: for in fact it is
worshipped in the one subsistence of the Word, which indeed became
subsistence for it. But in this we do not do homage to that which
is created. For we worship Him, not as mere flesh, but as flesh
united with divinity, and because His two natures are brought under the
one person and one subsistence of God the Word. I fear to touch
coal because of the fire bound up with the wood. I worship the
twofold nature of Christ because of the divinity that is in Him bound
up with flesh. For I do not
introduce a fourth person
2036
into the Trinity. God forbid! but
I confess one person of God the Word and of His flesh, and the Trinity
remains Trinity, even after the incarnation of the Word.
In reply
2037
to
those who ask whether the two natures are brought under a continuous or
a discontinuous quantity.
The natures of the Lord are neither one body nor one
superficies, nor one line, nor place, nor time, so as to be brought
under a continuous quantity: for these are the things that are
reckoned continuously. But the natures of the Lord are united
without confusion in respect of subsistence, and are divided without
separation according to the method and manner of difference. And
according to the manner in which they are united they are not
enumerated. For we do not say that the natures of Christ are two
subsistences or two in respect of subsistence. But according to
the manner in which they are divided without division, are they
enumerated. For there are two natures according to the method and
manner of difference. For being united in subsistence and
permeating one another they are united without confusion, neither
having been changed into the other, but each preserving its own natural
difference even after the union. For that which is created
remained created, and that which is uncreated, uncreated. By the
manner of difference, then, and in that alone, they are enumerated, and
thus are brought under discontinuous quantity. For things which
differ from each other in no respect cannot be enumerated, but just so
far as they differ are they enumerated; for instance, Peter and Paul
are not enumerated in those respects in which they are one: for
being one in respect of their essence they are not two natures nor are
they so spoken of. But inasmuch as they differ in subsistence
they are spoken of as two subsistences. So that difference is the
cause of number.
2031
Directed
against the Severians. See
Leont., De Sect., Act.
7;
Greg. Naz., Orat.
37.
2032
ὑπὸ
τὸ συνεχὲς
πόσον
ἀνάγονται αἱ
τοῦ Κυρίου
φύσεις, ἢ ὑπο
τὸ
διωρισμένον
.
2033
Text,
ἀνάγονται
.
Variants,
ἀναφέροιντο
and
διαφέροιντο
.
2034
μία
ἐπιφάνεια
.
2035
Cyril, De
Anath.
8
cont. Theod.
2036
The Apollinarians
attacked the orthodox as
ἀνθρωπολάτραι
,
man-worshippers
, and as making the Trinity a Quaternity by
their doctrine of two perfect natures in Christ. See
Greg.
Naz., Ep
. 1
ad Cled
.;
Athanas., Ep. ad Epictet
.;
Anastas. Antioch
.,
De Operationibus; Cyril, Contr.
Nestor
. 1.
2037
See Migne on the
position of this section.