Book V. Hilary now
points out (§ 1) the controversial strength of the Arian
position. If he is silent in face of their assertion, they will
claim that he agrees with them that the Son is God only in some
inferior sense. On the other hand, if he opposes them, he will
seem to be contradicting the Mosaic revelation of the Divine
unity. In § 2 he recapitulates the argument of Book IV.,
that the witness of Scripture proves that God is not a solitary Person;
that, as he says, there is God and God. But the Arians had
a further loophole; their creed asserted (§ 3) one true God.
They might argue that Christ is indeed God, but of a nature different
from that of the Father. In refutation of this Hilary goes once
more through the history of creation (§§ 4–10), proving
that the narrative reveals not only the Son’s share in that work,
but also His equality and oneness of nature with the Father; in other
words, that He is not only God but true God. The same truth is
demonstrated from the life of Abraham (§§ 11–16).
Moreover, these self-revelations of the Son (as the Angel, on various
occasions) are anticipations of the Incarnation. He was first
seen in flesh, afterwards born in flesh. The Arians concentrate
their attention on the humble conditions of Christ’s human life,
and so, from want of a comprehensive view, fail to discern His true
Godhead. But Hilary will not anticipate the evidence of the
Gospels (§§ 17, 18). He returns to the Old Testament,
and proves his point from Jacob’s visions (§§ 19, 20),
and by the revelations made to Moses (§§ 21–23).
After a summary and an enforcement of the preceding arguments
(§§ 24, 25), he proceeds to prove from certain passages of
Isaiah that the Prophet recognised the Son as true God (§§
26–31), and that St. Paul understood him in that sense
(§§ 32, 33). Then, in §§ 34, 35, the result
which has been attained is dwelt upon. Hilary shews that it is
the Arians who fail to recognise the one true God; for Christ is true
God, yet not a second God. Finally, in §§ 36–39,
Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah are adduced as testifying that Christ is
God from God, and God in God.