215. But God can neither be in doubt, nor
can He be deceived. For he only is in doubt, who is ignorant of
the future; and he is deceived, who has predicted one thing, whilst
another has happened. Yet what is plainer than the fact that
Scripture states the Father to have said one thing of the Son, and that
the same Scripture proves another think to have taken place? The
Son was beaten, He was mocked, was crucified, and died. S. Matt. xxvii. 29 ff. He suffered much worse things in the
flesh than those servants who had been appointed before. Was the
Father deceived, or was He ignorant of it, or was He unable to give
help? But He that is true cannot make a mistake; for it is
written: “God is faithful Who doth not lie.” Tit. i. 2. How was He ignorant, Who knows
all? What could He not do, Who could do all?