The first thought Anast.
Antioch., De operationibus. that arises in us is called
energy: and it is simple energy not involving any relationship,
the mind sending forth the thoughts peculiar to it in an independent
and invisible way, for if it did not do so it could not justly be
called mind. Again, the revelation and unfolding of thought by
means of articulate speech is said to be energy. But this is no
longer simple energy that involves no relationship, but it is
considered in relation as being composed of thought and speech.
Further, the very relation which he who does anything bears to that
which is brought about is energy; and the very thing that is effected
is called energy καὶ αὐτὸ
τὸ
ἀποτελούμενον; cf. Max., ad Marin. II.. The
first belongs to the soul alone, the second to the soul making use of
the body, the third to the body animated by mind, and the last is the
effect Max. tom.
ii., Dogmat. ad Marin., p. 124.. For the
mind sees beforehand what is to be and then performs it thus by means
of the body. And so the hegemony belongs to the soul, for it uses
the body as an instrument, leading and restraining it. But the
energy of the body is quite different, for the body is led and moved by
the soul. And with regard to the effect, the touching and
handling and, so to speak, the embrace of what is effected, belong to
the body, while the figuration and formation belong to the soul.
And so in connection with our Lord Jesus Christ, the power of miracles
is the energy of His divinity, while the work of His hands and the
willing and the saying, I will, be thou clean St. Matt. viii. 3., are the energy of His humanity.
And as to the effect, the breaking of the loaves St. John vi. 11., and the fact that the leper heard the
“I will,” belong to His humanity, while the multiplication
of the loaves and the purification of the leper belong to His
divinity. For through both, that is through the energy of the
body and the energy of the soul, He displayed one and the same, cognate
and equal divine energy. For just as we saw that His natures were
united and permeate one another, and yet do not deny that they are
different but even enumerate them, although we know they are
inseparable, so also in connection with the wills and the energies we
know their union, and we recognise their difference and enumerate them
without introducing separation. For just as the flesh was deified
without undergoing change in its own nature, in the same way also will
and energy are deified without transgressing their own proper
limits. For whether He is the one or the other, He is one and the
same, and whether He wills and energises in one way or the other, that
is as God or as man, He is one and the same.