161. How, then, do we speak of His
subjection? The Sabellians and Marcionites say that this
subjection of Christ to God the Father will be in such wise that the
Son will be re-absorbed into the Father. If, then, the subjection
of the Word means that God the Word is to be absorbed into the Father;
then whatsoever is made subject to the Father and the Son will be
absorbed into the Father and the Son, that God may be all and in all
His creatures. But it is foolish to say so. There is
therefore no subjection through re-absorption. For there are
other things which are made subject, those, that is to say, which are
created, and there is Another, to Whom that subjection is made.
Let the expounders of a cruel re-absorption keep silence.