10. It must now be pointed out that the phrase
“through whom” is admitted by Scripture in the case of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost alike. It would
indeed be tedious to bring forward evidence of this in the case of the
Son, not only because it is perfectly well known, but because this very
point is made by our opponents. We now show that “through
whom” is used also in the case of the Father. “God is
faithful,” it is said, “by whom (δι᾽ οὖ) ye
were called unto the fellowship of his Son,” 1 Cor. i. 9. and “Paul an apostle of Jesus
Christ by (διά) the will of God;”
and again, “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Gal. iv. 7. A.V. reads “an heir of
God through Christ;” so אCD.
R.V. with the copy used by Basil agrees with A.B. And “like as Christ was
raised up from the dead by (διά) the glory of God the
Father.” Rom. vi. 4. It is pointed out by the Rev.
C.F.H. Johnston in his edition of the De Spiritu that among
quotations from the New Testament on the point in question, St.
Basil has omitted Heb. ii.
10, “It became him
for whom (δι᾽
ὅν) are all things and through whom
(δι᾽
οὗ) are all things,” “where the
Father is described as being the final Cause and efficient Cause
of all things.”
Isaiah, moreover, says, “Woe unto them
that make deep counsel and not through the Lord;” Is. xxix. 15, lxx. and many proofs of the use of this
phrase in the case of the Spirit might be adduced.
“God hath revealed him to us,” it is said, “by
(διά) the
spirit;” 1 Cor. ii. 10. and in another
place, “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep
by (διά) the Holy
Ghost;” 2 Tim. i. 14. and again,
“To one is given by (διά) the spirit the word of
wisdom.” 1 Cor. xii. 8.