Chapter 2.—The Father and
the Son are Together One Wisdom, as One Essence, Although Not
Together One Word.
3. Therefore the Father and the Son
together are one essence, and one greatness, and one truth, and one
wisdom. But the Father and Son both together are not one Word,
because both together are not one Son. For as the Son is referred
to the Father, and is not so called in respect to Himself, so also
the Word is referred to him whose Word it is, when it is called the
Word. Since He is the Son in that He is the Word, and He is the
Word in that He is the Son. Inasmuch, therefore, as the Father and
the Son together are certainly not one Son, it follows that the
Father and the Son together are not the one Word of both. And
therefore He is not the Word in that He is wisdom; since He is not
called the Word in respect to Himself, but only relatively to Him
whose Word He is, as He is called the Son in relation to the
Father; but He is wisdom by that whereby He is essence. And
therefore, because one essence, one wisdom. But since the Word is
also wisdom, yet is not thereby the Word because He is wisdom for
He is understood to be the Word relatively, but wisdom essentially:
let us understand, that when He is called the Word, it is meant,
wisdom that is
born
, so as to be both the Son and the Image;
and that when these two words are used, namely
wisdom
(
is
)
born
, in one of the two, namely
born
,
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both Word,
and Image, and Son, are understood, and in all these names essence
is not expressed, since they are spoken relatively; but in the
other word, namely
wisdom
, since it is spoken also in
respect to substance, for wisdom is wise in itself, essence also is
expressed, and that being of His which is to be wise. Whence the
Father and Son together are one wisdom, because one essence, and
singly wisdom of wisdom, as essence of essence. And hence they are
not therefore not one essence, because the Father is not the Son,
and the Son is not the Father, or because the Father is
un-begotten, but the Son is begotten: since by these names only
their
relative
attributes are expressed. But both together
are one wisdom and one essence; in which to be, is the same as to
be wise. And both together are not the Word or the Son, since to be
is not the same as to be the Word or the Son, as we have already
sufficiently shown that these terms are spoken
relatively.
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[Augustin sometimes denominates
the Son “begotten” (
genitus
), and sometimes “born”
(
natus
). Both terms signify that the Son is
of
the
Father; God of God, Light of Light, Essence of
Essence.—W.G.T.S.]