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August 08, 2005
Ch.X. Q.68. Divine Monarchy
THE doctrine of the Divine Monarchy, also called Subordination, is that the principle of origin and procession of the Divine Persons is one and resides in the Father. And the manner of Divine subsistence requires us to speak of the Father as first in eternal order, the Son as second, and the Holy Ghost as third.1
2. It is to be observed that (a) this doctrine expresses a truth of the Divine essence. The order is not merely economic, but real and eternal; (b) the order is one of origin and subsistence. The Father is first because the other Two proceed from Him, and He proceeds from none; the Son second because He is begotten; the Holy Ghost third because He proceeds from the other Two; (c) No Person is "afore or after other." The order is eternal, not temporal or chronological. The Three are "co-eternal together"; (d) There is no in¬equality involved. "None is greater or less than another, but the whole Three Persons are . . .co-equal."
3. The formulation of this doctrine by the ante-Nicene fathers was undertaken in defence against the accusation that the Christian doctrine of God was tritheistic. It was subsequently and sophistically developed into the Arian heresy;2 but, when held along with the doctrine of circumcession, it (a) emphasizes the Divine Unity by teaching that there is but one principle of origin in the Trinity; (b) guards the distinction of Persons by teaching the manner of Divine Unity. It needs to be emphasized repeatedly that no doctrine, however sound, can be isolated from related truths without danger of heresy.
1 Bull, Defence of Nicene Faith, Bk. IV.; Newman, Tracts Theolog., pp. 161, 167-191; St. Thos., Summa, I., xxxiii.; xlii. 3; Schouppe, Elementa, Tr. VI. § 174; Forbes, Creed, pp. 140-143; Liddon, Divinity of Christ, pp. 202 note 1, 431, 432 note n, 447; Pearson, Creed, pp. 64-67, 569, 670; Mason, Faith of the Gospel, ch. ii. § 8; Ottley, Incarnation, Vol. II., pp. 259-261.
2 Cf. Q. Ixi. 5, 6.
Posted by Debra Bullock at August 8, 2005 06:26 PM
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