Another creed, which bears
witness to the Fatherly nature of God, is the Athanasian Creed. Dealing
with, almost in its entirety, the Trinity, this creed develops further what it
means that God is Father. It is important to note the way this particular creed
develops the person of the Father by simultaneously developing the persons of
the Spirit and Son.
“Whosoever will be
saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith; which
faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall
perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God
in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the persons nor dividing
the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and
another of the Holy Spirit. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the
Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit. The Father uncreated,
the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated. The Father incomprehensible,
the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible. The Father
eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal. And yet they are not three
eternals but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated nor three
incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible. So likewise the
Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty. And yet
they are not three almighties, but one almighty. So the Father is God, the Son
is God, and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet they are not three Gods, but one
God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord; and
yet they are not three Lords but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the
Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; so
are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; there are three Gods or three
Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of
the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten. The Holy Spirit is of the
Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy
Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is afore or after
another; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are
coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in
Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be
saved must thus think of the Trinity.”[1]
As was stated above and now reiterated by the Athanasian Creed,
it is impossible to know the Christian God if the original baptismal confession
is not held. There are at least seven different characteristics or qualities of
God contained in the above quoted creed: unity, uncreated, incomprehensibility,
eternality, might, Lordship, equality, and distinctness. These themes play
together in part, portion and whole to build a robust understanding of God as
Father. For in God’s unity we see his Fatherly nature (as well as the Son’s
nature and the Spirit nature) both presented and developed; in the Son we see
the light of the glory of the Father in the face of the Son;[2]
in the Spirit we are brought into right relationship with the Father.
It
is, therefore, evident that knowledge of the Father depends on our knowledge of
the Son and Spirit and likewise the knowledge of the Son and Spirit depends on
the Father. While distinct they are inseparable, so to knowing the Father is
also to know the Son and Spirit of God, if the Father is to be known in a
Christian understanding.
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