{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/210/2100205.htm","path":"chr/ecf/210/2100205.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/210/2100205.htm","text":"Twelve names of the Son of God are recounted, being distributed into three classes. These names are so many proofs of the eternity not only of the Son, but of the Father also. Furthermore, they are compared with the twelve stones in the High Priest\u2019s breastplate, and their inseparability is shown by a new distribution of them. Returning to the comparison with the High Priest\u2019s breastplate, the writer sets forth the beauty of the woven-work and the precious stones of the mystic raiment, and the hidden meaning of that division into woven-work and precious stones, which being done, he expounds the comparison drawn by him, showing that faith must be woven in with works, and adds a short summary of the same faith, as concerning the Son.\n1. Enough hath been said, as I think, your sacred Majesty, in the book preceding to show that the Son of God is an eternal being, not diverse from the Father, begotten, not created: we have also proved, from passages of the Scriptures, that God\u2019s true Son is God, 1894 and is declared so to be by the evident tokens of His Majesty.\n2. Wherefore, albeit what hath already been set forth is plentiful even to overflowing for maintaining the Faith\u2014seeing that the greatness of a river is mostly judged of from the manner in which its springs rise and flow forth\u2014still, to the end that our belief may be the plainer to sight, the waters of our spring ought, methinks, to be parted off into three channels. There are, then, firstly, plain tokens declaring essential inherence in the Godhead; secondly, the expressions of the likeness of the Father and the Son; and lastly, those of the undoubtable unity of the Divine Majesty. Now of the first sort are the names \u201cbegetting,\u201d \u201cGod,\u201d \u201cSon,\u201d \u201cThe Word;\u201d 1895 of the second, \u201cbrightness,\u201d \u201cexpression,\u201d \u201cmirror,\u201d \u201cimage;\u201d 1896 and of the third, \u201cwisdom,\u201d \u201cpower,\u201d \u201ctruth,\u201d \u201clife.\u201d 1897\n3. These tokens so declare the nature of the Son, that by them you may know both that the Father is eternal, and that the Son is not diverse from Him; for the source of generation is He Who is, 1898 and as begotten of the Eternal, He is God; coming forth from the Father, He is the Son; 1899 from God, He is the Word; He is the radiance of the Father\u2019s glory, the expression of His substance, 1900 the counterpart of God, 1901 the image of His majesty; the Bounty of Him Who is bountiful, the Wisdom of Him Who is wise, the Power of the Mighty One, the Truth of Him Who is true, 1902 the Life of the Living One. 1903 In agreement, therefore, stand the attributes of Father and Son, that none may suppose any diversity, or doubt but that they are of one Majesty. For each and all of these names would we furnish examples of their use were we not constrained by a desire to maintain our discourse within bounds.\n4. Of these twelve, as of twelve precious stones, is the pillar of our faith built up. For these are the precious stones\u2014sardius, jasper, smaragd, chrysolite, and the rest,\u2014woven into the robe of holy Aaron, 1904 even p. 224 of him who bears the likeness of Christ, 1905 that is, of the true Priest; stones set in gold, and inscribed with the names of the sons of Israel, twelve stones close joined and fitting one into another, for if any should sunder or separate them, the whole fabric of the faith falls in ruins.\n5. This, then, is the foundation of our faith\u2014to know that the Son of God is begotten; if He be not begotten, neither is He the Son. Nor yet is it sufficient to call Him Son, unless you shall also distinguish Him as the Only-begotten Son. If He is a creature, He is not God; if He is not God, He is not the Life; if He is not the Life, then is He not the Truth.\n6. The first three tokens, therefore, that is to say, the names \u201cgeneration,\u201d \u201cSon,\u201d \u201cOnly-begotten,\u201d do show that the Son is of God originally and by virtue of His own nature.\n7. The three that follow\u2014to wit, the names \u201cGod,\u201d \u201cLife,\u201d \u201cTruth,\u201d reveal His Power, whereby He hath laid the foundations of, and upheld, the created world. \u201cFor,\u201d as Paul said, \u201cin Him we live and move and have our being;\u201d 1906 and therefore, in the first three the Son\u2019s natural right, 1907 in the other three the unity of action subsisting between Father and Son is made manifest.\n8. The Son of God is also called the \u201cimage\u201d and \u201ceffulgence\u201d and \u201cexpression\u201d [of God], for these names have disclosed the Father\u2019s incomprehensible and unsearchable Majesty dwelling in the Son, and the expression of His likeness in Him. These three names, then, as we see, refer to [the Son\u2019s] likeness [to the Father]. 1908\n9. We have yet the operations of Power, Wisdom, and Justice left, wherewith, severally, to prove [the Son\u2019s] eternity. 1909\n10. This, then, is that robe, adorned with precious stones; this is the amice of the true Priest; this the bridal garment; here is the inspired weaver, who well knew how to weave that work. No common woven work is it, whereof the Lord spake by His Prophet: \u201cWho gave to women their skill in weaving?\u201d 1910 No common stones again, are they\u2014stones, as we find them called, \u201cof filling;\u201d 1911 for all perfection depends on this p. 225 condition, that there be nought lacking. They are stones joined together and set in gold\u2014that is, of a spiritual kind; the joining of them by our minds and their setting in convincing argument. Finally Scripture teaches us how far from common are these stones, inasmuch as, whilst some brought one kind, and others another, of less precious offerings, these the devout princes brought, wearing them upon their shoulders, and made of them the \u201cbreastplate of judgment,\u201d that is, a piece of woven work. Now we have a woven work, when faith and action go together.\n11. Let none suppose me to be misguided, in that I made at first a threefold division, each part containing four, and afterwards a fourfold division, each part containing three terms. The beauty of a good thing pleases the more, if it be shown under various aspects. For those are good things, whereof the texture of the priestly robe was the token, that is to say, either the Law, or the Church, which latter hath made two garments for her spouse, as it is written 1912 \u2014the one of action, the other of spirit, weaving together the threads of faith and works. Thus, in one place, as we read, she makes a groundwork of gold, and afterwards weaves thereon blue, and purple, with scarlet, and white. Again, [as we read] elsewhere, she first makes little flowerets of blue and other colours, and attaches gold, and there is made a single priestly robe, to the end that adornments of diverse grace and beauty, made up of the same bright colours, may gain fresh glory by diversity of arrangement.\n12. Moreover (to complete our interpretation of these types), it is certain that by refined gold and silver are designated the oracles of the Lord, whereby our faith stands firm. \u201cThe oracles of the Lord are pure oracles, silver tried in the fire, refined of dross, purified seven times.\u201d 1913 Now blue is like the air we breathe and draw in; purple, again, represents the appearance of water; scarlet signifies fire; and white linen, earth, for its origin is in the earth. 1914 Of these four elements, again, the human body is composed. 1915\n13. Whether, then, you join to faith already present in the soul, bodily acts agreeing thereto; or acts come first, and faith be joined as their companion, presenting them to God\u2014here is the robe of the minister of religion, here the priestly vestment.\n14. Faith is profitable, therefore, when her brow is bright with a fair crown of good works. 1916 This faith\u2014that I may set the matter forth shortly\u2014is contained in the following principles, which cannot be overthrown. If the Son had His origin in nothing, He is not Son; if He is a creature, He is not the Creator; if He was made, He did not make all things; if He needs to learn, He hath no foreknowledge; if He is a receiver, He is not perfect; if He progress, 1917 He is not God. If He is unlike (the Father) He is not the (Father\u2019s) image; if He is Son by grace, He is not such by nature; 1918 if He have no part in the Godhead, He hath it in Him to sin. 1919 \u201cThere is none good, but Godhead.\u201d 1920\nor \u201cthat God\u2019s Son is true God.\u201d \u201cvery God.\u201d\n223:1895\nJohn 1:14, 18, Heb. 1:5, Rom. 9:5, Rom. 1:3, John 1:1, 14.\n223:1896\nHeb. 1:3, John 14:9, Col. 1:15.\n223:1897\n1 Cor. 1:24, John 14:6, John 11:25.\n223:1898\ni.e., \u1f41 \u1f64\u03bd. Ex. iii. 14 (LXX.)\u2014\u03ba\u03b1\u1fd2 \u03b5\u1f36\u03c0\u03b5\u03bd \u1f41 \u0398\u03b5\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u039c\u03c9\u03c5\u03c3\u1fc6\u03bd, \u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03c9\u03bd \u1fbd\u0395\u03b3\u03ce \u03b5\u1f30\u03bc\u03b9 \u1f41 \u1fcd\u03a9\u03bd. Cf. S. John 8:58, John 18:6, Rev. 1:4, 8, Rev. 4:8.\n223:1899\nS. John 8:42, John 16:27.\n223:1900\nHeb. i. 3. \u1f00\u03c0\u03b1\u03c5\u03b3\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b4\u03cc\u03be\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c7\u03b1\u03c1\u03b1\u03ba\u03c4\u1f74\u03c1 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u1f51\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ac\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f51. \u1fbd \u1f31\u03c0\u03cc\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03c2 is rendered \u201cperson\u201d in the A.V. The R.V. 1881 has \u201ceffulgence of His glory and very image of His substance,\u201d and in the margin \u201cthe impress of His substance.\u201d The Son does not reproduce the person of the Father\u2014otherwise there would be no distinction, but confusion, of Persons, but He does reproduce or represent the substance, or essence, of the Father\u2014i.e., the \u03bb\u03cc\u03b3\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03bf\u1f50\u03c3\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 is the same for both Persons.\n223:1901\n\u201cspeculum Dei\u201d\u2014lit. \u201cmirror of God.\u201d\n223:1902\nJer. 10:10, John 14:6, John 17:3, 1 John 5:20.\n223:1903\nDeut. 5:26, Rom. 14:11, John 11:25, John 5:26, 1 John 1:2, 1 John 5:20.\n223:1904\nSee Ex. xxviii. 15-21. The precious stones set in the breastplate are named as follows:\nSeptuagint Vulgate A.V. 1611 R.V. 1881\ni. \u03c3\u03ac\u03c1\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd i. lapis sardius i. sardius (m. ruby) i. sardius or ruby\n\u03c3\u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 smaragdus. carbuncle carbuncle or emerald\nii. \u1f02\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03b1\u03be ii. carbunculus ii. emerald ii. emerald or carbuncle\n\u03c3\u03ac\u03c0\u03c6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 sapphirus sapphire sapphire\n\u1f34\u03b1\u03c3\u03c0\u03b9\u03c2 jaspis diamond diamond or sardonyx\niii. \u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd iii. ligurius iii. ligure iii. jacinth or amber\n\u1f00\u03bc\u03b5\u03b8\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 amethystus amethyst amethyst\niv. \u03c7\u03c1\u03c5\u03c3\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03b8\u03bf\u03c2 iv. chrysolitus iv. beryl iv. beryl or chalcedony\n\u03b2\u03b7\u03c1\u03cd\u03bb\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03b2. beryllus onyx onyx or beryl\n\u1f40\u03bd\u03cd\u03c7\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1. onychinus jasper jasper\nWith the mystic jewel-work of the High Priest\u2019s breastplate\u2014the \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd \u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2, rationale judicii\u2014compare the \u201ccovering of the King of Tyrus.\u201d \u2014Ezek. xxviii. 13.\n1. \u03c3\u03ac\u03c1\u03b4\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd. 1. sardius 1. sardius or ruby 1. sardius or ruby\n2. \u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03ac\u03b6\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd 2. topazius 2. topaz 2. topaz\n3. \u03c3\u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03b1\u03b3\u03b4\u03bf\u03c2 6. jaspis ? diamond ? diamond\n4. \u1f03\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03b1\u03be 10. chrysolitus 11. beryl or chrysolite 10 11. beryl\n5. \u03c3\u03ac\u03c0\u03c6\u03b5\u03b9\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 12. onyx 12. onyx 12. onyx\n6. \u1f34\u03b1\u03c3\u03c0\u03b9\u03c2 11. berillus ? jasper ? jasper\n7. \u03bb\u03b9\u03b3\u03cd\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 5. sapphirus 5. sapphire 5. sapphire\n8. \u1f00\u03c7\u03ac\u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 4. carbunculus 3. emerald or chrysoprase 3. emerald or carbuncle 4\n9. \u1f00\u03bc\u03ad\u03b8\u03c5\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 3. smaragdus 4. carbuncle 4. carbuncle or emerald 3\nAlso the foundations of the Heavenly City.\u2014 Rev. xxi. 19 f.\nThe Heavenly City had 12 gates\u2014each one a pearl\u2014inscribed with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The foundations were inscribed with the names of the Twelve Apostles.\nThese precious stones have been identified as follows, taking the High Priest\u2019s breastplate:\ni. 1. Red carnelian 2. Chrysolite (greenish-yellow) 3. Emerald\nii. 4. Carbuncle 5. Lapis Lazuli (blue) 6. Jasper (Greek chalcedony, dark green)\niii. 7. Jacinth 8. Agate (white, with red or green grain) 9. Amethyst (blue transparent quartz)\niv. 10. Topaz (gold -brown) 11. Aquamarine (dark blue) 12. Banded Carnelian (black and white, or\n224:1905\nAaron the type of Christ the Priest. See Heb. 4:15, Heb. 5:1, Heb. 7:28, Heb. 8:7.\n224:1906 224:1907\nsc. to the name and title of God.\n224:1908\nSee Heb. i. 3. \u201cSplendor\u201d is St. Ambrose\u2019s rendering of \u1f00\u03c0\u03b1\u03cd\u03b3\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1. Theodoret says: \u201cThe radiance\u201d (or \u201ceffulgence\u201d) \u201cof a fire comes from it and accompanies it. The fire causes the radiance, but the radiance is inseparable from the fire. Also the radiance of the fire is of the same nature with it; so also is the Son of the same nature with the Father.\u201d Theophylact\u2014\u201cThe sun is never seen without his radiance, and we cannot think of a father without his child.\u201d Delitzsch\u2014\u201cIt is no nimbus around God that is here called His \u201cglory,\u201d but God\u2019s own inconceivable, spiritual fire and brightness (die \u00fcbersinnliche geistige Feuer und Lichtnatur Gottes selber), which He, in order to reveal Himself to Himself, makes an object to Himself\u201d (aus sich heraussetzt).\n224:1909\n\u201cThe act of knowing and comprehending all things necessarily includes the expression of mind-work or wisdom, that is, the Word, and without this it cannot even be conceived of. Rightly, then, did the Fathers deduce the eternity of the Word from the eternity of the Father.\u201d\u2014Hurter, ad loc.\n224:1910\nSt. Ambrose\u2019s rendering of this passage (Job xxxviii. 36) agrees with the LXX.\u2014\u03c4\u03af\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f14\u03b4\u03c9\u03ba\u03b5 \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9\u03be\u1f76\u03bd \u1f51\u03c6\u03ac\u03c3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c3\u03bf\u03c6\u03af\u03b1\u03bd, \u1f24 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03ba\u03b9\u03bb\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u1f74\u03bd \u1f10\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd. The A.V. 1611 has: \u201cWho hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?\u201d R.V. has \u201cdark clouds\u201d and \u201cmeteor\u201d as marginal substitutes for \u201cinward parts\u201d and \u201cheart.\u201d Vulgate\u2014Quis posuit in visceribus hominis sapientiam? vel quis dedit gallo intelligentiam?\n224:1911\nEx. xxxv. 27. \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bf\u1f31 \u1f04\u03c1\u03c7\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f24\u03bd\u03b5\u03b3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03bb\u03af\u03b8\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03c3\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03ac\u03b3\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03af \u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03bb\u03af\u03b8\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03c9\u03c3\u03b5\u03c9\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u03c9\u03bc\u03af\u03b4\u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bf\u03bd.\u2014 LXX. Lapides onycninos et gemmas ad superhumerale et rationale.\u2014Vulg. \u201cStones to be set.\u201d\u2014A.V. & R.V. The LXX. gives the closest rendering of the Hebrew.\n225:1912\nProv. 31:21, 22. St. Ambrose appears to follow the LXX., whose rendering of the passage is different from the Vulgate, with which our English versions agree. With what follows in the text, cf. Exod. 28:33, 34, 5, 6.\n225:1913\nPs. 12:6, 7, Prov. 30:5.\n225:1914\nThese colours entered into the fashioning of the High Priest\u2019s Ephod (Exod. 28:5, 6) and the Vail of the Tabernacle. Probably a little symbolism was attached to the ornaments of Ahasuerus\u2019 palace of Susa, \u201cwhere were white, green, and blue\u201d (or violet) \u201changings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble.\u201d White and green might represent the earth, blue the air, purple the sea and water generally, in the curtains: whilst in the variegated marble pavement, red would naturally symbolize fire, blue the air, white water (as colourless when pure), black earth (the soil). Notice \u201cthe air we breathe,\u201d etc.\u2014\u201cA\u00ebris quem spiramus et cujus carpimus flatum.\u201d Compare Virgil, \u00c6n. I. 387, 388.\n225:1915\nThis was supposed by some of the Ionic philosophers to be the explanation of perception. We perceived earth, they supposed, by reason of the earthly constituent of our organism.\n225:1916\nS. James ii. 14-26.\n225:1917\ni.e. if it is possible for Him to ascend to a higher plane of existence.\n225:1918\ni.e. He is a son \u201cby adoption,\u201d as one of ourselves.\n225:1919\ni.e.He may not have as yet actually sinned, but it is within the range of possibility for Him\u2014He is, as Hurter expresses it in his note, \u201cauctor maliti\u00e6 si non actu, saltem potentia.\u201d\n225:1920\nS. Mark x. 18.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. X: Dogmatic Treatises, Ethical Works, and Sermons.: Introduction.","type":"page"}