{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/210/2100227.htm","path":"chr/ecf/210/2100227.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/210/2100227.htm","text":"Passages brought forward from Scripture to show that \u201cmade\u201d does not always mean the same as \u201ccreated;\u201d whence it is concluded that the letter of Holy Writ should not be made the ground of captious arguments, after the manner of the Jews, who, however, are shown to be not so bad as the heretics, and thus the principle already set forth is confirmed anew.\n35. At the same time, becoming 2166 does not always imply creation; for we read: \u201cLord, Thou art become our refuge,\u201d 2167 and \u201cThou hast become my salvation.\u201d 2168 Plainly, here is no statement of the fact or purpose of a creation, but God is said to have become my \u201crefuge\u201d and have turned to my \u201csalvation,\u201d 2169 even as the Apostle hath said: \u201cWho became for us 2170 Wisdom from God, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption,\u201d 2171 that is, that Christ was \u201cmade\u201d for us, of the Father, not created. Again, the writer has explained in the sequel in what sense he says that Christ was made Wisdom for us: \u201cBut we preach the Wisdom of God in doctrine of mystery, which Wisdom is hidden, foreordained by God before the existence of the world 2172 for our glory, and which none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.\u201d 2173 When the mystery of the Passion is set forth, surely there is no speaking of an eternal process of generation.\n36. The Lord\u2019s Cross, then, is my wisdom; the Lord\u2019s Death my redemption; for we are redeemed with His precious blood, as the Apostle Peter hath said. 2174 With His blood, then, as man, the Lord redeemed us, Who also, as God, hath forgiven sins. 2175\np. 248 37. Let us not, therefore, lay snares as it were in words, and eagerly seek out entanglements therein; let us not, because misbelievers make out the written word to mean that it means not, set forth only what this letter bears on the face of it, instead of the underlying sense. This way went the Jews to destruction, despising the deep-hidden meaning, and following only after the bare form of the word, for \u201cthe letter killeth, but the Spirit maketh alive.\u201d 2176\n38. And yet, of these two grievous impieties, to ascribe to the Godhead what is true only of manhood is perchance more detestable than to attribute to spirit what belongs only to letter. The Jews feared to believe in manhood taken up into God, and therefore have lost the grace of redemption, because they reject that on which salvation depends; the Arians degrade the majesty of Godhead to the weakness of humanity. Detestable as are the Jews, who crucified the Lord\u2019s flesh, more detestable still do I hold them who have believed that the Godhead of Christ was nailed to the Cross. So one who ofttimes had dealings with Jews said: \u201cAn heretic avoid, after once reproving him\u201d 2177\n39. Nor, again, are these men careful to avoid doing dishonour to the Father, in their impious application of the fact, that Christ was \u201cmade\u201d Wisdom for us, to His incomprehensible generation, that transcends all limits and divisions of time; for, leaving it out of account that dishonour done to the Son is an insult to the Father, they do even carry their blasphemy in assault upon the Father, of Whom it is written: \u201cLet God be made truthful, but every man a liar.\u201d 2178 If indeed they think that the Son is spoken of, they do not foreclose against His generation, 2179 but in that they rest on the authority of this text they do confess that which they reject, namely, that Christ is God, and true God.\n40. It would be a lengthy matter were I to pass in review each several place where we read of His being \u201cmade,\u201d not indeed by nature, but by way of gracious dispensation. Moses, for example, saith: \u201cThou art made my Helper and Protector, to save me;\u201d 2180 and David: \u201cBe unto me for a God of salvation, and an house of refuge, that Thou mayest save me;\u201d 2181 and Isaiah: \u201cHe is become an Helper for every city that is lowly.\u201d 2182 Of a surety the holy men say not to God: \u201cThou hast been created,\u201d but \u201cBy Thy grace Thou art made a Protector and Helper unto us.\u201d\ni.e.we are not to infer from the fact that the Word became flesh, that the Word is a created being. For that which becomes is already existing\u2014that which is created did not exist before it was made.\n247:2167\nPs. xc. 1. The R.V. runs: \u201cLord, thou hast been our refuge\u201d (hast been, and still art).\n247:2168\nPs. cxviii. 14. The \u201cbecoming\u201d is rather in us. It is we who have come into being, to find a refuge and salvation in the Lord.\n247:2169 247:2170 247:2171\nNote that it is Christ Himself Who is our justification, etc., not a certain course of life; in other words the saving power is not so much in the mere example of Christ\u2019s life on earth, but primarily and necessarily in Himself, now seated in heaven at the Father\u2019s right hand, interceding for us, and communicating His grace, especially through the sacraments.\n247:2172\nCf. 1 Pet. 1:19, Eph. 1:4, Col. 1:26, 27.\n247:2173\n1 Cor. ii. 6 ff.\n247:2174 247:2175\nS. Mark ii. 8-12.\n248:2176 248:2177 248:2178 248:2179\nBecause generation is quite distinct from absolute creation.\n248:2180 248:2181 248:2182","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. X: Dogmatic...","type":"page"}