Theological Treatises on the Trinity

Hymn III

324 GOD, Lord,2 Holy Spirit, Father, Son, Paraclete, Giver,3 Minister, Distributor, Spirit of works, Spirit of services, Spirit of graces, One principle MARIUS VICTORINUS THIRDHYMN1 oBlessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. And one with the other And always one with the other o Blessed Trinity. 1 There are two parts to this hymn: (1) an enumeration of the names and the salvific functions of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (1-108); (2) a more systematic exposition of the relationships among the three based principally upon the substance, form, notion triad (140-71; 172-91; 192-220; 22151 ). The hymn ends with three stanzas devoted to the redemptive role of Christ (252-69) and four stanzas of the final prayer (270-85). This hymn presupposes knowledge of the dossier of Basil of Ancyra. Each aspect of the above triad is at once proper and common, designating at once One of the Three and each of the Three (whence the enneadic formula: 248-50). The Holy Spirit's role is strongly marked. To the Son's cosmological and vivifying function this hymn opposes the repairing or restoring action of the Holy Spirit who leads creation back to the Father by reforming it. This hymn seems to be contemporaneous with adv. Ar. III and IV. 2 Cf. 1 Cor 12.3-6. 3 Cf. 1 Cor 12.3-6. HYMN III God, because Father of substance and himself substance, The Son and Spirit are substance, But three times one same substance o Blessed Trinity. Perfect Father, Perfect Son4 of a perfect Father, Perfect Holy Spirit of a perfect Son, Source, River, Overflow, In the Three, o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. A threefold action, But only one, Existence, Life, Knowledge, Charity,5 Grace, Communication, God is charity, Christ is grace, o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. Holy Spirit is communication, o Blessed Trinity. 4 Cf. the profession of faith at Antioch (341). 5 Cf. 2 Cor 13.13. 325 326 MARIUS VICTORINUS If there is charity,6 there is grace, If charity and grace, there is communication, All therefore in each and One in Three o Blessed Trinity. Hence the apostle Paul, divinely inspired, says: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ And the charity of God And the communication of the Holy Spirit be with you." o Blessed Trinity. Unbegotten, Only Begotten, Begotten from the Begotten, Begetter, Begotten, Begetting anew,7 True light, o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. True light from light, True illumination, Repose, Progression, Return, o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. Invisibly invisible,8 6 2 Cor 13.13. 7 The notion of a procession of the Holy Spirit distinct from the begetting of the Son is completely foreign to Victorinus. There is only one begetting, a unique motion with a two-fold function: Christ and the Holy Spirit; cf. adv. Ar. III 8,29. 8 The Holy Spirit no longer acts in the visible world but within souls to Invisibly visible, Visibly invisible, All power, All action, All knowledge, HYMN III o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. Impassibly impassible, Passibly impassible, Impassibly passible, Seed, Tree, Fruit, All from one,9 All through one, All in one, o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. o Blessed Trinity. One, one simple, one and only, only one and always; One, a second one, one from one, at once one and all; One, uniting all, the working power of one, So that all may become one, o Blessed Trinity. Unbegotten from eternity, Begotten from eternity, Begotten so that all might be eternal, o Blessed Trinity. 327 whom he reveals the Son; he is Jesus hidden in souls; cf. adv. Ar. I 12,13-32. 9 We find echoed here Rom 11.36 and perhaps the profession of faith from the Synod of Antioch (341). 328 MARIUS VICTORINUS You command creation, You create, You recreate the created, o Blessed Trinity. You, Father, are substance for all,t° You, Son, life, You, Holy Spirit, salvation/ 1 o Blessed Trinity. Substance is life itself Life itself is salvation1 2 because it is eternal, Therefore the Father is both Son and Holy Spirit, o Blessed Trinity. You give "to be" to all, Thou, Son, givest form, Thou, Spirit, reform. 13 o Blessed Trinity. Thou, God, art Father of the infinite and finite...