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QUESTIONS 73-74 189 But, in fact, that habit (habitus) which consists in the comprehension of wisdom and knowledge is called hexis by the Greeks, but the one whereby we speak of being clothed or armored they prefer to call skhema. For this reason we understand the Apostle to have spoken of the latter kind of habit (habitus) since indeed in the Greek texts there is written skhemati,8 which we have as habit (habitus) in our Latin texts. In regard to this term, it is necessary for one to understand that the Word was not changed by the assumption of humanity, just as the members clothed by a garment remain unchanged, although that assumption has joined in an inexpressible manner the thing assumed to the one assuming it. But, insofar as human words can be fitted to the ineffable, in order to prevent one from thinking that God was changed by the assumption of human frailty, it was decided to express that assumption by skhema in Greek and habit (habitus) in Latin.9 74. ON THE TEXT IN PA UL 'S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS: "IN WHOM WE HA VE REDEMPTION AND REMISSION OF SINS, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD"1 Image and equalitf and likeness must be distinguished. For where there is an image, there is necessarily a likeness, but not necessarily an equality; where an equality, necessarily a likeness, but not necessarily an image; where a likeness, not necessariiy an image and not necessarily an equality. Where there is an image, there is necessarily a likeness, but not necessarily an equality. For example, there is in a mirror an image of a man. Because the image has been copied from him, there is also necessarily a likeness; but, 8 The Greek text of Phil 2.7 is kai skhemati heuretheis anthropos. 9 Compare all the above discussion with Aristotle, Categories 15b17-33. 1 Col 1.14-15. 2 aequalitas. In this Q. aequalitas could sometimes better be translated "identity." However, "equality" makes better sense in most of the places in which aequalitas occurs, and hence the word has been uniformly translated "equality." 190 ST. AUGUSTINE nonetheless, there is no equality, because there is absent from the image much that is present in that thing of which it is the copy.3 Where there is an equality, there is necessarily a likeness, but not necessarily an image. For example, between two identical4 eggs there is a likeness because there is an equality, for whatever belongs to one belongs also to the other. Still, there is no image, because neither one is a copy of the other. Where there is a likeness, there is not necessarily an image and not necessarily an equality. For every egg is like every other egg insofar as it is an egg; but a partridge egg, although like a chicken egg insofar as it is an egg, is, nonetheless, neither its image, because it is not a copy of that one, nor its equal, because it is smaller and of another species of living thing. However, when saying "not necessarily," we clearly understand that the thing is sometimes possible. Therefore there can be some image in which there is also an equality. For example, in parents and children there would be found an image and an equality and a likeness if the age difference were lacking. For the child's likeness has been derived from the parent, so that the likeness may rightly be called an image. As well, the likeness can be so great that it may even rightly be called an equality, except that the parent has come earlier in time. For this reason we understand that sometimes equality has not only a likeness, but also an image, as is clear from the above example. It is also possible sometimes for there to be a likeness and an equality, although no image, as was said of the two identical eggs. It is also possible for there to be a likeness and an image, although not equality, as we have shown with the mirror. There can also be a likeness where there is an equality and an image, as we have mentioned in regard to children, if one disregards the precedence in time of the parents. Thus, in fact, do we say that one syllable is equal to another syllable, although the one precedes and the other follows. 3 Another possible translation here is: "For example, in a mirror there...

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