Vigilius of Thapsus

“Where the entire Trinity is called holy. Holy Father, holy Son, holy Holy Spirit. Of the Father in Ezra: For holy is God; truth. And in Leviticus: Be holy, for I also am the holy Lord your God (Lev. 11:44). Of the Son in the Gospel: I know you who you are, the holy one of God (Mark 1:24). Likewise there: That which shall be born of you shall be called holy, the Son of God (Luke 1:35). Of the Holy Spirit in Solomon: For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from deceit, and remove himself from thoughts that are without understanding (Wis. 1:5).”

“On common discipline. The discipline of the Father, the discipline of the Son, the discipline of the Holy Spirit. Of the Father in Solomon: My son, do not neglect the discipline of God, nor grow weary when you are rebuked by Him (Prov. 3:11). Of the Son in Psalm seventeen (Vers. 36): Your right hand has received me, and Your discipline itself will teach me, and Your doctrine will guide me to the end. Of the Holy Spirit in Solomon: For the Spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and will remove itself from thoughts that are without understanding (Wis. 1:5).”

“But in order to teach that the Holy Spirit is spread everywhere, we shall examine the testimony of David, from whose prophecy the Holy Spirit is taught to be diffused not by places, as you, held fast by a heavy sleep, suppose, but by His power, like the Father and the Son, everywhere. For he himself sings and says in Psalm (138:7): Where shall I go from your spirit? and where shall I flee from your face? If I ascend into heaven, you are there; and if I descend into hell, you are present. If I take my wings in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. And in Solomon: The Spirit of the Lord has filled the whole world (Wis. 1:7).”

“On common testing. The Father tests, the Son tests, the Holy Spirit tests. Of the Father, to the Thessalonians: So we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts (I Thess. 2:4). Of the Son, in Solomon: As gold in the furnace he tested them, and found them worthy of himself (Wis. 3:6). Of the Holy Spirit, in Solomon: The Spirit of the Lord tests hearts (Prov. 17:3): but he will destroy the wicked from the earth (Prov. 2:22).”

“The Lord taught in the Gospel that the Holy Spirit is judge and can convict the entire world regarding sin, righteousness and judgment. It says, in fact, "The Holy Spirit, when he comes, will convict the world about sin, about righteousness and about judgment." And Isaiah says, "The Lord will wash away the filth of the sons and daughters of Zion." And in Solomon it is said, "The Spirit of God will break out against them and will scatter them like a whirlwind." Again Isaiah says, "See that in my Spirit I carry out judgment, says the Lord." Why then do you deny that people may ask pardon for their sins from their judge, so as to be more cleansed and more purified of sins, if they are successful in asking? And having done so, if they were to fall again into the evil of sin through rash words, that they could ask the Holy Spirit, directly and without difficulty, to grant them pardon and remission of their sins—to him, that is, who intercedes for us with the Father with inexpressible groanings? Since you accuse us of sacrilege for asserting, in confessing the Trinity, that the Holy Spirit is God and Lord, watch that you yourselves do not become more worthy of this charge. Indeed, you refuse to confess that Holy Spirit whom the Lord wanted the apostles to proclaim, without distinction, together with the Father and the Son, "Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." If, regarding the essence of the divinity, the Holy Spirit were not equal to the Father and the Son, how is it possible that in the sacrament of baptism nothing happens without him?”

“The Father reigns, the Son reigns, the Holy Spirit reigns. Of the Father the Gospel says, "If one is not reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Of the Son it is said, "Say to the peoples, 'The Lord reigned from the wood.' " In Solomon it is said of the Holy Spirit, "Your sovereignty comes from the Holy Spirit." And then, "Though you are ministers of his kingdom, you have not judged rightly."”

“The Son was in the bosom of the Father from the beginning, and from the Father's heart he has poured forth a good word. And how can one fail to believe that he who is in the Father's heart, together with him, dwells in inaccessible light? Could the Father have remained in the Son without light or rest without light in the tabernacle of the Son, given that the Son is the radiance of the eternal light and the spotless mirror of the divinity? Solomon says to have preferred this light to his health, wanting always to delight in its beauty. Does he not say, "I loved her more than health and beauty, I preferred the possession of her to light itself, because the splendor that comes from her never sets"? For this reason, having desired this light, in his distress the prophet David proclaimed, "Send forth your light and your truth." And also, "In your light we see light." In the splendor of this light the Son anticipated his manifestation on the mountain to the three disciples. They prostrated themselves, deathly afraid, convinced that their lives were about to end. In fact, the Son proclaimed this light by showing it in himself, admonishing his disciples that they should walk in it: "Walk while you have the light." And further, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life." And the Evangelist also says, "He was the true light, which enlightens every person who comes into this world." If it has been shown that this light that is promised to the faithful is in the Son and is eternal along with him who is eternal, how is it that you separate the Son from the Father's inaccessible light?”

“Of the Holy Spirit, as above: For in wisdom there is the spirit of understanding, holy, unique (Wis. 7:22), and below, all-powerful (Ibid., 23) … For that God is Spirit the Son taught in the Gospel, saying: God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24). But that He is all-powerful is shown in Solomon (Wis. 7:23), when it is intimated that the Spirit is all-powerful and all-seeing.”

“The Father renews, the Son renews, and the Holy Spirit does the same. About the Father, we read in Jeremiah, "Make us return to you, Lord, and we will return. Renew our days as of old." About the Son, in Solomon, "She reaches mightily from one end to the other and governs all things well." And also, "Though one, she renews all things." The Holy Spirit, in the letter to the Romans, "But now we are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the new life of the Spirit."”

“The Father is everywhere, the Son everywhere, the Holy Spirit everywhere. About the Father it is said in Jeremiah, "The Word of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Do not I fill the heavens and the earth?' " and in Isaiah, "The heavens are my throne, the earth the footstool for my feet." About the Son, in Solomon, "Against wisdom wickedness cannot prevail. She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other." And in Psalm 102, "In every place of his domain." The Holy Spirit, in the psalm, "Where can I go from your spirit, where can I flee from your presence? If I descend to the netherworld, you are there," etc.”

“On common renewal. The Father renews, the Son renews, and the Holy Spirit does this. Of the Father in Jeremiah: Convert us, O God, and we shall be converted to you: renew our days as from the beginning (Lam. 5:21). Of the Son in Solomon: For it reaches mightily from end to end and orders all things sweetly (Wis. 8:1), and, Being one, it makes all things new (Wis. 7:17). Of the Holy Spirit to the Romans: But now we have been discharged from the law of death, in which we were held, so that we serve in the newness of the spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (Rom. 7:6).”

“That the Son according to divinity has always been immortal, or is, the divine writings testify everywhere. Solomon affirming the same more clearly: Immortality is in thought wisdom, and the delight of its friendship is good (Wis. 8:17). Likewise there: In the works of the hands of wisdom is honor without failing, and in the contest of his words immortality, and eternal life, in the communication of his words perpetual brightness (Ibid., 18).”

“There is a gift of God the Father, a gift of the Son and also a gift of the Holy Spirit. Concerning the Father the apostle says, "By grace you are saved through faith. And this is not from you, but it is the gift of God." About the Son, in Solomon, "Because no one can be continent without the gift of God, and it was precisely intelligence to know from whom this gift comes." The Holy Spirit, in Acts, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."”

“Question: Someone might say that the Son cannot, in a strict sense, see the Father, because it is written, "No one has ever seen God."Response: Let us now return to the origin of the source, by which we are taught, through the writings of both the Old and New Testaments, that the Son has always been able to see the Father, since Solomon says, "With you is wisdom, who knows your works, who was present when you created the world. She knows what is pleasing in your eyes." And the Lord, in the Gospel, said, "No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son wishes to reveal him." And further, "No one has ever seen God; only the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed him." And to the Jews he says further, "You do not know him. I, however, know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be like you, a liar." And in the same passage, "The one who is from God listens to the words of God." And still, "I know him, because I come from him." Therefore, we have taught that the Son always sees the Father. How is it that you hold that he cannot see him?”

“Question: If you would say that the Son made what was made by command of the Father. Response: It is not as you claim, that the Son made what was made under the Father's orders. Rather, by his will he created everything that he deemed in his providence should be created, since the prophet Isaiah says, "Thus says the Lord, 'I made the earth by my word, and on it I created human beings. With my hand I spread out the heavens, giving order to all their ranks, that they might shine in the sky.' " And, "My plan shall stand as valid, and I have fulfilled my entire purpose." And still, "Thus says the Lord, who created the heavens and the earth. He made it and rendered it stable." And further, "I am the first, and I am eternal. My hand laid the foundations of the earth, my right hand spread the heavens." And still, "I made the earth with great power and with a mighty arm." And in Jeremiah, "He formed the earth by his power; he established the world with his wisdom; with his intelligence he spread the heavens and made the waters in heaven roar." And further, "Lord, you made the heaven and the earth with great power and a strong arm. You make their children after them suffer the punishment for the iniquity of their ancestors." And in Solomon, "It was not difficult for your almighty hand, which created the world from invisible matter." And in Psalm 134, "Everything he wanted, the Lord has done, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in the abyss." And in Psalm 113, "Our God is in the heavens." And again, "In heaven and on earth he made all that he willed." And in Psalm 64, "You make the mountains firm by your strength, robed in power." Since it is written that he did all these things, not under the command of the Father but by his power, how is it that you consider him to be inferior to the Father?”

“Who can hide or flee before the unique divinity of the Trinity? To the Trinity, the entire globe of the earth seems as a raindrop, or a bit of foam or a drop of morning dew that descends from heaven. As it is written, "He sits above the vault of the earth, from where its inhabitants seem like grasshoppers." And, "He has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and held the whole earth in his palm." And further, "The heavens are my throne, the earth the footstool for my feet." Notice that the power of the one divinity is incomprehensible, since the heavens, which he holds in his palm, are also his throne, and the earth, which is enclosed in his fist, is in turn the footstool for his feet. In fact, the whole of the heavens is contained in his palm, and the entire earth is enclosed in his hand. It is also the throne and footstool for his feet, as it is written, "To whom the whole world is like dust on the scales." And thus he fills all things, containing all things from within and without, since this eternal, undivided Trinity is present everywhere and possesses the invisible fullness of the divinity.”

“The Father is good, the Son is good, the Holy Spirit is good. About the Father it is written in Psalm 72, "How good is the God of Israel toward those who are pure of heart!" About the Son, "I am the good shepherd" and "Good Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?" About the Holy Spirit, in Ezra, "You bestowed on them your good Spirit."”

“And if they were to repeat what the Son said? "Those who know you, the one true God, and the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ." Response: That the Son is true, just as the Father is, we demonstrate with the words of the prophets and the Gospels, since Isaiah says, "But my servants will be called by another name, which will be blessed on the earth, and they will bless the true God. And those who swear on earth will swear by the true God." And in Solomon, "They will be ashamed of those who believed that it was the gods who punished them. Seeing him whom they had previously denied, they recognized the true God." And in the psalm, "Truth sprung up from the earth, and justice looked down from heaven." And the Lord in the Gospel, "I am the way, the truth and the life." And in the same place, written of the Father, "Your word is truth." Then in the letter of John the apostle, "We know that the Son of God has come, and God has given us understanding to know what is true, and so that we would be in his true Son, Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." You must therefore acknowledge the unity of the Father and the Son, since the divine Scripture never fails to proclaim that, like the Father, the Son is true God.”

“We prove that the Son is true, as the Father is, by the words of the prophets and the Gospels, Isaiah saying: To those serving me there shall be called a new name, which shall be blessed upon the earth; and they shall bless the true God, and those who swear upon the earth shall swear by the true God (Isa. 65:15). And in Solomon: Those whom they think to be gods shall fear, by whom they shall be destroyed; seeing him whom they once denied, they have acknowledged as the true God (Wis. 12:27).”

“On common truth. True Father, true Son, true Holy Spirit. Of the Father in Solomon: For our God, are kind and true: For to know you is complete righteousness (Wis. 15:1, 3). Of the Son in John: That we may be in his true Son Jesus Christ; this is the true God, and eternal life (1 Jn. 5:20). Of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel: When that Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, shall come, he will teach you all truth (Jn. 16:13).”

“Where they say that the Son was not born from the substance of the Father. But if they should say: the Son was not born from the paternal substance, but generated from another substance. Response. We also, who confess the Father and the Son to be of one substance, have taught by divine authority that the Son is from the substance of God the Father, as the prophet Jeremiah says: "Take up mourning over the minds, and lamentation over the paths of the desert, because they have failed, since they are not men; because they were unwilling to hear the voice of my substance, from the birds of the sky even to the beasts they have fallen away in mind" (Jer. 9:10). Likewise there: "Who has stood in the substance of the Lord, and will see the word of God? Who has given ear and heard" (Jer. 23:18)? And there: "If they had stood in my substance, and if they had heard my words, and if they had taught my people, I would have turned them away from their most evil pursuits" (Jer. 23:22). And the Apostle: "Who, being the radiance of glory and the form of his substance" (Heb. 1:3). Likewise he himself: "For we have become partakers of God; let us hold fast the beginning of his substance" (Heb. 3:14). And in Solomon: "My substance is my sweetness" (Wis. 16:21). From this, then, recognize that he who is called the substance of God the Father is not believed to be foreign to that same substance.”

“On the common omnipotence of the Trinity. Omnipotent Father, omnipotent Son, omnipotent Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 3:17). Concerning the Father in Solomon: your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal thrones, came (Wis. 18:15).”

“The apostle Paul, writing to the Hebrews about the Son, says, "Because he is the image of the invisible God and bears the seal of his being." And also Jeremiah, the wisest of the prophets, speaks of the person of God the Father and says, "If they had remained in my being and listened to my word, I would have turned them from their wicked desires." To make it understood that he had said this in reference to the Son, he adds, "Who has been in my being and has seen my word?" In fact, that the Word was the Son is affirmed by the prophet David, who said regarding the person of the Father, "My heart has spoken the good word." And John the Evangelist, knowing that the Word was with the Father, that is, that from the beginning the Son was with the Father and that the Word has never been separated from the Father, put this at the beginning of his Gospel, his pronouncement, saying, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word." In another passage the Scripture passed all of this down to us, saying, "The Word as the beginning of the work," not because in the creation of the Word (that is, beginning from the creation of the Son) God began to make the other creatures, but because through the Word of God (that is, through the Son) all created things are known. It is for this reason that the prophet David sings, saying, "By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made," and, to show that the Holy Spirit participated in this, he continued, "And from the Spirit of his mouth derived their every virtue."”