Sunday, September 10, 2006

Q42 A6: Whether the Son is equal to the Father in power?

Yes. The Son is equal to the Father in power (and the same applies to the Holy Ghost in relation to both) because the very notion of the divine paternity and filiation requires that the Son should be the Father's equal in greatness: that is, in perfection of nature.

Power of action is a consequence of perfection in nature. In creatures, for instance, we see that the more perfect the nature, the greater power is there for action.

As the same essence is paternity in the Father and filiation in the Son, so by the same power the Father begets, and the Son is begotten.

Hence it is clear that the Son can do whatever the Father can do; yet it does not follow that the Son can beget; for to argue thus would imply transition from substance to relation, for generation signifies a divine relation.

So the Son has the same omnipotence as the Father, but with another relation: the Father possessing power as "giving" (signified when we say that He is able to beget); while the Son possesses the power of "receiving" (signified by saying that He can be begotten).