Brief Catechism (Page 10 of 22)

By: Fr. Basil J. RepellaRead time: 66 mins12691 Hits

THE EIGHTH ARTICLE

Q. 114. How does the eighth Article of the Creed read?
A. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets.
Q. 115. Of whom is it spoken in the eighth Article of the Creed?
A. In the eighth Article of the Creed it is spoken of the third Person of the Holy Trinity the Holy Spirit.
Q. 116. Why is the Holy Spirit called: “The Giver of Life?”
A. The Holy Spirit is called “The Giver of Life” because He, together with God the Father and the Son, gives life to all creatures, especially spiritual life to men.
Q. 117. How do we know that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father?
A. That the Holy Spirit proceedeth from the Father we know from the following words of Jesus Christ Himself: “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” (Gospel acc. St. John 15.)
Q. 118. Does the doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father admit of any change or supplement?
A. The doctrine of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father does not admit of any change or supplement. First, because the Orthodox Church, in this doctrine, repeats the very words of Jesus Christ: and His words without doubt, are an exact expression of the truth. Secondly, because the second Ecumenical Council (381), whose chief object was to establish the true doctrine respecting the Holy spirit, has without doubt sufficiently set forth the same in the Creed; and the Orthodox Church has acknowledged this so decidedly, that the third Ecumenical Council (431) in its seventh canon forbade the composition of any new Creed.
Q. 119. Whence does it appear that the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son, and together with them, to be Worshiped and glorified?
A. That the Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son; and together with them, to be worshiped and glorified it appears from this, that Jesus Christ commanded to “baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:19.)
Q. 120. What meaning is conveyed by the words: “Who spake by the prophets”?
A. By the words: “Who spake by the prophets” is conveyed the meaning that the Holy Spirit, in the Old Testament, spoke by the prophets just as in the New Testament by the Apostles, and that the books of the prophets were written under the inspiration from the Holy Spirit, exactly in the same way as the writings of the Apostles.
Q. 121. Is the Holy Spirit communicated to men even now?
A. The Holy Spirit is communicated to all true Christians through fervent prayer, and through the Sacraments. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16.) “If ye then, being evil, know hew to give good gifts, unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Luke 11:13.)
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