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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Filioque Tryphon Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Question:

Dear Brother,

I thank you very much for your help in answering my previous question. Unfortunately though, I am afraid that I have another rather difficult and complex theological question to ask you.

Recently, I have encountered a person online who argues that the Church’s teaching on the filioque is heretical. Specifically, this person claims that this teaching is wrong since, in their view, it seems to deny their own belief that the procession of the Holy Spirit is an exclusive paternal prerogative which God the Father merely transmits through the Son (as evidence for this, they seem to point to John 13:3 and John 15:26).

On the one hand, their view appears to contradict Jesus’ assertion (in John 16:13-15, for instance) that He shares everything with His Father (which would presumably include all of His Father’s prerogatives)—obviously, this is not to deny that: 1) Jesus is, at the same time, not fully equal to the Father to the point of being identical with Him, and, 2) God the Father is “the source and origin of the whole divinity”, as confessed by the Sixth Council of Toledo (see CCC 245).

On the other hand, this also seems to be at odds with the Catechism’s statement (see CCC 246-248) that the doctrine of the filioque, as expressed in the Creed, is ‘complementary’ with the teaching that the Holy Spirit proceeds “from the Father through the Son”.

How should I respond to this claim?

I would greatly appreciate any assistance that you can provide.

Thanks Again and God Bless,

Tryphon



Question Answered by

Dear Tryphon:

Your friend is wrong, of course. Since he is arguing this I presume he his Eastern Orthodox. The Eastern Orthodox think they are the original Church and the the Western Church split from them. This is impossible as Peter cannot split from Peter. Christ built his Church upon the Magisterial Chair of Peter. In the Old Covenant it was the Chair of Moses (Matt 23:2). In the New Covenant, it is the Chair of Peter (Matt 16:18-19). Verse 19 was a quotation of Isaiah 22:22 (v. 21-23), which is about the succession of the office of Prime Minister (Pope).

This is the reason I converted from a Baptist preacher to a Catholic—that along with John 6 about the Eucharist, proves without any doubt, from the Bible alone, that Jesus continued the tradition that had been in place for 1000s of years, the tradition of a chair of authority for his people, a prime minister (Pope), and that Peter was the first Pope, the Rock to which the Church of the New Covenant was built upon.

Thus, in the dispute over the Filioque, the Magisterium of the Catholic Church under the pope had the authority to interpret this doctrinal issue. When the Eastern Orthodox refused God's legitimate authority, they, and the the West, went into schism. 

These are the Biblical and historical facts regardless of what the Eastern Orthodox say.

This is an argument that generally devolves quickly into an unproductive argument. St. Paul tells us to stay away from unproductive arguments, thus, because of that, and because of my own experience, this one may best to walk away. The argument normally serves only discord and not truth.

As for the Filioque the argument is this:

The Eastern Orthodox interpret the Nicene Creed as saying: in the Greek text of the Nicene Creed as originally formulated at the First Council of Constantinople, which says only that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father".

The Western Church (Catholic Church) interpret the Nicene Creed as saying: in the Latin text of the Nicene Creed speaks of the Holy Spirit as proceeding "from the Father and the Son".

In the Greek, the difference between these two interpretations is found in the Greek letter, "iota" in the word Homoousios meaning "same substance" or "same essence" saying that is one essence with the Father."

The competing term at the First Ecumenical Council was homoiousios meaning "similar essence"; it was favored by the Arians. Because of how close these two words are in the Greek, it has been said that there was only "one iota" of difference between them.

Because of how close these two words are, it is the origin of the phrase today, "not an iota of difference."

Since it is the Pope and the Magisterium of the Catholic Church that has the sole authority to declare and interpret doctrine, it is the interpretation of the Catholic Church that trumps the interpretation of the Eastern Orthodox. This is not an opinion, but a fact as the Prime Ministry of God is upon the Chair of Peter.

A fuller discussion is found at Catholic Answers and in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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