Synodical Letter · §3 · Amphilochius of Iconium

The Lord's command as the rule of baptism, faith, and doxology

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Amphilochius is explaining that the Lord's baptismal command is the source of the faith, and he now quotes that command and draws out its anti-heretical force.

The Lord's tradition is what he commanded his holy disciples after his resurrection from the dead, when he ordered them: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Clearly we received the command not only to baptize in this way, but also to make disciples in this way. Through this command the sickness of Sabellius is shut out, because the three persons have been delivered to us clearly, and the mouths of the Anomoeans, the Arians, and the opponents of the Spirit are stopped, because the persons and hypostases are shown to be three, while the nature and the Godhead are confessed as one. It is necessary, then, for us to baptize as we were taught, to believe as we were baptized, and to glorify as we believed. For however much we examine with our minds and turn our thoughts in every direction, we can devise nothing between the creator and the creation. So if we separate the Spirit from the Godhead, it is necessary to number him with the creatures. And if we dare to call him a creature, how can he be joined in baptism? We denounce polytheism just as we denounce atheism. We proclaim neither three first principles nor three gods nor three different natures, but we know the Father as the first principle of all things, we reject none of the three persons, and we bring forward the majesty of the divine Scriptures and the testimonies concerning each one.

Greek

Ἡ τοῦ κυρίου παράδοσις ἣν μετὰ τὴν ἐκ νεκρῶν ἀνάστασιν τοῖς ἁγίοις αὐτοῦ μαθηταῖς ἐνετείλατο προστάξας· Πορευθέντες μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ ἔθνη βαπτίζοντες αὐτοὺς εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου

πνεύματος. ∆ῆλον ὅτι τὴν ἐντολὴν ἐδεξάμεθα οὐ μόνον εἰς τὸ βαπτίζειν οὕτως, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς τὸ μαθητεύειν οὕτως, ὡς διὰ ταύτης τῆς ἐντολῆς καὶ τὴν Σαβελλίου νόσον ἀποκλεισθῆναι τῶν τριῶν ὑποστάσεων καθαρῶς ἡμῖν παραδοθεισῶν, καὶ τῶν Ἀνο μοίων καὶ τῶν Ἀρειανῶν καὶ τῶν Πνευματομάχων ἐμφραγῆναι τὰ στόματα τῶν μὲν προσώπων καὶ τῶν ὑποστάσεων τριῶν δηλου μένων, τῆς δὲ φύσεως καὶ τῆς θεότητος μιᾶς ὁμολογηθείσης. Ἀνάγκη τοίνυν οὕτως ἡμᾶς βαπτίζειν ὡς ἐδιδάχθημεν, καὶ οὕτω πιστεύειν ὡς ἐβαπτίσθημεν, καὶ οὕτω δοξάζειν ὡς ἐπιστεύσαμεν. Πολλὰ γὰρ τῇ διανοίᾳ περισκοποῦντες καὶ πανταχοῦ στραφέντες τοῖς λογισμοῖς οὐδὲν ἐπινοῆσαι δυνάμεθα μεταξὺ τοῦ κτιστοῦ καὶ τῆς κτίσεως, ὥστε εἰ τῆς θεότητος τὸ πνεῦμα χωρίζομεν, ἀνάγκη μετὰ τῶν κτισμάτων αὐτὸ καταριθμεῖν. Εἰ δὲ κτίσμα τολμήσοιμεν εἰπεῖν, πῶς δυνατὸν ἐν τῷ βαπτίσματι μιχθῆναι; Τὴν πολυθεΐαν οὕτως ὡς καὶ τὴν ἀθεΐαν κακίζομεν· καὶ οὔτε τρεῖς ἀρχὰς οὔτε τρεῖς θεοὺς οὔτε τρεῖς διαφόρους καταγγέλλομεν φύσεις, ἀλλὰ ἀρχὴν τῶν ὅλων τὸν πατέρα γινώσκοντες οὔτε τινὰ τῶν τριῶν ὑποστάσεων ἀθετοῦμεν καὶ τὸ σεμνὸν τῶν θείων γραφῶν καὶ τὰς ἐφ' ἕκαστον μαρτυρίας προσάγοντες.

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About this text

A bishop's letter defending Christian unity and orthodoxy against heresy, urging steadfast faith and love for Christ.

Amphilochius of Iconium (c. 340–c. 395) wrote this letter on behalf of a synod. He was bishop of Iconium in Lycaonia, and he wrote to a church or group of churches that had asked the synod for a ruling on the faith, especially concerning the Holy Spirit. Basil, the bishop highly esteemed by the recipients, was prevented by illness from attending, so Amphilochius replied and attached Basil's own treatise on the subject.

The letter defends the divinity of the Holy Spirit against those who denied it. Amphilochius affirms the Nicene faith as truly catholic and apostolic. He argues that the Lord's baptismal command, which names Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, excludes the errors of Sabellius, the Arians, the Anomoeans, and the opponents of the Spirit. He warns that those who blaspheme the Spirit will be condemned with the Arians, even if they reject communion with them.

A reader should know that the Anomoeans were Arians who said the Son was unlike the Father in essence, and that Sabellius taught that Father, Son, and Spirit are one person appearing in three modes. The word 'person' here renders the Greek term for one of the three distinct realities in the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amphilochius denounces both polytheism and atheism because the doctrine of the Trinity avoids worshipping many gods while also refusing to deny God. The letter cites the baptismal command from Matthew 28:19 and alludes to the unforgivable sin from the Gospels.

Printed text used

Translated from PG 39 (Greek)

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