1. Introduction (p. 73)
1. Scripture sometimes speaks of the one eternal essence of God.
2. Other times, clearly shows the distinction of the Persons.
3. Augustine
1. Passed down two rules.
2. That we might have a definite form of speaking reverently, piously and carefully regarding the mysteries of the Unity and the Trinity.
2. 1st Rule: The external works of the Trinity are undivided (p. 74)
1. Thrust of rule is twofold.
2. When God outside His essence works something among His creatures, then the 3 Persons are together and work together, because there is one doer and maker.
1. Thus, the one work is the work of the 3 Persons.
2. Martin Luther:
   “If I ascribe to each Person a distinct external work in creation and exclude the other two Persons from this, then I have divided the one Godhead and have fashioned three gods or creators. And that is wrong....One must not separate the Persons with regard to the works and ascribe to each its distinct external work; but one must...ascribe externally each work to all three without distinction....” (quoted, page 74)
3. “In God so great is the unity, so great is the power of the one and the same essence, that the individual and peculiar works which are accomplished in created beings ought not to be assigned to the individual persons.” (Chemnitz, p.74)
4. Gregory of Nazianzus:
   “That which acts is the one essence common to the three Persons.”
5. The One who acts and does is one.
6. The work itself is one and undivided.
3. Also the meaning for 1st rule: When a comparison is made between the Deity and the creature, or between God and idols, then we must make mention of the one eternal essence.
3. 2nd Rule: The internal works of the Trinity are divided (p. 74)
1. Also has a twofold meaning.
2. The works which God does outside of all created things, within Himself, are not common to the three Persons, but are peculiar to only one Person, so that it is characteristic:
1. Of the Father to beget
2. Of the Son to be begotten
3. Of the Holy Spirit to proceed from both.
3. When the Deity is described within itself, persons are distinguished, and there is reserved for each person His order and His characteristic, so that:
1. The first person is the Father
2. The second is the Son
3. The third is the Holy Spirit
4. Martin Luther:
   “If I do not ascribe to each Person within the Godhead, or outside and beyond creation, a special distinction not appropriate to the other two, then I have mingled the Persons into one Person. And that is...wrong. One must distinguish the Persons within the Godhead....” (quoted, page 74)
4. Observations drawn from these Rules (p. 74)
1. Concerning external works performed with respect to creatures when only one or two Persons mentioned, or when the entire Trinity is understood:
1. Father called Creator in the Creed
1. Not to exclusion of the Son or the Holy Spirit.
2. Jn 1:10
3. Heb 1:2
4. Ps 33:6
5. Ge 1:26
2. Providence and the sustaining and conservation of things are often attributed to one Person.
1. Yet is the common work of the whole Trinity
2. Mt 6:26 re: the Father
3. Heb 1:3 re: the Son
4. Ps 104:30
2. Sometimes Scripture mentions 3, other times 2, and others 1
1. Mt. 28:19
2. Php 1:2
3. Php 4:23
4. Sometimes preserves order of the persons, other times doesn’t.
1. 2Co 13:14
2. Eph 3:16,17
5. One true God, Three Persons, each Person is perfectly and in all respects that one true God.
1. Jn 10:30 - does not exclude Holy Spirit
2. 1Jn 3:24
3. 1Jn 5:7 - “These three are one”
3. Scripture sometimes attributes one and same activity to different Persons. (p. 75)
1. Shows that the external works are common to all.
2. Ro 16:25: the Father establishes
3. 1Co 1:8: the Son confirms
4. Eph 3:16: the Holy Spirit strengthens
5. Jas 1:17: the Father enlightens
6. Jn 1:9: the Word enlightens
7. Eph 3:7-9: the Holy Spirit enlightens through the ministry.
4. Arians:
1. In opposition, raised:
1. 1Ti 6:15,16: “Father alone”
2. Lk 18:19
3. Jn 17:3
2. When the Deity placed in opposition to idols, or to creatures, then mention of one Person does not exclude the others from being of the same substance (homoousia).
3. When the Godhead is described internally, then Christ clearly rejects the exclusive concept. (Therefore, manifest that concept of exclusiveness alleged in cited passages applies to 1st rule and excludes only idols and creatures).
1. Jn 8:16
2. Jn 8:28,29
3. Jn 16:32
4. Jn 16:15
5. 1Jn 5:20
6. Mt 11:27
7. 1Co 2:11
5. Church in its worship
1. Sometimes specifically mentions the 3, sometimes 2, sometimes 1.
2. Always directs its prayers to the one true divine essence.
3. Jn 14:9,10
4. To invoke one Person above or beyond the others, as if that Person were separate or individual, errs from the true God.
1. Jn 5:23
2. Jn 8:54,55
6. Persons are distinguished not only by internal differences (e.g. One begets), but also by external differences which have been noted particularly by reason of revelation and beneficial actions toward the church.
1. In external works, the three Persons are together and work together, and yet with a certain order and with the properties of each Person preserved.
2. Ro 11:36
3. cf 1Co 15:57
7. Of the names applied to the Deity some refer to the essence and some to the Person. (p. 76)
1. Father is God, eternal, omnipotent (likewise is Son and Holy Spirit)
2. We do not say there are three Gods, three eternals, three omnipotents, because these designations apply to the essence.
8. Same designations can sometimes be applied to the essence and sometimes to the Person.
1. These names refer to the essence.
1. 2Co 1:3: “Father of compassion”
2. Heb 12:9: “Father of our spirits”
2. Father - also refers to the First Person
5. Conclusion
1. These observations are not foolish subtleties
2. God wills to be known, invoked and proclaimed as He has revealed Himself.
3. Jerome: “Heresy arises from the improper use of words.” (quoted, page 76)
4. See attachment*
5. Hilary:
   “This is God; when He is spoken of, He cannot be spoken of; and when He is described, He is beyond description.” (quoted, page 81)

*Note to Class Leader: Use page 77 for discussion of right and wrong manners of speaking.