A conversation given in the great church, after (the bishop) spoke a little about the Gospel, on the words: “The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19)

“A conversation given in the great church, after (the bishop) spoke a little about the Gospel, on the words: “The Son can do nothing of Himself, unless he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19)” delivered by St. John Chrysostom on July 24, 399 in Constantinople and is dedicated to the anti-Arian controversy. The saint, relying on these words of Christ, proves His equality with the Father and their unity in essence: “If the Son can see the Father creating and know how the Father creates, then He is one and the same being with Him.” *The title of the essay in Latin is In illud: Filius ex se nihil facit. 1. Oh, violence! Oh, compulsion! The teacher who spoke before me, having a full cup, let us taste the drink only with the tips of his lips; He did this not due to a lack of teaching - it usually flows like a stream from him - but, as I said, he wanted to show the compulsion on the part of your love, which you tried to do to our humility; Therefore, he soon fell silent and finished his speech, wanting to satisfy your desire and entrust the payment of the entire debt to us. If he also left us to continue speaking, and I see you waiting for our conversation, then it is already necessary to go to exploits; however, you too will help me and extend your hand, reviving our language with your prayers and making the matter of teaching easier with reasonable attention. After all, a prophet requires not only an “adviser,” but also a “wise” listener (Is. 3:3). And today we have a feat ahead of us that is not unimportant, requiring many prayers, great vigilance on the part of those listening and great zeal on the part of the speaker, so that what will be said is said with precision and is planted firmly in the soul of your love. I want you not only to listen, but also to be edified, not only to learn, but also to teach, not only to accept it yourself, but to pass it on to others. Then the spectacle will be more brilliant and the gathering will be larger, when you will be able to attract others by listening. So, in the previous meeting, I proposed the following Gospel saying: “My Father works until now, and I work” (John 5:17), and, proving from here the equality (of the Son of God) with the Parent, which was precisely what the Evangelist had previously expressed in the words: “The Jews began to persecute Jesus and sought to kill Him because He did such things on the Sabbath; and even more, because He not only violated the Sabbath, but also called God His Father, making Himself equal with God” (John 5:16, 18), with this I ended the conversation. Now it is necessary to consider what the heretics object to us. Although we strive among friends, we must act with such caution that the word from all sides is undeniable and elusive, as if it were happening among enemies; and I wish, as I have already said, that you not only listen, but also admonish others. Therefore, I take great care to equip us with spiritual weapons, so that not a single member will be exposed and receive a mortal wound. With us, the word replaces weapons, protecting our own and simultaneously defeating our opponents, striking not in order to overthrow, but in order to restore those who are lying down. This is precisely the nature of this struggle: it erects a trophy for the salvation of the combatants. So, to achieve this, listen to me with intense attention, abandoning all worldly worries, arouse your mind, turn to me with a keen eye. Let the rich not relax with carelessness, and the poor not be tormented by the worries of poverty, but, leaving behind all such everyday inequalities, let everyone appear as a ready listener, because now important subjects lie before us. And that’s why I often say this, because I know the abyss through which we will go. However, do not be embarrassed when you hear about the abyss, because, under the guidance of the Spirit, these waters will not be dark, but great convenience will present itself, if only you follow the path that I command you to go. Don't be embarrassed and don't worry. True, the questions now proposed may at first confuse the inattentive listener and lead to bewilderment; but if he waits until the end and sees the proper resolution, he will feel a joyful calm and will be able to bring his soul to an undisturbed haven. So, in order to achieve this, do not be perturbed or worried, but with all long-suffering and steadfastness follow the path indicated by the teaching of the word. What objections are offered to us by heretics? “The Son can do nothing of Himself,” they say, “unless he sees the Father doing” (John 5:19). These are the words of Scripture. Why do they present this as an objection? They don't mean it the way the Scripture says it. What, you ask, do they want to prove with this? Do you see, they say, how the Son of God rejected the idea of ​​equality (with his Father)? Since the Jews, they say, began to think that the Son was making Himself equal to God, He, in refutation of this, said: “The Son cannot do anything from Himself.” 2. Was it not in vain that I said that such words can confuse you and that what is said can at first lead the listener into bewilderment? But wait, and you will see how the heretics will be beaten with their own weapons. First of all, let us note that what was said was not the thought of the Jews, as we proved this with all clarity in the previous conversation, to which, in order not to repeat the same thing again, we refer the listener; and now we will try to resolve the objection and show that Christ, in saying this, does not reject that thought, but with great accuracy affirms and confirms it and presents us with proof of closeness, great affinity, unity and agreement (of Himself with the Father). I boldly point to this saying and say that these words especially serve as proof of His affinity with the Father and unity in essence. Do not be embarrassed by heretical judgments. After all, swords, spears, and arrows painted on the walls cannot frighten enemies with a menacing and watchful gaze. Whatever weapon there is, it is a shadow and an image, and not an actual object. Such are the judgments of heretics. To expose them, let's go closer to that saying, look at it in detail, and meanwhile ask them how they want to interpret this saying. Reading alone is not enough. If reading alone was enough, then why did Philip say to the eunuch: “Do you understand what you are reading” (Acts 8:30)? Consequently, while reading, he did not understand what was written at all; That’s why he said: “I ask you to tell me: about whom is the prophet saying this? Is it about yourself or about someone else? (Acts 8:34). If reading alone were enough, then why do the Jews, reading the Old Testament, still do not believe to this day neither what accompanied the birth of Christ, nor signs, nor wonders, nor the place, nor the time, nor the cross, nor burial, nor the resurrection, nor the ascension, nor sitting on the right hand, nor the descent of the Spirit, nor the sending of the apostles to preach, nor the rejection of the synagogue, nor to the high dignity of the Church? Consequently, reading alone is not enough if there is no understanding. Just as someone who takes food but does not digest it will not live, so someone who reads but does not understand at all what he reads will not achieve the truth. Therefore, do not present me with the Gospel saying, but also explain it. I demand this from them so that when I refute their rotten judgments, then I can lay the foundation of truth. This is what housebuilders do: they do not lay the foundations of buildings until they have cleared the place of rot, so that they can build with safety. Let us imitate them too. So, tell me: is it true that the Son cannot create anything at all by himself? He did not say that He can create people, but cannot create angels, or that He can create angels, but cannot create archangels, but He said: “nothing.” Therefore, does this word mean weakness? If, in your opinion, He cannot, then He is subject to compulsion and necessity, - that is, if He does not create anything on His own, “unless He sees the Father doing it.” These are the consequences of such a teaching, which are alien to that Being, incorruptible, immortal, inexplicable, ineffable and incomprehensible. And what am I saying about Christ? Even about me, small and insignificant and created from the earth, this cannot be said, i.e., that I cannot do anything on my own, equally about you, and about no other person. After all, if this were fair, Gehenna, punishment, and torment would be in vain, crowns, rewards, and blessings would be in vain, because if we ourselves do nothing, then by sinning we will not be subjected to the former, and by doing good deeds we will not receive the latter. Rewards are given not just for deeds, but for location. For example, when someone does a good deed of his own accord, then he is crowned and glorified not simply for what he does, but for the fact that he does it out of disposition and will. And so that you can be convinced that this is fair, the Evangelist says: “There are eunuchs who are castrated from people; and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 19:12). Here he calls eunuchs not those who cut off their members, but those who cut off a vicious and depraved thought, using for this purpose not an iron knife, but thought and wisdom, and with the help of God. Here are two kinds of eunuchs: some had their members cut off by people, while others, out of piety, cut off their vicious thoughts. But, although they are unequally castrated, both equally abstain from communicating with women - equally, I said, not by disposition, but by the essence of the matter, because both an eunuch cannot communicate with a woman, and a monk who has (mentally) castrated himself. There is one action, but there is more than one goal. Therefore, having said about the first that they were castrated by people, Christ did not assign them any reward for this - since this is a matter of nature, not asceticism - but, having mentioned the latter, He crowned them with the kingdom, saying: “for the Kingdom of Heaven.” Although neither one nor the other has communication with a woman, the one is out of necessity, and the other performs the feat of his own free will, he decided on his own and does it. If people can do this on their own - they can perform and philosophize, and speak, and perform countless other things - then is it really not possible for the Lord of the angels to accomplish either small or great by Himself? And who will allow this? Do you not hear Paul who says: “And in a great house there are vessels not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; and some in honorable, and others in low, use. Therefore, whoever is clean from this will be a vessel of honor, sanctified by the Master” (2 Tim. 2:20-21)? 3. Do you see how they also correct themselves? This is what the words mean: “Whoever will be clean from this.” So, what does that saying mean? If our word applied only to our own people, then I would have already offered permission; but since it refers to enemies and adversaries, it is still necessary to refute their thoughts; Therefore, let us again quote the above saying and explain it. Our conversation sufficiently showed that we can both do and speak on our own; otherwise we would not be crowned by doing good deeds. Let us ask the heretic again: what does it mean: “The Son can do nothing of Himself unless he sees the Father doing it”? According to this saying, I say, and not according to its interpretation, or better: not according to the saying, but according to the perverse interpretation of the heretics, it is necessary to admit some double creation. How and in what way? “If he does not see the Father creating,” it is said, “he cannot create.” Consequently, it is entirely necessary that, on the one hand, there be deeds done by the Father, and on the other, other deeds of the Son, which He, looking at those, created Himself, because “if he does not see the Father doing,” it is said, “he cannot do,” and in order to see, deeds are necessary. Well, tell me: we see one sun, but can’t you show me two, so that I can see in one the creation of the Father, and in the other the creation of the Son? Won't you show me two moons, and two lands, and two seas, and everything else? But you cannot say this: the sun is one. How, then, since (the Son) does not create if he does not see (the Father) creating? Whose business do you want to consider the sun to be? Father? Where is the sun of the Son? Or the Son? Where is the Father's sun, which, looking at, the Son created another like it? And how can the following saying stand: “Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made” (John 1:3)? If everything is through Him, then at what time could this division occur? Do you see what the thoughts of heretics are, how they confuse themselves, how lies expose themselves? Now, having given their interpretation, I showed how it is refuted by itself. But I would gladly ask them the following question: who took our flesh and entered the virgin’s womb? Say: Father or Son? Doesn’t everyone know that the Only Begotten Son of God? So Paul says: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: He, being in the image of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; but he made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:5-7). And again: “God sent forth His (Only Begotten) Son, who was born of a woman, made subject to the law” (Gal. 4:4). And all Scripture, both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is filled with such evidence, and the works themselves proclaim that the Only Begotten, and not the Father, was incarnate. So, having seen the Father incarnate, the Son became incarnate? Apparently, He would not have become incarnate if He had not seen the Father incarnate, because He “cannot create from Himself unless He sees the Father creating.” When could He see the Father do this? You are unable to say. Meanwhile, do not think that this event is unimportant. The Incarnation of the Only Begotten, His condescension is the “principle” of our salvation. Before He became man, evil reigned, the deepest night covered everything, everywhere there were altars and idol churches, stench, smoke and streams of blood not only of sheep and oxen, but also of people - because “they sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons” (Ps. 105:37); and this was done by such a people who had prophets, received the law, were worthy to contemplate God and were educated by so many miracles. If these people were like that, then imagine the state of other parts of the universe, where people were driven into a frenzy by demons, indulged in vices, servile to all passions, served forests, worshiped stones, mountains, hills, wooded valleys, trees, lakes, springs and rivers. But why talk about others? And on the basis of the vices that prevailed among the Jews, I can judge their excess among other nations. “These are fattened horses: each one neighs at the other’s wife” (Jer. 5:8). “An ox knows his owner, and a donkey his master’s manger; but Israel does not know [Me]” (Isa. 1:3). “They are all dumb dogs, unable to bark” (Isaiah 56:10). “You had the forehead of a harlot, you threw away shame” (Jer. 3:3). “Is there anyone who understands and seeks God? All have turned aside and become equally obscene” (Ps. 13:2-3). Still another says: “The refiner melted in vain, for the wicked were not separated” (Jer. 6:29). Still another: “oaths and deceit, murder and theft, and adultery have become extremely widespread, and bloodshed follows bloodshed” (Hosea 4:2). Still another: “if an Ethiopian can change his skin and a leopard his spots,” then this people will be able to carry out judgment, having learned evil (Jer. 13:23). Another one: “there are no more merciful people on earth, there are no truthful people among people; everyone builds forges to shed blood” (Mic. 7:2). God also says: “I hate and reject your festivals and do not smell the sacrifices during your solemn assemblies” (Amos.5:21). And Elijah: “They have destroyed Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword; I am left alone, but they are also looking for my soul” (1 Kings 19:10). And also God: “I have left My house; I have left My inheritance; He gave what was most dear to My soul into the hands of his enemies” (Jer. 12:7). And David: “they sacrificed their sons and daughters to demons; they shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and their daughters” (Ps. 105:37-38). 4. Do you see the dominance of evil? They became dogs and horses, madder than donkeys, more insensitive than oxen, and raged against nature itself. But after the incarnation of Christ, what does Scripture say? “Our Father who art in heaven” (Matthew 6:9). And before this, the Scripture said: “Go to the ant, you sluggard” (Prov. 6:6). And after that we were worthy of being adopted as sons of God, and are inscribed in heaven, and we rejoice along with the angels, and we take part in their songs, and we compete with the ethereal forces. The hills were destroyed, the churches were destroyed, the stone turned out to be a stone, a tree - a tree, plants - plants, springs - springs, because the Sun of truth has risen and revealed the nature of things, which was previously hidden by the night of error and the deep darkness of ignorance, which darkened the vision of the deceived. When the thick cloud of error was dispelled by the ray of the Sun of truth, then there became light and day everywhere, a brilliant and constant noon. Now even the Persians who married their mothers observe virginity; and those who did not know their sons and killed them became more humble and meek than everyone else; the wolves became meek, like sheep, or better said, those who were worse than wolves, because a wolf does not sin against nature, it recognizes its offspring, and people were more ferocious than them. After the incarnation and dispensation of the Only Begotten, they, leaving ferocity, returned to their nobility, or better yet, rose to the virtues of angels. Before, the cities were filled with wickedness; and now the desert is full of wisdom, and on the mountains and in the forest valleys are the huts of monks imitating the life of angels and renouncing real life. However, why use many words when deeds cry out and point clearer than the sun to the blessings that, after that wondrous and spiritual birth of the Son of God from the Virgin, after His dispensation and incarnation, the whole universe received? But, however, He accomplished such a great and such an important work by Himself. So Paul also cries: “He, being in the image of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; but he made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant” (Phil. 2:6–7). Do you hear, heretic, that He exhausted Himself? And in another place: “just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet savour” (Eph. 5:2). He was crucified by Himself and slain by Himself; That’s why He Himself said: “No one takes it (My soul) from Me, but I myself give it away. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18). What do you say here, heretic, perverting the Gospel saying: “The Son can do nothing of Himself”? Here He himself says: “no one takes it away from Me, but I myself give it.” This saying is not unimportant, but very great. And it is said of the Father that He has power over life and death. Do you see how you got caught in the net? What do you say about this saying? “No one takes it away from Me, but I myself give it.” How did you say that He does nothing by Himself? However, as I said, if my word applied only to heretics, then now, having placed them in difficulty and in a snare, I would leave when a sufficient victory had already been won, a brilliant trophy had been acquired and the greatest proof of their madness had been presented. But since I want not only to stop the mouths of opponents, but to teach those who are with us, and to make our members wise, I will not end the conversation with this, but I will try to go further, point out another thing that exposes the shameless contradictions of heretics. What does Scripture say? “The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22). 5. I ask the heretic: if the Father does not judge anyone, but the Son judges, then how does He judge? If He “can do nothing of Himself unless He sees the Father doing it,” and the Father does not judge, but the Son judges everyone, then how can He do what He has not seen? And do not ignore this, because this is not unimportant, but shows the greatest strength. In fact, imagine how great a task it is to bring on that day everyone who lived from Adam to the end of time, pagans, Jews, heretics, those who are in the Orthodox faith and have sinned, and to reveal everyone’s secret deeds, words of deceit, malice, hidden thoughts, without indications of witnesses, without evidence, without images, without proof, without any similar methods, but with one’s own power to carry out this exposure. And yet He accomplishes such a great and important work Himself, without seeing the Father doing it in advance and then imitating Him, because “the Father does not judge anyone.” Look how He does everything with authority in other cases - in miracles, in legislation, and in everything else. After he ascended the mountain and began to give the New Testament, He said: “You have heard that it was said to the ancients: do not kill; whoever kills will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be subject to judgment; whoever says to his brother: “raqa” is subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, “You fool,” is subject to fiery hell... You have heard that it was said: an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you: do not resist evil. But whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn the other also to him” (Matthew 5:21–22, 38–39). What is this? He who does nothing of Himself corrects the Father’s works and improves the commandments? However, when I say: corrects, do not suspect anything blasphemous, as if the Father is powerless than the Son. If the previous legislation was lower, then the reason is not in God, but in those who adopted the law. But the Old Testament is the work of the Only Begotten, and the New Testament is the work of the Father. How, tell me, does He who makes additions to the Old Testament, who does nothing by Himself, manifest such power? What could be more weak than heretics? And the Jews were amazed that He taught them this way, “as one having authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees” (Matthew 7:29), the Jews testified to His authority; and these prove that He cannot do anything of Himself. And moreover, they did not say: “as having received power,” but: “as having power,” because power was not subsequently given to Him, but was already perfect and had no need for anything. Therefore, when asked about the kingdom, He answered: “For this purpose I was born” (John 18:37). Also, when they brought the paralytic to Him, then, having healed his sins, He said: “So that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins, then He said to the paralytic: Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house” (Matthew 9:6). The people said that He does everything “as one who has authority”; and He himself said that “the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins,” and also: “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again” (John 10:18). He legislates with authority, forgives sins with authority, has the power of life and death; and how do you say that He does nothing by Himself? What could be clearer than this victory? 6. But, if you want, we will finally leave the heretics and give a resolution to the above saying, explaining to you, firstly, that the expression “cannot”, used about God, does not mean weakness, but strength. Although these words are new, we will nevertheless present clear evidence of them. If I say that God cannot sin, then I do not accuse Him of weakness, but I testify to His greatest power. If I say that God cannot lie, then again I am pointing out the same thing. So Paul said: “If we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:12-13). Do you see that the expression “cannot” is a sign of power? But what can we say about God? I will turn my speech to sensual, material objects. If I say that a diamond cannot break, then with this word: “cannot,” do I testify to its weakness, or to its greatest strength? So, when you hear that God cannot sin and cannot lie, and cannot deny Himself, then by this word “cannot” do not mean weakness, but the greatest power, i.e. that His being does not accept any evil, is not accessible to it, is pure and above it. Having therefore discussed this, let us turn to our subject. “The Son can do nothing of Himself.” What does it mean: “from Myself”? If you understand this with precision, you will recognize His great closeness to the Parent, the inseparability of Their being - that He has the same being as the Father. What does it mean: “cannot create on His own”? He cannot do anything special from the Father, cannot do anything alien to the Father, separate, different, different from what the Father does: what the Father does, He does the same. So the saying: “he cannot create of himself” is not a denial of freedom and not the destruction of power, but proof of unanimity, evidence of agreement, a sign of perfect closeness and inseparability. When He violated the Sabbath, and they began to accuse Him of lawlessness, saying: God has ordained one thing, and Thou dost another, then He, wanting to curb this shamelessness of theirs, said: I have not done anything that the Father does not do; I am not His opponent or enemy. If He did not say so, but used a more human-like and more sensual expression, then remember what He said to the Jews, who considered Him an opponent of God. Therefore, so that no one would think anything like that, He immediately added: “Whatever He does, the Son also does likewise” (John 5:19). If He does not do anything on His own, then how does He “do the same”? The importance is not to create; The apostles also did: they raised the dead, they cleansed lepers; but they did not create as He creates. How did they do it? “Why do you look at us as if we had done by our own power or authority that which he walks” (Acts 3:12)? How did Jesus work? “So that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10; Luke 5:24). Also about the resurrection of the dead: “As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to whomever He will” (John 5:21). Although the word “also” would have been enough, He, wanting to further expose the shamelessness of those who wanted to contradict, added: “whom he wants,” i.e. with all power. That’s why he says: “What He does, the Son also does”; He did not say: such the Son also creates, but “whatever He does, the Son also does likewise,” because “all things came into being through Him, and without Him nothing began to be” (John 1:3). Do you see how He directs speech to express perfect unity, affinity and intimacy? Not like that, he says, but “what He does, the Son also does,” like the Father. Therefore, of course, in subsequent words, defining his attitude towards the Father, He used a very cautious expression there. He did not say: what he will not learn from the Father, so that you do not introduce Him to students; He also did not say: what was not ordered, so that you would not make Him among the slaves, but: “if he does not see the Father doing.” These very words, spoken in this way, express His great closeness to the Father. If the Son can see the Father creating and know how the Father creates, then He is of the same being with Him. And before we have often proved that no one can clearly see the beings of God and know for sure who is not of the same nature as God. Man cannot even see an angel in his pure being, even if it were Daniel, adorned with high virtue. Therefore, Christ considered this exclusively an accessory to His nature when he said: “No one has ever seen God; The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed” (John 1:18). And again: “not that anyone has seen the Father except He who is from God; He saw the Father” (John 6:46). Of course, many others saw Him, prophets, forefathers, righteous people, angels, but He speaks of exact knowledge. So, let us not say that the Son creates when he sees the Father creating; otherwise, what meaning would the words have: “all things came into being through Him, and without Him nothing came into being” (John 1:3); and again: the works “what He does, the Son also does also” (John 5:19)? If He creates “also,” then how can one say that He creates when He first sees the Father creating? According to your words, it will be necessary that the Father also creates, seeing another create; and this is extremely crazy and senseless. 7. But so that, by denouncing these weak and absurd thoughts, we do not spread the conversation, we will say the following: since Christ spoke to the Jews, who called Him the adversary and enemy of the Lawgiver, and inferred this from His actions, He gave His words a more humanoid and more sensual appearance, allowing a prudent listener to understand a godly thought, and correcting those who think in a more sensual way; That’s why he said: “For whatever He does, the Son also does.” He does not wait until he sees the Father doing something in order to then do it himself, and does not need teaching; but he sees His being and knows this being clearly. “As the Father knows Me,” He says, “so I know the Father” (John 10:15). He does everything and creates with His characteristic power, with the knowledge and wisdom inherited by Him, without the need to study or discern. Why does He, Who is the most perfect image of the Parent, create everything in the same way as He, and with the same power? It was He who spoke about power when he added the following: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). So, knowing all this and understanding what has been said, let us turn away from the assemblies of heretics, constantly adhere to the right faith, and lead a correct life and in agreement with dogmas, in order to receive future benefits, by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and power, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: