Nine Questions #7

Durch Emanuel Swedenborg
  
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7. QUESTION 7.

May we not rightly say that the Holy Trinity is one and the same Lord under three characters, distinguished as to function or relationship with men, as Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Divine Esse, Divine Human, and Holy Proceeding; and not as three persons, which would inevitably lead to three Gods?

ANSWER

The Holy Trinity in one Person must be perceived as Divine Esse, Divine Human, and Holy Proceeding, thus as soul, body, and their power or operation, exactly as is shown in the notable occurrence introduced into True Christian Religion 188. As their products there follow in order: Creation, Redemption, and Regeneration, for Creation is the attribute of the Divine Esse, Redemption the attribute of the Divine Human from the Divine Esse, and Regeneration the attribute of the Holy Spirit which is the primary power or operation of the Divine Human from the Divine Esse. This is according to what is said in True Christian Religion 153-5.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.