27
συντελέω-VA--AAD2S οὖν-X ὁ-
A--APN ἕβδομος-A1--APN οὗτος-
D--GSF καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ-
P--DS καί-C οὗτος-
D--ASF ἀντί-P ὁ-
A--GSF ἐργασία-N1A-GSF ὅς-
--GSF ἐργάζομαι-VF2-FMI2S παρά-P ἐγώ-
P--DS ἔτι-D ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕτερος-A1A-APN
27
συντελέω-VA--AAD2S οὖν-X ὁ-
A--APN ἕβδομος-A1--APN οὗτος-
D--GSF καί-C δίδωμι-VF--FAI1S σύ-
P--DS καί-C οὗτος-
D--ASF ἀντί-P ὁ-
A--GSF ἐργασία-N1A-GSF ὅς-
--GSF ἐργάζομαι-VF2-FMI2S παρά-P ἐγώ-
P--DS ἔτι-D ἑπτά-M ἔτος-N3E-APN ἕτερος-A1A-APN
3876. 'For I have borne him three sons' means that which happens next. This is clear from what has been stated above in 3871. That which happens next, meant here by 'three sons', is the arrival of charity. For when a person is being regenerated, that is, becoming the Church, the first thing is his need to know and understand what the truth of faith is; the second is his determination to will and do it; and the third comes when he has an affection for it. When a person has an affection for truth, that is, when he experiences delight and blessing in acting in accordance with truth, charity or mutual love has arrived in him. This next stage is what is meant here by 'I have borne him three sons'.