[soc.religion.christian] the Creed - What is the "filioque?"

avo@icad.com (Alex Orlovsky) (06/27/90)

In article <Jun.22.03.25.21.1990.15123@athos.rutgers.edu>, cms@dragon.uucp writes: 
|
| This is in response to queries regarding the Scriptural nature of the 
|Credo (I believe).  I'm going to use the Nicene Creed for this 
|purpose, however, I have included the Apostles Creed for reference 
|since I shall be citing it also.  The Creed sums up the essentials of 
|the Faith.
|
|WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE LORD, THE GIVER OF LIFE,
|  WHO PROCEEDS FROM THE FATHER AND THE SON.
|


This, alas, is not the Nicene Creed, but a later version.
The original wording was

"We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life,
who proceeds from the Father
who together with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified ..."

The addition "and the Son" (filioque in Latin, pronounced fill ee oh kway)
originated in Spain in the seventh century, I believe, as a rebuff to
Arianism, which still florished in the West. It's use became widespread
in Charlemagne's time but was opposed by the Bishop of Rome (ie the Pope)
until about 900.

It was, and remains, one of the most serious points of disagreement between
Orthodox and Roman Catholics.  The Orthodox view is that Rome violated the
rules of the game when it unilaterally overrode a decision of the whole
Church at the Council of Nicaea.  Second the nature of the change is
to distort the Church's teaching on the meaning of "trinity" in the
Trinity.  While to most people this seems like a very obscure point of
theology, epistemologically it is central since it is an essential element
in the Church's answer to the question, "Who is this God to whom we pray?"

Lastly, I bid you consider the Scriptural basis for the original wording
of the Creed accepted by the Nicene Council, Jesus' words from John 15:26:
"When the Comforter comes, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit
of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, who will bear witness about Me."

[Actually, if you want to get historical, the original creed of the
council of Nicea (325) said "And [we believe] in the Holy Spirit".
Period.  The wording that you quote seems to come from the Council of
Chalcedon (451), which attributed it to the Council of Constantinople
(381).  It is however the form which has always been known as the
Nicene Creed.

--clh]