Chapter XXIV: Appendix: E

ON THE ADDITION OF "FILIOQUE" TO THE CREED. (p. 124.)

The Nicene Creed (325) had the words "_Proceeding from the Father_": the Council of Ephesus (431[1]) decreed that no addition was to be made to the Creed, as there settled. When, however, the question was raised whether we ought not to say "proceeding from the Father, _and the Son_ (Filioque)," various Scripture phrases were adduced in support of it: such as, _the Spirit of Christ_ (Rom. viii. 9), _the Spirit of His Son_ (Gal. iv. 6), _the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ_ (Phil. i. 19), _the Spirit of Christ_ (1 Pet. i. 11). Also S. John xv. 26, xvi. 7, xx. 32, and the general similarity of expressions which, speaking of the Holy Spirit, refer to the Father, and to the Son.

The Eastern Churches were opposed to the addition of the words, "and from the Son." The Western Churches were, mainly, in favour of it. The controversy lasted from the 5th to the 11th century, and resulted in the schism which still separates the Eastern and Western Churches.

It is usually agreed that the difference is not one of doctrine. The Easterns prefer the phrase "receiving from the Son": the Westerns prefer to assert afresh the equality of the Father and the Son, by using the phrase, "proceeding from the Father and the Son." It may be {177} doubted whether the words should have been added without the assent of a General Council. But there is no denial of the equality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, in the Eastern, nor in the Western, Churches.

[1] On p. 124, we have accidentally written 'Chalcedon' for 'Ephesus': and _vice versâ_. The dates are correctly given on pp. 122, 123.