BE34.值得注意的是，在《使徒信经》中这么说：我信上帝、父……我信耶稣基督……我信圣灵；在《尼西亚信经》中这么说：我信独一上帝、父……我信独一主耶稣基督……我信圣灵；因此信独一的上帝。在《亚他那修信经》却说“父上帝、子上帝、圣灵上帝”；因而三位上帝。不过，鉴于该信经的作者和支持者们从其中的用词不可避免地显明三个位格的上帝观，因此为了补救，他们声称三位拥有同一本质或实质；不过，这样的表达无非说明全体一致和意见相合的三位而已，去除不了三位的观念，只是混为一谈。这样的表达是形而上且玄而又玄的，无论怎样新颖和精巧，都无法使每一位都是上帝的三个位格成为一位上帝。诚然，他们的说法可以把三个位格在口头上说成一位，但在头脑中绝对做不到。
34. It is to be observed that in the Apostles' Creed it is said " I believe in God the Father. . . in Jesus Christ. . . and in the Holy Ghost," and in the Nicene Creed: "I believe in one God, the Father. . . in one Lord Jesus Christ... and in the Holy Ghost;" thus, only in one God. But in the Athanasian Creed it is said: "In God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost;" thus, in three Gods. Yet because the authors and favourers of this creed saw clearly that an idea of three Gods would inevitably result from the expressions used therein, in order that this might be remedied, they asserted that one substance or essence belongs to the three. But, in truth, from these expressions no other idea arises than that there are three Gods of one mind and agreeing together. For when one indivisible substance or essence is attributed to the Three, it does not remove the idea of three, but confuses it. This is because the expression is a metaphysical one, and metaphysics with all its ingenuity cannot make one out of three Persons, each of Whom is God. It may, indeed, make a unity of them in utterance, but never in the idea.
34. It is to be observed, that in the Apostles' Creed it is said, "I believe in God the Father, in Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit"; in the Nicene Creed, "I believe in one God, the Father, in one Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit," thus only in one God; but in the Athanasian Creed it is, "In God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit," thus in three Gods. But whereas the authors and favorers of this creed clearly saw that an idea of three Gods would unavoidably result from the expressions therein used, therefore, in order to remedy this, they asserted that one substance or essence belongs to the three; but still there arises from thence no other idea, than that there are three Gods unanimous and agreeing together: for when it is said of the three that their substance or essence is one and indivisible, it does not remove the idea of three, but confounds it, because the expression is a metaphysical one, and the science of metaphysics, with all its ingenuity, cannot of three Persons, each whereof is God, make one; it may indeed make of them one in the mouth, but never in the idea.
34. Tenendum est, quod in Symbolo Apostolico dicatur, "Credo in Deum Patrem, in Jesum Christum, et in Spiritum Sanctum:" in Symbolo Nicaeno, "Credo in Unum Deum, Patrem; in unum Dominum Jesum Christum, et in Spiritum Sanctum," ita solum in unum Deum; at in Symbolo Athanasiano "In Deum Patrem, Deum Filium, et Deum Spiritum Sanctum," ita in tres Deos. At quia Autores et Fautores hujus Symboli claris oculis viderunt, quod idea trium Deorum inevitabiliter ex effatis ibi resultaret, ideo ut hoc sanaretur, dixerunt quod una Substantia seu Essentia sit Tribus verum inde non alia idea profluit, quam quod Tres Dii unanimi et concordes sint; nam cum una et individua substantia seu essentia praedicatur de Tribus, non tollit ideam Trium, sed confundit illam, quia est vox metaphysica, 1et haec scientia cum omni sua arte, non potest ex tribus Personis, quarum unaquaevis est Deus, facere unum, potest facere unum in ore, sed nusquam in idea.
Footnotes:
1. metaph. pro methaph.