ACC ~ Mark 3 v28

TURNING AWAY FROM FAITH

ORIGEN: The power of God the Father and God the Son is at work in the whole of creation. [1] The saints are those who are fully receiving life in the Holy Spirit. [2] Accordingly it is said, “No man can say that Jesus is the Lord except in the Holy Spirit.” [3] However unworthy the apostles might have been, they were told: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” [4] This is what is referred to by the phrase, “he who has sinned against the Son of Man is worthy of forgiveness.” [5] Even if one at times ceases to live according to this divine word, even if one falls into ignorance or folly, the way is not blocked to true penitence and forgiveness. But one who has once been counted worthy to share in life in the Holy Spirit and then finally turns back again in apostasy is by this very act and deed said to have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. [6] ON FIRST PRINCIPLES 1.3.7. [7]

[1] Cf. Rom 1:20.

[2] Cf. Rom 8:10; Gal 6:8.

[3] 1 Cor 12:3.

[4] Acts 1:8.

[5] HE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL | MARK 1:1-5

[6] Mt 12:31-32; Mk 3:29.

[7] OBP 176; OFP 36-37**.

THOSE SO INDWELT WOULD NOT CURSE JESUS

NOVATIAN: No one who is indwelt by the Holy Spirit can imagine saying “anathema” to Jesus. [1] No one in the Spirit would deny that Christ is the Son of God, or reject God as Creator. No believer would utter such things contrary to Scriptures, or substitute alien or sacrilegious ordinances contrary to moral principles. But if anyone shamelessly blasphemes against this same Holy Spirit, he “does not have forgiveness, either in this world or in the world to come.” [2] For it is the Spirit who through the apostles offers testimony to Christ, [3] who in the martyrs manifests unwavering faith, and who in the lives of the chaste embraces the admirable continence of sealed chastity. [4] It is the Spirit who, among the whole church, guards the laws of the Lord’s teaching uncorrupted and untainted, destroys heretics, corrects those in error, reproves unbelievers, reveals impostors, and corrects the wicked. [5] THE TRINITY 29. [6]

[1] 1 Cor 12:3.

[2] Cf. Mt 12:32; Lk 12:10.

[3] Cf. Eph 3:5.

[4] For further reference to voluntary continence as a form of asceticism, particularly in response to pagan eroticism, see EEC 930 and EEC 161.

[5] 2 Cor 11:2.

[6] Cetedoc 0071, 29.98; FC 67:104**. For this reason the indwelling Holy Spirit is pivotal to every aspect of the Christian life.

THE SPIRIT IS GOD

GREGORY NAZIANZEN: He [1] is the subject, not the object, of hallowing, apportioning, participating, filling, sustaining. We share in him; he shares in nothing. [2] He is our inheritance, he is glorified, counted together with Father and Son. He is a dire warning to us, the “finger of God.” [3] The Spirit is, like God, a “fire.” [4] This means that the Holy Spirit is of the same essential nature as the Father. [5] The Spirit is the very One who created us and creates us anew through baptism and resurrection. The Spirit knows all things, [6] teaches all things, [7] moves where and when and as strongly as he wills. [8] He leads, [9] speaks, [10] sends, [11] and separates those who are vexed and tempted. He reveals, [12] illumines, [13] gives life, or better said, he is himself light and life. [14] He makes us his temple, [15] he sanctifies, [16] he makes us complete. [17] He both goes before baptism and follows after it. [18] All that the Godhead actively performs, the Spirit performs. ORATION 31, ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 29. [19]

[1] At issue in this oration is whether the Holy Spirit is the object of our worship or the subject who makes our worship possible.

[2] In the sense that nothing external is necessary for his being.

[3] Cf. Lk 11:20.

[4] Cf. Acts 2:3.

[5] The Holy Spirit is truly God, of the same nature as God.

[6] Cf. Rom 8:26; Eph 3:4-5.

[7] Cf. Neh 9:20; Is 11:2; Jn 14:26.

[8] Cf. Jn 3:8.

[9] Cf. Ps 143:10; Jn 16:13.

[10] Cf. 2 Sam 23:2; Ezek 11:5; Mt 10:20; Mk 13:11; Jn 16:13; 1 Tim 4:1.

[11] Cf. Is 61:1; Acts 13:4.

[12] Cf. 1 Cor 2:10; Eph 3:5.

[13] Cf. Joel 2:28.

[14] Cf. Job 27:3; 33:4; Ps 104:30; Dan 5:14; Eph 2:1-10.

[15] Cf. 1 Cor 3:16.

[16] Cf. 1 Cor 6:11; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2.

[17] Cf. Is 11:2; 32:15.

[18] Cf. Mk 1:8, 10.

[19] TLG 2022.011, 29.17-29; FGFR 296-97**. The Holy Spirit is God himself enabling our faith: not merely the object of our worship but the one by whose power and inspiration we worship.

REPENTANCE FOR BLASPHEMY

AUGUSTINE: It is not that this was a blasphemy which under no circumstances could be forgiven, for even this shall be forgiven if right repentance follows it. SERMONS ON NEW TESTAMENT LESSONS 21.35. [1]

[1] Cetedoc 0284, 71.75.104.808; NPNF 1 6:330*; Dominican ed., Sermon 71:35; WSA 3 3:268. Assuming a right repentance, even this blasphemy can be forgiven.