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Greek Orthodox Catechism
Constantine Callinicos, London, 1926
Part I. Dogmatical, 5. Our Lord Jesus Christ
And what is the meaning of the second Article?
The second Article emphasises specially the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was drawn up against Arius, who, sacrificing the Gospel to the Platonic philosophy, taught that our Lord is not con-substantial with the Father, neither is He a True and Perfect God, neither was He born before eternity from the Father, but that He is the first among God’s creatures, Whom the Father created in time, in order that through Him, as through a subordinate instrument, He might create the world. Against this heresy the second Article, expressing precisely the voice of Scripture and Tradition, contends that, as we believe in God the Father, so we should also believe in the Son; for He is the one and only Lord, before Whom every knee is bent; He is Jesus, that is to say, the Saviour, Who saved His people from their sins; He is the Christ, anointed not simply with oil, but with the Holy Ghost, to be the Highest Prophet, Priest and King, and raise us through these three Offices from our fall; He is the Son of God, a Son not of another substance and adopted, as is the case with us, but a Son begotten of the very substance of the Father before all time, and thus con-substantial with the Father. As the light, which comes from another light, does not differ from the light from which it came, but is as full a light as that one, so the Son is true God, coming from a true God. Finally, the second Article repeats the words of John the Evangelist: —“all things were made by Him” (i. 3) and informs us that, since the three Persons in the Godhead are united inseparably and before all time, consequently the whole world, both visible and invisible, is a product of the creative power, as much of the Son as of the Father.
What does the Creed teach further about our Lord?
The Creed teaches further in its third Article that this Son and Word of God, Eternal, Almighty and Con-substantial with the Father, descended from Heaven to earth, divested Himself of His inexpressible majesty, and taking on flesh, dwelt among mankind as an ordinary man.
Why?
“For us, men, and for our salvation.” Being deeply wounded by sin, we had not the strength by ourselves to heal ourselves; wherefore He came down to heal us, as the only one Who possessed the capacity of healing. Our minds were confused; as Teacher and Prophet, He undertook to enlighten us by His wonderful teaching. Our hearts were corrupt; as High Priest and Mediator, He undertook by His precious blood, to purify them. Our wills were held bound by the Devil; as an All-Holy King, He undertook to drive out the Devil, and release us from bondage. We had brought upon us the wrath of the Heavenly Father; hence the Son came in order to reconcile all things in the body of His flesh. (Col. i. 20, 22.)