Palladius said; 'He who sent me, is greater than I. Was the flesh sent by God or was the Son of God sent?'
Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'We prove this day that the holy Scriptures are falsely cited by you, for thus it is written: Peace I leave unto you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid: If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I. He did not say, He Who sent me is greater than I.'
Palladius said; 'The Father is greater.' |47
Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'Anathema to him, who adds to or takes from the holy Scriptures.' All the Bishops said; 'Anathema.'
37. PALLADIUS said; 'The Father is greater than the Son.'
Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'In respect of the flesh the Son is less than the Father: in respect of Godhead He is equal to the Father: I read therefore that the Son of God is equal to the Father, as also the instances that have been adduced testify. But why should you wonder that He is less in respect of the flesh, when He has called Himself a servant, a stone, a worm, when He has said that He is less than the angels, for it is written: Thou madest him a little lower than the angels?
Palladius said; ' I see that you make impious assertions. We do not answer you without arbiters.'
Sabinus, Bishop, said; 'Let no one ask for an opinion from him who has blasphemed in such countless opinions.'
Palladius said; 'We do not answer you.'
38. SABINUS Bishop, said; 'Palladius has now been condemned by all. The blasphemies of Arius are much lighter than those of Palladius.'
And when Palladius rose, as if he wished to go out, he said; 'Palladius has risen, because he sees that he is to be convicted by manifest testimonies of the Scriptures, as indeed he has been already convicted: for thus it has been read, that in respect of Godhead the Son is equal to the Father. Let him admit that in respect of His Godhead the Son of God has no greater: it is written: When God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, he swear by himself. You see therefore the Scripture, that He could swear by no greater. But it is the Son of Whom this is said, since it was He Who appeared to Abraham, whence also He says, He saw my day and was glad. '
Palladius said; 'The Father is greater.'
Eusebius, Bishop, said; 'When He spake as God, He had no greater; when He spake as man, He had one greater.'
39. PALLADIUS said; 'The Father begat the Son; the Father sent the Son.'
Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'Anathema to him, who denies |48 that in respect of His Godhead the Son is equal to the Father.'
All the Bishops said; 'Anathema.'
Palladius said; ' The Son is subject to the Father; the Son keeps the commands of the Father.'
Ambrose, Bishop, said; ' He is subject in respect of His Incarnation. But even you yourself remember that you have read; No man can come unto me, except the Father draw him .'
Sabinus, Bishop, said; 'Let him say whether the Son is subject to the Father in respect of His Godhead, or in respect of His Incarnation.'
40. PALLADIUS said; 'Then the Father is greater.' Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'In another place also it is written; God is faithful, by Whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son. I say that the Father is greater in respect of the assumption of the flesh, which the Son of God took upon Him, not in respect of the Son's Godhead.
Palladius said; 'What then is the comparison of the Son of God? And can flesh say, God is greater than I? Did the flesh speak or the Godhead because the flesh was there?'
Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'The flesh does not speak without the soul.'
Eusebius, Bishop, said; 'God in the flesh spoke according to the flesh, when He said, Why do ye persecute me, a man? Who said this?'
Palladius said; 'The Son of God.'
Ambrose, Bishop, said; 'Then the Son of God is God in respect of His Godhead and is man in respect of His flesh.'