Annotation XCIV

”It is not mine to give to you.” — Matthew 20:23

On the Trinity.

The author of the Opus imperfectum, homily 35 on Matthew, denies that the Son is coequal and consubstantial with the Father, in these words: “What then — did Christ lie, saying, ‘It is not mine [to give]’? No. For everyone who has power, if he has [it] received from another, [that power] truly belongs to him who gave [it]. For what did the Son have as his own, since he himself was not his own, but the Father’s? Therefore between him and [the one] whose [the power] is not, [there is] neither one person,

nor equal power. For if [there is] one God — both Father and Son — either assuredly he can, or assuredly he cannot [do a thing]. Who has [ever] seen such a one heavenly God worshipped — [one] who in half is powerful, and in half powerless? Or who would think those equal, whose power is not equal?”