Annotation C

”Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.” — Matthew 22:37

On the Trinity.

The author of the Opus imperfectum, homily 42, shows that the Son is not the first God, as the Father is, in these words: “The first commandment [is], and [is] great, to love God the Father; but the second, like to it, is to love the Son of God — that is, to acknowledge [him]. Therefore the Son of God is great, as the Father [is]. For whatever the Father can [do], the Son too can [do]. For the Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hands. But because the Son can [do] all things — the Father giving [the power] — as the Father [can]: therefore the Father [is] great God, and first; but the Son [is] indeed great God, yet not first — as [Paul] says, ‘Awaiting the coming of the great God, and of our Savior Jesus Christ.’”