Letter 2

**Pope Benedict I — Letter to Bishop David** *He proves from the sacred Scriptures that the supreme Trinity is a unity.* To our most reverend brother Bishop David, from Benedict. "The God of Israel, who sits enthroned above the cherubim" — greetings in the Lord. I considered responding to your letter at greater length, but as I reflected on this, such grief seized me that I found myself more inclined to weep than to speak. Yet so that my reply would not fail entirely, I have taken care to write back to you briefly, duly inviting you to a more suitable time for fuller discussion. As your letter attests, there are certain persons within the province of Baetica [southern Spain] who claim that no one can truly prove that the Trinity is a unity, since — they argue — neither can three be shown to be one, nor one properly demonstrated to exist in three. For this reason, dearest son, I am sending you the counsel of the apostolic see, so that you may either use these arguments to bring them back to the true faith, or expel them from the Church before this plague spreads further. With these testimonies of Scripture, brother, recognize the unity of the Trinity, and cease following the depravity of the Arians, so that you may deserve to obtain forgiveness of sins from that same Trinity. The prophet Isaiah says: *"I saw the Lord of Hosts sitting upon a high throne, and the seraphim stood around him. Each had six wings: with two they covered his face, with two they covered his feet, and with two they flew. And they cried out to one another, saying: 'Holy, holy, holy — the Lord God of Hosts'"* [Isaiah 6]. If the Trinity does not exist, why did they say "holy" three times? And if the unity does not exist, why did they, with that threefold repetition, proclaim one God and Lord? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Genesis say: *"God said," "God made,"* and *"God blessed"* [Genesis 1]? And if the unity does not exist, why did it say "God" three times rather than using the plural "gods"? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Exodus say three times: *"Lord, Lord, Lord, compassionate and merciful"* [Exodus 34]? If the unity does not exist, why — after saying "Lord" three times — did it then say "compassionate" in the singular, and not "compassionate ones," as though indicating more than one? If the Trinity does not exist, why did Abraham, sitting by the oak of Mamre and approaching three visitors, address one as "Lord" [Genesis 18], rather than offering his greeting to all three as he had seen them? If the unity does not exist, why — when Moses said *"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob"* [Exodus 3], naming God three times — did he then reveal the unity by saying *"This is my name,"* rather than *"These are our names"*? If the Trinity does not exist, why did David say three times: *"May God bless us, our God — may God bless us"* [Psalm 67]? If the unity does not exist, why — having named "God" three times — did he add "may he bless" in the singular, and not "may they bless"? If the Trinity does not exist, why did Isaiah again say: *"Lord God of Hosts"*? If the unity does not exist, why did he say *"who sits enthroned"* in the singular, and not "who sit enthroned" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why does the Book of Kings say: *"Lord God Almighty, God of Israel — your words are faithful"* [2 Samuel 7; 1 Kings 8]? If the unity does not exist, why does it say "your" in the singular, rather than "your" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Psalm 59 sing: *"Lord God of Hosts, God of Israel, attend to visiting all the nations"*? If the unity does not exist, why did it use "attend" in the singular, and not "attend" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Revelation say three times: *"Holy, holy, holy — Lord God Almighty, who is and who was"* [Revelation 4]? If the unity does not exist, why did it not say "who are" in the plural, but rather "who was" in the singular? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Deuteronomy say: *"The Lord your God is a merciful God, and he will hear your voice"* [Deuteronomy 4]? If the unity does not exist, why did it use "will hear" in the singular, and not "will hear" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why does the Book of Joshua say: *"The Lord God is God of gods"* [Joshua 22; Deuteronomy 10]? If the unity does not exist, why did it say "is" rather than "are"? If the Trinity does not exist, why did Elijah pray: *"Lord, Lord, Lord God of Israel — show that you are my God"* [1 Kings 18]? If the unity does not exist, why did he use "show" in the singular, and not "show yourselves"? If the Trinity does not exist, why did Mordecai pray: *"Lord, Lord God Almighty — all things are in your power"* [Esther 13 (Greek addition)]? If the unity does not exist, why did he say "in your power" in the singular, and not "in your power" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why did Judith pray: *"Lord God of all powers, look upon my prayer"* [Judith 9]? If the unity does not exist, why did she use "look" in the singular, and not "look" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Jeremiah say: *"The Lord your God is the true God"* [Jeremiah 10]? If the unity does not exist, why did it say "you are true," and not rather "you are true ones" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why is it written in Revelation: *"The Lord God and the Spirit of the prophets sent his angel, to show his servants what must soon take place"* [Revelation 22]? If the unity does not exist, why — having named the Father, the Son, and the Spirit — did it say "the Lord sent," and not "they sent," as though the pretense of three persons and names required? If the Trinity does not exist, why does Deuteronomy say: *"The Lord your God — he is God"* [Deuteronomy 10]? If the unity does not exist, why did it say "he is," and not "they are" in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why does the same book say: *"The Lord your God is a great and mighty God"* [Deuteronomy 10]? If the unity does not exist, why is "great and mighty" given in the singular, and not in the plural? If the Trinity does not exist, why is Tobit taught to have spoken thus when he sent his son to the city of Rages with the angel Raphael, blessing them: *"The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob — may he himself fulfill his blessing in you"* [Tobit 7]? If the unity does not exist, why did he say "may he himself fulfill," and not "may they themselves fulfill"? Finally, if the Trinity does not exist, why did the Lord send his disciples to baptize all nations *"in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"* [Matthew 28]? Hold fast to this faith, attending not to spirits of error and doctrines of demons, but to the true and apostolic teaching that has been handed down to you.

BENEDICTI PAPA I EPISTOLA* AD DAVID EPISCOPUM. Probat ex sacris lilteris, 8ummam Trinitatem unitatem esse. Reverendissimo ſratri episcopo David, Benedictus A Deus Jsrae!, qui sedes snper cherubim (la. xxxvn)? szlutem in Domino. Respondere litteris vesiris plenius cogitavi; sed eum hoc meditarer, tai:tus me dolor teligit, 'ut magis flere quam aliquid dicere, delectatus ssim. Sed ne funditus remaneret, paiica yobis rescribere curavi, ad potiora vos tempora congrue invitavs. Quod autem liverz tuz tesies gunt, quosdam intra provinciam Bzticam esse, qui dicerent, neminem veraciter posse probare, Trinilatem unitatem fieri, cum neque tres unum, neque uRum in tribus posset quemquam Ppro- prie approbare : quas vb causas, dilectis>ime fili, consulta libi apostolice sedis misimus, ut aut his eos ad reciam fidem converii ſacias, aut ab ecclesia antequam peslis bec latius divulgetur, repellas. His (ſrater) Scripturaram tesiimoniis (lthacius adv. V a- rimadum, C. 1) unitatem Trivitatis agnosce, et de- Sine Arianorum pravitalem sequi, ut ab eadem pvyssis peccatorum indulgentiam promereri , Isaia propheta dicente ; Vide Doninum s8abaoth sedentem ouper thronum excelsum, et seraphim s1abant in circui- tu ejus : 8ex ale uni, et 8ex ale alteri. Duabus vela- bant ſaciem ejus, duabns autem velubant pedes ejus, et duabus rolabant. Et clamabant ad alterutrum , dicen- les : Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus; Dominus Devs 8abaoth (Isa. vi). Si Trinitas non est, quare tertio, sancius, dixerunt? Et si unitas non est, quare Sub trina repe- titione unum Deum ac Dominum intimarunt? Si Tri- nitas non est, cur in Geneseos dicitur : Dixit Deus, fecit Deus, et benedixit Deus (Genes. 1)? Si vero unitas non es, quare lertio dixit, Deus, et non deos piura- liter comme: davit? Et si Trinitas non cs, quare in Exodo dictum est tertio : Domine, domine, domaine, miservar et misericors (Exod. xxx1v) ? Si unitas nou esl, quare dum tertio diceret, Domine, postea mise- rator Singulariter dixit, et non miseratores, ut plures oslenderet, intimavit? Si Trinitas non est, cur Abra- ham ad ilicem Mambre sedens, tribusque occurrens, uni domine, dixit (Genes. xv); et non (ut videral) tribus salutationis obsequium reddidit? Si unitas non esl, quare cum Mos. (Exod. in) , Deus Abraham, et Deus Isaac, et Deus Jucob, tertio diceret, uuitatem Oolendens, Hoc miki nomen esl, dixit; et non, Hec Sl noslra nomina, designavit? Si Trinitas non est, quare David tertio dixit : Benedical nos Deus, Deus nosler, benedicat nos Deus (Pzalm. xcvi)? Si unilas non est, quare cum, Deus, terliv nominas*el, bene- dicat, et non, benedicant, adjunxil ? Si Trinitas non ext, cur lsaias denno dixit : Domine Deus 8abaoth , Si unilas non es!, quare : qu sedes, dixit, et non qui sedetis, et adjunxit | Lahb., abstruxit|? Si Trinitas non esl, quare in Regnorum libro dicitinr, Domine Deus omnipotens, Deus Israel, sermones tui fideles 8uit (IT Reg. vn, 111 Reg. vm)? Si unitas non est, quare 1ui, dicitor, et non, vestri, potius intimelur ? Si Trinitas non est, cur in pSalmo Lvint cantatur : Domine Deus virtulum, Deus lIzrael, intende ad visilandas omnes gentes ? Si unitas non es!, quare intende posuit, ot non, inlendite, ut predicatus est, intimavit? Si Tri- nitas non est, quare in Apocalypst tertio dixit : San- ctus, zanctus,sancius, Dominus Deus omnipotens, quiet, el qui erat (Apoc. 1v)? Si unitas non est. quare non, qui gunt, pluraliter, sed, qui erat, designavit ? Si Trinitas B non est,-quare in Deuteronomio dictum est : Domi- nus Deus tuus, Neus misericors ext, et audiet vocem tuam (Deuter. 1)? Si unit+s non es, quare audRt py- Suit, el non audient, intimavit? Si Trinilas non es, quare in Jesu Nave dicitur libro : Dominus D us deo- rum est (Josue 11; Deut. x)? Si unitas non est, quars esl, dixit, et non, sunt, more locutionis induxit ? Si Trinitas non est; quare Elias orando (117 Reg. xvmi), Domine, domine, domine Deus Israetl, ostende quia tu es Deus meus, dixit? Si unitas non es, qu-re, osten- de, et non ostendite, po-uit ? Si Trinitas non est, cur Mardochzus vrando(Extker. xin), Domine, domi- ne Deus omnipotens, omnia in poteslate tua sunt, dixit? Si unitas non cst, quare in (ua po>uil, et non in vestra, Signavit? Si Trinitas non es, cur etiam C Judith orando dixit : Domine D.us omnium virtutuin, resjnce in orationem meam (Judith, 1x)? Si uni as non est, quare, respice, poSuil, el non, respicite, designavit ? Si Trinitas 11 es, quare in Jeremia dicitur, Dominus Deus rester Dens verax et (Jorem. x)? Si unilas non esl, quare, rerz es, (lixit, et non, veraces, potivs intimavil ? Si Trinitas non esl, quare in Apocalypsi scriplum est : Dominus Deus et 8piri- lus prophelarum misit angelum suum, ostendere 8ervis suis que oportet fieri cito (pvc. 1)? Si unitas non et, gnare cum Patrem et Filium et Spiritum nominasse, misie Dominus, dixit, et non, miserunt, ub prelextu trium personarum et nominum jntr« duxit ? Si Trin'tas non est, yuare in Deuteronomio dicitur: Donthuus Deis vesler hic est, Deus (Deut. x)! Si unilas non et, quare, Hic et, dixit, et non, Ii sunt, plurali numero designavit? Si Triuitas non esl, quare in eodem di- citur libro : Dominus Deus tuus, eus magnus £2 po- tens ext (Ibid.)? Si unitas non et, quare, maynus &f yyu- * Falsa et commentitia ab eodetm Mercatore ſarrago. Las. - 687 LICINIANI, CARTHAGINENSIS EPISCOPI , 688 tens, et non pluraliter nominatur? Si Trinitas non est, A fide, attendentes spiritibus erroris et doctrinis damo- cur Tobias filium 81um cum in Rages civitatem cum Raphacle angelo mittcret, benedicens eos, ita dixisse docetur : Deus Abraham, et Deus Isaac, et Deus Ja- cob, ipse impleat benedictionem 8uam in vobis (T ob. vn)? Sj unitas non cst, quare, ipse impleat, dixit, et . non ipsi impleant, intimavit? Postremo, si Trinitas non est, quare Dominus discipulos s1uos-in nomine Patris et Filii.et Spiritus sancti universas gentes misit bha- plizare (Matth. xxvmn) ? Si unitas non es, quare m nomine, dixit, et non, in nominibus, precipiendo perdocuit ? Si Trinſtas non est, quare apo«tolus Pau- lus ait : Ex ips0, et per ipsum, et in ips0 sunt omnia (Rom. x1)? Si unitas non est, quare, ex ips0, posuit, et non, ex ipsis, astruxit? Si enim certo certius niorum in hypocrisi loquentium mendacium, et cante- rialam habentium suam coenscientiam, prohibentium nubere, abslinere a cibis quos Deus creavit ad percipien- dum cum gratiarum actione, fidelibus, et his qui coqno- verunt reritatem, quia omnis creatura Dei bona esl, et nihil rejiciendum , quod cum gratiarum actione perci- pitur, Sanclificatur enim per verbum Dei et orationem., Hoc proponens ſratribus, bonus eris minister Christi Jesu, enutritus verbo fidei et bone doctrine, quam as- 8ecutus es. Ineptas autem et inanes - ſabulas devila, et exerce leipsum ad pielatem. Nam corporalis exercitatio ad modicum ulilis est. Pielas autem ad omnia uti- lis est, promizzionem habens vile que nunc ex, et ſuture, Videlis sermo et omni acceptione di- volueris unitatem Trinitatis agnoscere, a s#pe dicto B gnus. In hoc enim laboramus et maledicimur, quia doctore gentium aposto!o poteris universa condiscere, et sequi cathvlicam fidem, et Arianorum pravitatem respuere : Gratia Domini nostri Jesu Christi, inquit, el charitas Dei , et communicatio sancti Spiritus. 1psa ext Patris, et Filii; et Spiritus sancti (IT Cor. x11). Quomodo autem in Trinitate unum sunt? quia natu- ra alque * ab invicem separari non possunt. Czte- rum, frater charissime, quz tua continebant scripta, EX subjectis Sententiis maxime omnia poleris colli- gere Þ, Necesse est, frater charissime, adesse divi- num, ubi humanum cessat auxilium. Et ut juxta apostolum Paulum dicamus, licet verba replicemus, que ip<e Timotheo scribit dicens : Ecclesia Dei rivi, columna et firmamentum es! veritatis. Et maniſesle magnum esl pielalis sacramentum, quod maniſestatum ost in c