Confessions - Book Xiii - Chapter V
St. Augustine reveals the profound mystery of the Trinity as the Creator and sustainer of all creation, inviting believers to recognize the unity and distinctness of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the divine work.
In this profound exposition, St. Augustine explores the mystery of the Holy Trinity as revealed in Scripture and creation. He articulates the unity and distinct roles of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the divine act of creation. Augustine invites believers to deepen their understanding of God's nature and the spiritual significance of the created world as a reflection of divine wisdom and life.
Text
6. See now,[513] how the Trinity appears to me in an enigma. And thou art the Trinity, O my God, since thou, O Father--in the beginning of our wisdom, that is, in thy wisdom born of thee, equal and coeternal with thee, that is, thy Son--created the heaven and the earth. Many things we have said about the heaven of heavens, and about the earth invisible and unformed, and about the shadowy abyss--speaking of the aimless flux of its being spiritually deformed unless it is turned to him from whom it has its life (such as it is) and by his Light comes to be a life suffused with beauty. Thus it would be a [lower] heaven of that [higher] heaven, which afterward was made between water and water.[514]
And now I came to recognize, in the name of God, the Father who made all these things, and in the term \"the Beginning\" to recognize the Son, through whom he made all these things; and since I did believe that my God was the Trinity, I sought still further in his holy Word, and, behold, \"Thy Spirit moved over the waters.\" Thus, see the Trinity, O my God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Creator of all creation!
Sermon Outline
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I. The Mystery of the Trinity
- Recognition of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- Understanding the coeternal and equal nature of the Trinity
- The Trinity revealed through Scripture and creation
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II. Creation as the Work of the Trinity
- The Father's role as Creator
- The Son as the divine Wisdom through whom all things were made
- The Spirit moving over the waters and sustaining life
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III. The Spiritual Meaning of Creation
- The invisible and unformed earth as a symbol of spiritual deformity
- Transformation through divine light and life
- The higher heaven and the lower heaven analogy
Key Quotes
“See now, how the Trinity appears to me in an enigma.” — St. Augustine
“Thy Spirit moved over the waters.” — St. Augustine
“Thus, see the Trinity, O my God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Creator of all creation!” — St. Augustine
Application Points
- Recognize and worship the triune nature of God in daily life.
- Reflect on creation as a testimony to God's wisdom and power.
- Seek spiritual transformation through the light and life of the Holy Spirit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main focus of this sermon?
The sermon focuses on the revelation of the Trinity as the Creator and sustainer of all things.
How does Augustine describe the Trinity?
He describes the Trinity as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, coeternal and equal, involved in creation.
What biblical passage is central to this sermon?
Genesis 1:1-2, highlighting the Spirit moving over the waters, is central to the sermon.
Why does Augustine speak of the earth as 'invisible and unformed'?
He uses it as a metaphor for spiritual deformity that needs transformation through God's light.