Don’t Forget the “Of The’s”
Sometimes little things make a big difference. I saw this reminder in a child’s catechism book, and it has become something we repeat daily around here. Don’t forget the “of the’s.” It is not correct to say, “In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Why is that so important?
In the baptismal formula at the end of the Gospel of Matthew, Christ articulated it this way. “Going therefore, teach all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The “of the’s” are intentional, they reveal and affirm the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, the central mystery of Christian faith and life, the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the most fundamental and essential teaching.
The Church has guarded this truth through time, using precise words to defend all of the revealed mysteries the best we can. The three divine Persons in God are one — one essence, one nature, one being — One God, and they are also co-equal, co-omnipotent, co-eternal. The seemingly smallest error can lead to serious heresy, many have been addressed by Church councils.
The heresy of Subordinationism holds that the Son and the Holy Spirit are subordinate to God the Father. The Arian heresy, a form of Subordinationism, asserts that the Son is only a creature, not eternal or divine. Modalism, a form of Monarchianism, acknowledges that God is one, but denies that there are three persons, calling them instead “modes” or different forms God takes to do work. The Tritheism heresy says that the three persons are three different gods.
Consider the logical dangers of these heresies. If there are three gods, then who gave us the Ten Commandments? If the three persons are just modes, then in the baptismal formula we are needlessly repeating the same name over and over. If the Son and the Holy Spirit are less than the Father, then they are not actually God. If Christ is not God, then there was no Incarnation. If there was no Incarnation, then there is no Christianity.
Precise wording is of utmost importance, and while the “of the’s” may seem insignificant when we pray, they serve to affirm a most basic truth of Christianity, that there are three distinct, yet equal, Persons in One God. So, next time you are in a hurry and race through the words and the motions, slow down and defend against heresy. Don’t leave out those little words.
Category: Catholic Free Press, Doctrine, Theology, Trinity
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Guilty.
The original greek is this:
εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ Υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ Ἁγίου Πνεύματος
I think that your comments are well put, but a bit misleading. In Greek, there is no preposition for “of”, rather the article and its noun take the Genitive case. Here, “τοῦ” is the Greek definite article (the) in the Genitive case representing possession. So, what is repeated need only be the definite article, not necessarily the possessive “of”, because that is something English has added. While it would be very wrong to say “in the name of the father, son, and holy spirit”, it is as equally correct to say “in the name of the father and (καὶ) of the son and of the holy spirit” as it would be to say “in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit.” Polysyndeton, as was the norm in Koine Greek prose, does not gramatically require the repeat of the preposition in English.
That’s not exactly correct. You are correct is stating that “tou” in greek is the article “the” declined into the genitive case. However, when translating it you need to say “of the” because it would be an inaccurate translation otherwise. In the beginning of the sign of the cross in Greek it says “εν τω ονοματι του πατρος…” εν τω ονοματι takes the genitive case and it is carried through in the given list. It is “in the name OF the Father. In the name OF the Son. In the name OF the Holy Spirit.” the fact they all are in the genitive case implies that they, the Divine Names, are united to the beginning of the prayer “In the name.”
So, it is most properly speaking correct to carry over the “of” for the Son and Holy Spirit. It is a reminder for the speaker that it is “IN the name OF” each of the following Names.
Wow Ethan.. you are oh so smart.. you know all about greek… wow!
Jack, your comment was rather petty and uncalled for. The latin does not make such a distinction either. However, if our official english translation has it… we should not skip it.
In nómine Patris,
et Fílii,
et Spíritus Sancti.
@Irenaeus:
If I’m not mistaken, the Latin retains the genitive (‘of’) in the noun declensions themselves, while Latin does not provide the definite articles ‘the’. Literally: “In Name of Father and of Son and of Holy Spirit.” So, I guess it’s the opposite of the Greek issue that Ethan points out.
Well, I appreciate the Greek and Latin information! Thank you. I had noticed the “et” in the Latin, and the Google Translater translated it as “of the” but that’s the extent of my training in Latin.
Ms. Trasancos your point should stand as is. I am secure in my Latin, thus the English MUST designate the genitive case by the use of OF.
The most important word is “and” because it expresses equality.
“In the name of the Father AND of the Son AND of the Holy Spirit” meaning that the three Persons are equal.
The English language suffers from having lost declensions in most of its nouns. In general speech we only distinguish between “I” and “me” and “mine”; “we” and “us” and “our”. Those words are ‘nominative case’, ‘accusative case’ and ‘genitive case’.
Many people do not know when to say “you and I”, or “you and me”. Part of the trouble is that “you” has lost its cases and does not distinguish between nominative case and accusative case since it is “you” for both cases.
If you want to know when to say “you and me” instead of “you and I” every time, try this mental exercise:- replace the “you and I” with the word “we” and then replace them with “us” and see which is correct, as in….The President wishes to see you and I (this is incorrect) since, clearly “The President wishes to see US” is correct and “The President wishes to see WE” is incorrect. Hence “The President wishes to see you and ME” is correct.
Perhaps now you may also understand why I will never say the Hail Mary as “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with YOU” etc.
I will stick to “Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with THEE etc” and thus I keep the ablative case which is in the Old English of the word THEE and is simply lost if one uses the word “you” instead.
Using THOU, THEE, THY and THINE keeps the declensions which YOU simply loses.
I think we must understand the import of stacy’s argument. The analysis made of the greek and latin are all in point but then what are their implications? I think they are all meant to emphasize the point of our faith in the trinity.
Youse guys relly know yer stuf. I figger just foller the Church and all will be OK.
Ms Trasancos:
First, isn’t a Trinitarian obligated to use your ‘wrong’ form? Because the “three” are said to be the same one person, I mean. Doesn’t He/They accept both forms from a sincere believer?
Second, ὄνομα (onoma) is indeed singular in the Greek. But shouldn’t it be plural, especially with those “kai’s”, especially the way you put it? So then, what is THE name to be used in more personal address? Or: what are the THREE names etc.? Everyone else who is important in my life has a personal name, which I use when speaking to them.
Third, I’ve always read the scripture as an imperative, not a declarative: ‘Go. Preach.’ I know others use it as a “proof text”, but as to “the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, the central mystery of Christian faith and life”, I don’t find it in Jesus’ teachings: “teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” I recall Jesus often and often teaching about God’s kingdom (Mt 6:9,10), as in “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations: and then shall the consummation come”. (Mt 24:14 In parallel with Mt 28, which also says “Going therefore, teach all nations: … even to the consummation of the world.”) (All quotes Douay)
I hope you will explain.
Doug,
I’m having a hard time understanding your question. Are you asking for an explanation of the Trinitarian doctrine, a scriptural proof, a definition of “person,” or something else?
See if anything here helps.
http://www.acceptingabundance.com/category/theology/doctrine/trinity/
Is six months long enough to cogitate? Lost track of this blog.
Here’s an illustration, from your post:
“One God, and they are also co-equal, co-omnipotent, co-eternal.”
In English, no declensions, just plain language: Your statement doesn’t make sense. In any other subject but the Trinity you wouldn’t have bothered to make it. “one god” plus “they are”??? Wouldn’t pass muster in my third-grade classes.
Per the Jerusalem bible, the personal name of god is Yahweh, the personal name of the son is Jesus, the personal name of the holy spirit is … not specified anywhere, as is befitting a thing-noun, not a person-noun.
Is there then another way of understanding the sentence? It must be worth considering because it was our Lord’s parting statement to his faithful followers. The Jews knew only Jehovah- “no other gods before me”, and he is the god whom Jesus worships and obeys. (Rev 3:12; 14:14) Now Jehovah purposes to act in a different way with people- no more Law or Temple. (Jer 31:31 ff.)
He uses his spirit- his power or active force- (Gen 1:2) to do whatever is necessary to bring about his purposes.(Isa 55:10,11)
The statement is, as I suggested, in the imperative form (Go, preach), not in the declarative (Now, listen up- here’s about the Trinity…)
How many Catholics who recite it, do it?
Folks, the post from bestessay is spam, IMO. Solicitation for a term paper site. My first clues as to its value, from its home page:
“99% clients are happy”
[s/b 'of our clients' perhaps], and
“Our prices starts from…”
Caveat emptor, as we say in one of them languages. (Or is it cave canem? Or cave spelunker, in the ablative case?)