Procession of the Holy Spirit

[jimmy]

How can you defend the fact that the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally from the Father and the Son. The Eastern Orthodox believe the mission of the Holy Spirit through the Son is temporal.

They bring up John 16;7 which says

**

**John 16
**

5 But now I go My way to Him that sent Me, and none of you asketh Me, `Whither goest Thou?’
6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart.
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. **

Only one can be correct. How do you defend?

 

[JimG]

In coming to us, the Spirit acts temporally because we live in time. He doesn’t. (In the same way, the Son, though eternal, acted temporally in the incarnation.) God in his nature is not temporal. Since the Holy Spirit is God, He is not temporal, but eternal.