This extract is also helpful as a proof of the non scriptural nature of the Filioque:
**The original phrase of the Symbol of Faith:
"We believe … in the Holy Spirit … who proceeds from the Father" is directly from John 15:26: **
ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ὁ παράκλητος ὃν ἐγὼ πέμψω
when and comes the Comforter whom I will send
ὑμῖν παρὰ τοῦ πατρός τὸ Πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείς
to you from the Father the Spirit of truth
ὃ παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορεύεται
who from the Father proceeds
ἐκεῖνος μαρτυρήσει περὶ ἐμοῦ
**that One will witness concerning me
**
Examining the key words, we find:
ἔλθῃ
comes active voice of
ἔρχομαι
meaning "to come from one place to another (used of persons arriving), to appear, make one’s appearance, come before the public
**παράκλητος **
Comforter in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant. More specifically, one who pleads another’s cause before a judge, a pleader, defence counsellor, legal assistant, an advocate
πέμψω
send “to dispatch”, “to send”, "to thrust in"
**ἐκπορεύεται **
proceeds derived from **ἐκ + πορεύμαι
ἐκ **
preposition denoting origin as in “from”, or “out of”, the point from whence the motion or action proceeds
**πορεύμαι **
"to traverse", "to travel"
Thus, the most important word of the passage, **ἐκπορεύεται ****(“proceeds”) refers to the Holy Spirit’s origin. Since that origin is “from all eternity” (i.e. outside of time), it refers to the Holy Spirit’s eternal origin and not to the Holy Spirit’s being sent in time (temporal origin).
Roman Catholicism admits **
ἐκπορεύεται refers only to the eternal origin of the Holy Spirit. It has acknowledged this in publications:
Code:
***... the term εκορευσις as distinct from the term "proceed" (προιναι) can only characterize a relationship of origin to the principle without principle of the Trinity: the Father.***
Source: L'Osservatore Romano, 20 September 1995,
"The Greek and Latin Traditions Regarding the Procession of the Holy Spirit"
Because of this recogition, Greek-speaking Roman Catholics do not use the Filioque when reciting the Creed.
The difference between the “eternal origin” and the “sending in time (temporal) origin” is important. They are not the same.
Roman Catholicism has altered the ancient Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Faith and now teaches that the Holy Spirit’s eternal procession is from both the Father and the Son.
Here’s how two popular Roman Catholic translations handle the passage (John 15:26).
**New Jerusalem Bible **
When the Paraclete comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness.*
*** The sending of the Spirit into the world rather than the “eternal” proceeding from the Father within the Trinity. **
New American Bible
When the Paraclete comes, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father – and whom I myself will send from the Father – he will bear witness on my behalf.
Notes - Comes from the Father: refers to the mission of the Spirit to men, not to the eternal procession of the Spirit. Compare 14:26, where the Father, not Jesus, is said to send the Spirit.
There is nothing wrong with the New Jerusalem Bible’s translation. The use of “issues from” instead of “proceeds” is a fine translation of ἐκπορεύεται**, but by footnoting “issues from” and stating this does not refer to the Holy Spirit’s eternal procession (His ultimate origin from all eternity) but only to the sending of the Holy Spirit into the world (in time), it simply denies the truth.
The New American Bible distorts the passage using the verb “comes” in place of the far more accurate (and traditional) “proceeds”. This mistranslation obscures the clear meaning of the Greek text. Its comment is essentially the same as the New Jerusalem translation: a denial of the clear meaning in favour of the Roman Catholic error. The reference to John 14:26 is a red herring. No one denies the Holy Spirit is sent by both the Father and the Son into the world. These Roman Catholic translations would have one believe there is nothing in Scripture that explicitly reveals the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps future editions will follow the more recent Vatican statements and correct these errors.
Thus, the addition of the Filioque is neither from nor consistent with Sacred Scripture. Whereas the Symbol of Faith as maintained by Orthodox Christians retains the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, Roman Catholicism (and its Protestant offspring) add to the Scripture.**
Source: OODE - full article linked in previous post.
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