30th September 2025
We believe in the Holy Spirit…who proceeds from the Father (and the Son)
Part of a series on the Nicene Creed
‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father…’
John 15:26 (NIVUK)
The Filioque 1 controversy stands as one of the most significant and enduring sources of theological division between the Christian church in the East and West. It revolves around a single Latin term Filioque, meaning ‘and the Son’, added to the Nicene Creed by the Western Church. This clause implies that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, in contrast to the original Greek, which states that the Spirit proceeds from the Father. What began as a seemingly modest addition to the Creed has had profound doctrinal, ecclesiological, and ecumenical implications, which persist to this day.
The Western (Latin) perspective, influenced by Augustine of Hippo, emphasises the unity of the Godhead. For Augustine, the Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son as from a single source. The Western argument holds that the Son, being consubstantial with the Father, must also participate in the Spirit’s procession. The phrase ‘from the Father and the Son’ is seen as a safeguard against views that might diminish the Son’s divinity and the consubstantiality of the three persons of the Trinity or suggest a hierarchy within the Trinity.
In contrast, the Eastern (Greek) perspective, influenced by the Cappadocian Fathers, 2 emphasised the monarchy of the Father: the Father alone is the source, within the Trinity. For the East, saying that the Spirit ‘proceeds from the Father’ alone, safeguards both the uniqueness of the Father’s role and the distinctiveness of the Spirit. The Eastern response to the Filioque addition by the Western church was, therefore, not merely linguistic but theological. They worried that including ‘and the Son’ risked confusing the relationships within the Trinity and potentially subordinating the Spirit to the Son, or creating an impression of two sources within the Godhead.
Among 20th-century theologians who addressed the Filioque issue, Thomas Forsyth Torrance stands out for his profoundly Trinitarian theology and his desire to bridge the divide between Eastern and Western Christian traditions. Torrance’s engagement with the Filioque was motivated by his concern for Christian unity and his conviction that theological misunderstanding, rather than outright heresy, lay at the root of the division. For Torrance, the real issue was not the procession of the Spirit from the Father alone or from the Father and the Son as such, but whether the relations of origin within the Trinity were preserved in a way that did justice to both unity and distinction.
One of Torrance’s most significant contributions was his advocacy for a return to the ‘through the Son’ formula. This formula highlights the Father’s sending of the Spirit through the Son, thereby preserving both the monarchy of the Father and the mediating role of the Son. This he argued, did justice to the biblical witness (John 15:26; Galatians 4:6) and was a way to resolve theological tension between East and West. 3
By refusing both simplistic solutions and entrenched dogmatism, Torrance models a way of theological reflection that is both critical and constructive. His proposal to interpret the procession of the Spirit as ‘from the Father through the Son’ offers a promising path for unity.
Yet, Torrance’s legacy is not a final solution as the Filioque controversy remains, nevertheless his is a vital contribution to the ongoing task of seeking truth in love. If the Church is to move beyond the Filioque as a symbol of division, it must follow Torrance’s example: returning to scripture, listening to the church Fathers, and seeking in every doctrine the fullness of God’s self-giving in Christ and the Spirit. In such a journey, even the deepest controversies may become occasions for grace.
Prayer
Loving Father, you dwell beyond human division, and we come to you with humble hearts, bearing the wounds of separation that have long affected your Church. Open our minds to understanding, our hearts to forgiveness, and in our relationships to realise that your love is greater than our disputes. Grant us the grace to listen, give us the courage to let go of pride and suspicion, and the patience to seek common ground. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
1 ‘Filioque’, meaning ‘and the Son’ Filioque | Christianity, Creed, Translation, & Facts | Britannica
2 Introduction to Cappadocian Fathers | The Orthodox Christian Life
3 Faith and Theology: Filioque? A letter to Australia from TF Torrance
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Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
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