Behold, here you have the entire divine essence, will, and work depicted most exquisitely in quite short and yet rich words. In these consists all our wisdom, which surpasses and exceeds the wisdom, mind, and reason of all men.[1] For although the whole world with all diligence has endeavored to ascertain what God is, what he has in mind and does, yet has never been able to attain to [the knowledge and understanding of] any of these things. But here we have everything in richest measure. For here in all three articles he has himself revealed and opened the deepest abyss of his paternal heart and of his pure, inexpressible love.[2] For he has created us for this very reason, that he might redeem and sanctify us. And in addition to giving and imparting to us everything in heaven and upon earth, he has given to us even his Son and the Holy Spirit, by whom to bring us to himself.[3] For (as explained above) we could never grasp the knowledge of the grace and favor of the Father except through the Lord Christ, who is a mirror of the paternal heart,[4] outside of whom we see nothing but an angry and terrible judge. But of Christ we could know nothing either, unless it had been revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Martin Luther, Large Catechism: Apostles' Creed, II.63-65
[1] 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
[2] Ephesians 3:18-19
[3] Romans 8:14, 32
[4] John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:3
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