Theological Term of the Week: Filioque

filioque
Latin for “and from the Son,” a term referring to a phrase added into the Nicence Creed to state that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.  

• The text of the Nicene Creed with the filioque clause in italics:

We believe in one God,
      the Father almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth,
      of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      the only Son of God,
      begotten from the Father before all ages,
           God from God,
           Light from Light,
           true God from true God,
      begotten, not made;
      of the same essence as the Father.
      Through him all things were made.
      For us and for our salvation
           he came down from heaven;
           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
           and was made human.
           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
           he suffered and was buried.
           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
           He ascended to heaven
           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
           He will come again with glory
           to judge the living and the dead.
           His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the Lord, the giver of life.
      He proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
      He spoke through the prophets.
      We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
      We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
      We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
      and to life in the world to come. Amen.

• Scriptural evidence used to support the filioque clause:

But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me (John 15:26 ESV).

• From Daily Doctrine by Kevin DeYoung, page 67-68:

The doctrine formulation approved at Nicaea—and the subsequent Nicene Creed (as we know it) adopted at the Council of Constantinople (381)—affirmed that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” Later, as the Arians continued to reject the full deity of the Son, churches in the West began to confess that the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son.” In Latin, the phrase “and the Son” is one word: filioque. That new word was added to the Nicene Creed at the Council of Toledo (589) and has been accepted in the Western church—implicitly at first, and over time explicitly—ever since.

… .

Although John 15:26 says that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and does not mention procession from the Son, the latter truth is impled by the teaching in John 16 that whatever the Father has, the Son has as well.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: What is the filioque clause?
2. Wes Bredenhoff: Essential Latin for Reformed Christians: Filioque
3. John Starke: A Pastoral Case for the Filioque Clause
4. Robert Letham: What Is the Procession of the Holy Spirit?

Related terms:

• Nicene Creed
• Holy Spirit
• procession of the Holy Spirit
• Trinity

Filed under God’s Nature and His Work

---

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.