Question 2. Whether there are only three persons in the divine essence

197. Next I ask whether there are only three persons in the divine essence.

I argue that there are not:

Opposite relations are of equal dignity; therefore if the relation of the first producer constitutes only one person, there will correspond to it another relation constituting only one produced person, and so there will be only one produced person.

198. Further, to two relations of things produced there correspond two relations of thing producing and these latter extremes are distinguished as equally among themselves as the former are; therefore if those two relations of produced things constitute two persons, the other two will also constitute two persons, and so there will be four divine persons.

199. Further, a finite power lasting for an infinite time could have successively infinite effects, as is plain about the sun according to the way of the Philosopher On Generation and Corruption 2.10.336a23-337a33, 11.337b25-338b19; therefore an infinite power can have infinite produced things all at once. The proof of the consequence is that the fact a finite power is not able to do all at once as many things as it can do successively is because of the finitude because of which this effect here is for the present enough for it;     therefore an infinite power can do all at once all the things it can do successively; it can do infinite things successively, as is plain, because a finite power can thus do infinite things.

200. The opposite is shown in the last chapter of Matthew 28.19: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit;” and in I John 5.7: “There are three that give testimony in heaven etc     .;” and Augustine [in fact Fulgentius] On the Faith to Peter ch.1 n.5, and it is in the text [sc. of the Sentences].