Laura
Puritan Board Junior
I'm trying to translate the Gallic/Gallican/French/La Rochelle (they should consolidate the names) confession into Spanish, partly for fun and partly because after much Googling I can't find any Spanish translations, and I'm sad it has no online presence in 2010. I'm doing a very unscholarly thing in working primarily from the English translation, though. Right now I'm stumbling on the archaic sense of the word "virtue" as applied to the Holy Spirit in Article VI (the French is vertu):
"The Father, first cause, principle, and origin of all things. The Son, his Word and eternal wisdom. The Holy Spirit, his virtue, power, and efficacy."
I think I found a good definition (marked archaic) in one dictionary: "an effective, active, or inherent power or force." My question is, how would this be distinguished from "power" AND from "efficacy?" Surely Calvin and De Chandieu were not just being redundant? In the parallel-ish section of the Belgic confession, the attributes listed are merely "eternal Power and Might, proceeding from the Father and Son." I'd appreciate any suggestions.
"The Father, first cause, principle, and origin of all things. The Son, his Word and eternal wisdom. The Holy Spirit, his virtue, power, and efficacy."
I think I found a good definition (marked archaic) in one dictionary: "an effective, active, or inherent power or force." My question is, how would this be distinguished from "power" AND from "efficacy?" Surely Calvin and De Chandieu were not just being redundant? In the parallel-ish section of the Belgic confession, the attributes listed are merely "eternal Power and Might, proceeding from the Father and Son." I'd appreciate any suggestions.