Sunday Evening, February 17, 1913,
Paris
[The audience was composed of professors, clergy and theological students]
‘Abdu’l-Baha: How are you?
Pasteur Monnier: We are all feeling well and are exceedingly pleased to have you bless our Seminary.
‘Abdu’l-Baha: I am likewise most happy to find myself amongst you, and associate with you.
Pasteur Monnier: We are very happy to find amongst us a person who has come on the part of God, and has brought to us a divine message.
‘Abdu’l-Baha: A person endowed with the power of hearing shall hear the mysteries of God from all things, and all creation will convey to him the divine message.
Pasteur Monnier: If you permit us, we would like to ask a question.
‘Abdu’l-Baha: Very well.
Pasteur Monnier: As we are students of theology, and are in the rank of clergy, we would like to know who was Christ, and what was He? What is your belief about Him?
‘Abdu’l-Baha: Our belief in regard to Christ is exactly what is recorded in the New Testament; however we elucidate this matter, and do not speak literally or in a manner based merely on the foundation of blind belief. For instance, it is recorded in the Gospel of St. John, that in the beginning there was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Now the majority of Christians accept this principle as a matter of belief, but we give an explanation and exposition which is accepted by reason, and in such a way that no one may find occasion to reject it.
The Christians have made this statement the foundation of the Trinity—but philosophers deny it as mere superstition, stating that the Trinity as regards the identity of the Divinity is impossible; and in turn the Christians do not give a satisfactory explanation and interpretation to be accepted by philosophers.
