In this chapter, Augustine is concerned with the problem of what aspects of the Trinity manifests itself in the Old Testament.
Augustine again emphasizes the issue of time as an aspect of the Holy Spirit's manifestation. In other words, it is only with the appearance of the Spirit in time that it manifests itself visibly--time and the senses are visually linked. The Holy Spirit is different than Jesus' manifestations as a "servant" form since the Holy Spirit manifests itself then "ceases" to be (106).
So, having again reinforced the idea of time and the human senses, Augustine moves on to a discussion of who appeared in the Old Testament? Before that, however, Augustine takes on those who think of Jesus as they would the human soul. Their confusion has to do with likening the invisibility of the soul within that of the divine invisibility. However, the difference lies in changeability, for God created the soul, and thus, it is a "spiritual substance" subject to change (107).
Thus, Augustine gives those people no truck. He writes that they do not understand that the "substance...remains not only invisible but also unchangeable, and therefore abides in true and genuine immortality" (108). Having established this, Augustine is ready to pursue exactly who or what manifested in the Old Testament.
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