Expositio super symbolum Apostolorum

He ascended into the heavens, sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

These pertain to one article according to the aforesaid rule. This article was composed by the apostle Thomas. And note that Christ is said to have ascended into heaven for a twofold reason: both because, from the presence of his disciples, borne by clouds, he ascended into the empyrean heaven, where his human nature is with the angels and all the saints; and because through his resurrection and ascension it became known that he is equal to the Father.

And thus, because he was from eternity consubstantial with the Father, he is said to have ascended into heaven to the Father when it first became known to all that he is consubstantial with the Father, according to how that verse is expounded: "For which cause he was given a name that is above every name."¹ The name, which is the divine nature, is said to make the Son equal to the Father. Therefore this name was given to Christ, and this is "to sit at the right hand of God the Father," that is, to be equal and consubstantial with God the Father. For close companions and greater ones customarily sit at the right hand of princes.

Hence it is said metaphorically that the Son sits at the right hand of God the Father, that is, he is said to sit at the right hand of the Father, that is, to enjoy the greater goods of the Father. For the Father could not confer better goods on the Son according to his human nature than he did confer. In accordance with which that verse is expounded: "The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand."²

This is the same as what is said in the Nicene Creed, "He ascended into heaven, he sits at the right hand of the Father." Here it is asked why in the apostolic Creed it says "of God the Father almighty," while here it says only "of the Father." To this we say that it is passed over in silence in the Nicene Creed because this is sufficiently understood from what was said before.