Basil found the second lesson with Phoebos no less taxing than the first. He started with The Lord knows the thoughts of man (LXX Psalm 93:11) to re-start the discussion about the nature of God. "You see, Phoebos, God knows and foreknows everything! The past, present, and future are all one to him." Phoebos replied, "He is powerful indeed! It is remarkable that knowing all this, he leaves man with a free will! Indeed, it is an odd sort of freedom given we are going to do precisely what God has foreseen! My mind is quite dizzy with it!" "I'm not sure I can entirely clear this matter up for you, Phoebos. But, like a physician understands disease, God knows the ill we will do, but is not the cause of it."

Basil turned again to the doctrine of the Trinity. Then, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." (Genesis 1:26) "The 'us' is the Persons of the Trinity, you see Phoebos-- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." "Father Basil," the catechumen openly wondered, "this is strange indeed...that the Persons of the Trinity communicate with each other in this way! I wondered what they could possibly say to each other being of one mind on all things. So, we then know something of what God is like by looking at ourselves?" Basil nodded, "That is the case--we have in our potential what God does in His actions."

For love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. (I John 4:7,8,9) "So, God is love (agape)?" Phoebos pondered this and immediately saw a cetain strength that Christianity possessed in converting the common folk--though he saw many inconsistencies in the faith and the world with such an axiom. But, not wanting to appear to be a troublesome student, he did not immediately make comment to his teacher but now only half listened to his words as the rest of his mind was commited to this latest precept.