“And the Son”
I understand that the Eastern Orthodox church rejects the filioque in the Nicene's Creed on the basis that it is never explicitly said in Scripture. How come we Lutherans do accept the filioque?
For the benefit of other readers of this question, “filioque” is Latin for “and the Son.” The point of reference is the phrase in the Nicene Creed that speaks of the Holy Spirit proceeding “from the Father and the Son.” “Filioque” was an addition to the Nicene Creed some 250 years after that confession was first adopted.
We accept the “filioque” because that is a scriptural truth. The following passages shed light on the subject: John 14:16-17; John 15:26; John 16:7; John 20:22; and, Galatians 4:6.
If you are interested in reading more about this topic, this brief paper will give you good information.