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ON “NOT THREE GODS”—AGAIN: CAN A PRIMARY‐SECONDARY SUBSTANCE READING OF OUSIA AND HYPOSTASIS AVOID TRITHEISM?
Author(s) -
JACOBS NATHAN
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
modern theology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.144
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1468-0025
pISSN - 0266-7177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0025.2008.00462.x
Subject(s) - analogy , constructive , reading (process) , philosophy , epistemology , psychology , computer science , linguistics , process (computing) , operating system
This article is both historical and constructive. The historical side addresses the question of whether a consistent line of analogy for the Trinity can be found among the Cappadocians. I answer in the affirmative, arguing that an analogy of primary‐secondary substance for the one ousia and three hypostases of the Godhead is present in Basil and the two Gregories. The constructive side concerns the question raised by modern critics over whether Primary‐Secondary Substance Trinitarianism (PST) can ultimately avoid tritheism. I will consider objections to this analogy in an effort to show that PST, when taking its cues from the Cappadocians, can successfully sustain its claim to monotheism.