Eusebius v. Marcellus

Question 1

Is the unity of God or the diversity of God most prominent in Eusebius’ thought?

Answer 1

Diversity.

Question 2

What is the interpretation of homoousios that Constantine says is unacceptable?

Answer 2

“not be said to be homoousious according to the affections of bodies”

Question 3

What does Eusebius say, “‘homoousios with the Father’ indicates”?

Answer 3

1. Son of God bears no resemblance to originated creatures (defining homoousias as characteristics)
2. He is alike in every way to the Father; belongs to the class of being in which the Father resides; group him in the godly class;
3. Shares the same ousia (characteristics) as the father (not a good argument for how they are one)

Question 4

Eusebius finds a way to affirm the Son’s eternal existence while also affirming his generation at some point in time. He does this by saying, “before he (the Son) was begotten in actuality, he was in the Father” how?

Answer 4

Ingenerately in potentiality, since the Father is always the Father…

Question 5

Marcellus uses Jn 1:1 to explain the eternal existence and distinction of the Logos; how “was the Word in the Father” and how “was the Word with God”?

Answer 5

The word was in the Father AS A POWER

The Word was with God as an EFFICIENT FORCE (power that is acting)

Question 6

According to Marcellus, is it possible for “a man’s reason (Logos)” to have an existence as a separate power or hypostasis?

Answer 6

It is NOT possible

Question 7

Marcellus - What is the only way a man’s reason (Logos) can be distinguished from him?

Answer 7

Son is distinguished by the action of the Son.

(Problem is that the Son is then not ALWAYS distinct. How can the Son be the mind and be a separate being? Just really a 2-Stage Logos theology. )

Question 8

Marcellus writes “it is evident that the Godhead expanded as an efficient force” (lit. “it is evident the Godhead appears to expand in activity alone”), if what is considered?

Answer 8

If the addition of the flesh is to be considered.

Question 9

According to Marcellus is Asterius right to hold that “the Son is distinct from the Father as a hypostasis”?

Answer 9

No

Question 10

Marcellus argues against Eusebius of Caesarea. According to Marcellus, what is fashioned if one considers the Word (though he doesn’t make the identification) to be “separate from the Father in hypostasis and in power”?

Answer 10

A separate God.