Late 4th Century Theology: Trinitarian Resolution

Question 1

What was Basil’s formula for the trinity? What is it’s weakness?

Answer 1

God is one ouesia and God is three hypostasis -God is the Father, Son and HS
-The Father, Son, and HS are God

The weakness is the distinctive properties he ascribes to the three, especially the HS because “sanctification” doesn’t distinguish i from Father and Son, it distinguishes it from us

Question 2

According to Basil, in what is “the unity (between the Father and Son) thought to reside”?

Answer 2

• In the formula of essence: the essence of the Father is light and the essence of the only begotten is also light -The essence is one in the same

Question 3

How does Basil illustrate the “formula of essence/being” earlier in this paragraph?

Answer 3

They have the same ousia - the essence of the Father is light and the essence of the only begotten is also light -The essence is one in the same

Question 4

What distinguishes the Father and the Son from each other according to Basil? In what does their “difference” lie?

Answer 4

Their properties; difference in number and properties of each; the properties distinguish the two
Essence = Unity
Properties = Differences

Question 5

What are properties of an essence “like” according to Basil?

Answer 5

-Marks or forms that differentiate the parts of each esence

Question 6

According to Basil, properties “distinguish what is common by means of individual characteristics”, but in the process of distinguishing “what is common” do these properties “cut [or break through] the identity in nature of the substance”?

Answer 6

No; the marks don’t destroy the essence (egg carton= pockets are different but the essence is Styrofoam

Question 7

According to Basil, what is an example of what is common to the Father and Son?

Answer 7

Deity; Divine qualities

Question 8

What are some examples of individualities?

Answer 8

-Father and Sonship - Son is begotten

Question 9

Basil - What is the distinction between ousia and hypostasis?

Answer 9

• ousia = general or the same

- hypostasis = particular or distinct

Question 10

Basil - In the case of the Godhead, what do we confess “so as not to give a variant definition of existence”?

Answer 10

• One essence or substance = ONE God

Question 11

Basil - In the case of the Godhead, what do we confess “in order that our conception of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit may be without confusion and clear”?

Answer 11

• each is a particular hypostases

Question 12

In regards to how we discuss the trinity, how do hypostasis relate to properties?

Answer 12

a hypostasis is a grouping of properties that characterizes each of the trinity

Question 13

What are the three “separate characteristics” that Basil identifies which enable us “to give a sound account of our faith”?

Answer 13

Fatherhood, Sonship, and Sanctification

Fatherhood = unbegotten, source, cause of all things Sonship = begotten Sanctification

Question 14

What does Basil say about how the Holy Spirit is one with God?

Answer 14

The Holy Spirit is indivisibly united with the Father and Son

Question 15

Basil specifies the different roles or activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the creation of the angels. What is the role/activity that he assigns to each of them?

Answer 15

• Father Causes creation
• Son Creates
• Spirit perfects it

Question 16

Explain the idea of inseparable operations.

Answer 16

Activities combine to form one inseparable operation

Question 17

What is the difference between how Basil explains the HS and how Gregory explains the HS? Explain how they view the trinity with Brigman’s tug-of-war illustration.

Answer 17

Basil says HS = sanctification
Trinity = Tug of War team all doing different things

Gregory says HS = proceeds (caused through the Son)
Trinity = Tug of War Team all pulling together

Question 18

How does Gregory explain the roles of the Trinity using creation as an example?

Answer 18

Inseperable Operations:
Father Starts
Proceeds through the Son 
Completed by the HS 
*One activity flows through the Father, Son and HS
*This idea was adopted at Constantinople