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Part of gaining a good understanding with the Trinity is understanding the theological terminology that is historically associated with this important doctrine. This weeks post is really an extension of last weeks, so here we go!

Homoousios

Homoousios is a Greek term that means “of the same substance”. It was used against Arianism to define the relationship of Jesus and God the Father. They were of the same substance, or in other words, were of the same being.

Heteroousios

The Greek term heteroousios was used by Arius to describe the nature of Jesus. It means “of a different substance” and thus Arianism seeks to describe Jesus as being separate from God the Father. Reactions escalated and resulted in the Council of Nicea where it was affirmed that Jesus and the Father were of the same substance (homoousios).

Homoiousios

Used by Eusebius of Caesarea, homoiousios means “of a similar substance”. This is in contrast to the Nicene affirmation that Jesus and God the Father are homoousios, “of the same substance.” Christians at that time believed that even if they were of similar substance, the result was a Jesus who was not identical with the redemptive God of the Old Testament. Furthermore, if he had a similar divine substance, an immediate problem arises with the doctrine of monotheism. Thus, at the Council of Nicea the church affirmed that Jesus and the Father were of the same substance.

Perichoresis

Perichoresis is a Greek term used to describe the triune relationship between each person of the Godhead. It can be defined as co-indwelling, co-inhering, and mutual interpenetration.Charles Hodge explains that this term was used “to express the Scriptural facts that the Son is in the Father, and the Father in the Son; that where the Father is, there the Son and Spirit are; that what the one does the others do (the Father creates, the Son creates, the Spirit creates), or, as our Lord expresses it, ‘[whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise]‘ (John 5:19). So also what the one knows, the others know. ‘[For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God]‘ (1 Cor. 2:10, 11).”