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Ousia — essence

A reference page linking a name, group, or concept to the materials that discuss it.

Greek term for essence or nature, with meanings changing between authors.

Modern illustrated glossary of later technical usage. Meanings changed between authors; modern psychological person is no automatic equivalent of ancient hypostasis. The diagram does not depict the divine being
Modern illustrated glossary of later technical usage. Meanings changed between authors; modern psychological person is no automatic equivalent of ancient hypostasis. The diagram does not depict the divine beingIL Archive · original diagram · CC BYImage source

Text

Basil’s Letter 236.6 distinguishes general ousia from particular hypostasisHypostasisTerm later used for distinguishing Father, Son and Spirit within one divinity.Glossary · Click to read the explanation. Later formulation uses essence for divine unity while hypostases retain distinction. [1]

This terminological division should not be automatically projected onto all earlier texts. The diagram is a modern explanatory glossary, not a physical model of God.

References and notes

  1. Basil of Caesarea, Letter 236.6, translated in NPNF 8. Distinguishes general ousia from particular hypostasis, one divinity with Father/Son/Spirit properties. Section 6 only read. Return to the text ↑

Research history

Substantive changes are retained here. Minor copy edits remain in the internal operational log.

  1. Edition 2 · 11 October 2026 · editor:aladmin

    Substantive record update

    Read this revision in its original language (Arabic)

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Cite this record

IL Archive, «Ousia — essence», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/ousia