Homoousian

[ hoh-moh-oo-see-uhn, -ou-, hom-oh- ]

noun

1. a member of a 4th-century a.d. church party that maintained that the essence or substance of the Father and the Son is the same ( Heteroousian ).

adjective

1. of or relating to the Homoousians or their doctrine.

Homoousian

/ ˌhəʊməʊˈuːsɪən; -ˈaʊ-; ˌhɒm- /

noun

1. a Christian who believes that the Son is of the same substance as the Father Compare Homoiousian

adjective

1. of or relating to the Homoousians

Derived Forms

• ˌHomoˈousianism, noun

Other Words From

• Homo·ousi·an·ism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Homoousian¹

1555–65; < Late Greek homooúsi ( os ) of the same substance ( Greek hom ( o )- homo- + ousí ( a ) substance, essence + -os adj. suffix) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of Homoousian¹

C16: from Late Greek homoousios of the same substance, from Greek homo- + ousia nature

Example Sentences

Later witnesses speak of his fidelity to the homoousian during the Arian controversies.

From Project Gutenberg

The enmity of the Homoousian to the Homiousian was as bitter as that between Guelph and Ghibelline, as that of Capulet and Montague; and only the pen of a Swift could do justice to the brawls “Bred of an airy word.”

From Project Gutenberg

Theological discussions at length became so general in Alexandria that some one has said that "Every washer-woman in the city was arguing the merits of homoousian and homoiousian in the streets."

From Project Gutenberg

The rival doctrines of the Homoousian and of the Homoiousian, containing metaphysical differences so attenuated that they could hardly be stated, turned bishop against bishop and congregation against congregation.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, he had recourse to the following measures: he knew that Constantius was hated by all the people who held the homoousian faith and had driven them from the churches and had proscribed and exiled their bishops.

From Project Gutenberg