Скачать или смотреть Lecture VI: Subsistence/Non-Subsistence, Aristotelian Categories (Accidents & Actions)

In this session, we work through Chapter 6 of St. John of Damascus and carefully unpack what he means by subsistence and non-subsistence as it applies to the Word of God (Logos).

We begin by reading the chapter in full and then slow down to explain the philosophical and theological terminology that often causes confusion—especially for those engaging in Trinitarian debates with Muslims, Unitarians, or skeptics.

Key topics covered include:
Why God is never without His Word, and why that Word cannot be non-subsistent
The distinction between subsistence (hypostasis) and non-subsistence
Why Christ as the Word of God is not comparable to human speech, thoughts, or sounds
How St. John of Damascus uses the mind–word analogy correctly (without collapsing person and nature)
The difference between essential properties and hypostatic properties
Why calling the Son “begotten” does not imply inferiority, temporality, or dependence
How perichoresis rules out the idea of external dependency within the Trinity
A clear explanation of Aristotelian accidents and why Christ cannot be classified as an accident or non-subsistent reality
Scriptural grounding from John 1:1 and John 1:18, showing how the Son eternally reveals, explains, and declares the Father
A live breakdown of a common category error: confusing nature with person

We also walk through a short debate-style clarification demonstrating how the Son can be begotten according to hypostasis while remaining unbegotten according to essence, using St. John’s own reasoning and classical analogies.

This chapter is short, but the theological depth is significant. Understanding these distinctions is essential for avoiding errors in Christology and Trinitarian theology—and for engaging objections with clarity and precision.

#theology #philosophy #metaphysics #christian #jesus #orthodox