nicene creed

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    The Undivided Light: The Holy Trinity (Part 5 of 7)

    ByJobin

    Week 5 of The Undivided Light is up on Seeking Theosis, and I will say honestly, this is the most technical post in the series so far.
    It looks at the actual Syriac words our tradition uses for the Trinity: kyano, qnoma, and parsopa, and how Severus of Antioch in particular worked to get this vocabulary precise, not as an academic exercise but because he believed confused theological language leads to confused prayer. Ephrem and Cyril of Alexandria also feature.
    It is a denser read than the previous posts, but I think it is worth sitting with, especially for anyone who has wondered what exactly we mean when we confess one God in three persons.

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    The Undivided Light: The Holy Trinity (Part 3 of 7)

    ByJobin

    The Undivided Light | Week 3 is now up on Seeking Theosis
    The Eternal Son, Begotten Not Made
    There is a phrase in the Nicene Creed that most of us have said so many times that we have stopped hearing it.
    “Begotten. Not made.”
    Two words. One of the most consequential theological statements ever written. And if they are true, the entire Gospel stands. If they are not, the entire Gospel falls.
    This third post in the summer Trinity series looks at the eternal Son, the second person of the Trinity, through the eyes of three fathers whose voices shaped the Oriental Orthodox confession of the Nicene faith.
    Three fathers guide the reading: Athanasius of Alexandria, who spent most of his life defending this confession against enormous pressure and explained why it is the foundation of the entire Gospel. Cyril of Alexandria, whose theology of participation shows why the Eucharist depends on the Son being truly and fully God. And Jacob of Serugh, who expressed the mystery of the begotten Son in Syriac verse of remarkable beauty and depth.
    There is also a reflection toward the end on what this theology means for how we receive the Qurbana, which may be the most practically useful part of the post.
    Do share it with anyone who might benefit, and prayers for the completion of the series remain very much asked for and appreciated.