Theological Term of the Week: Cappadocian Fathers

Cappadocian fathers
“The great 4th Century fathers Basil of Caesarea (330-79), Gregory of Nyssa (335-94) and Gregory of Nasianzus (330-90).All three were native of the province of Cappadocia in Asia Minor. They were the key figures in the final defeat of Arianism in the Church..”1 

• From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. H. Needham, page 220: 

The Cappadocian father rank alongside Athanasius as the outstanding Eastern theologians of the 4th Century. Their writings and personal influence brought about a final union between the Nicene and Origenist parties. The Cappadocians achieved this by persuading both sides to use a new theological language. The problem centred on two Greek words, hypostasis and ousia. Up till then, these two words had meant much the same thing in the Greek language. This caused great theological confusion, because when the Nicenes said that the Father and Son had one divine nature or essence, they expressed it by saying that Father and Son have one hypostasis. and one ousia. However, when the Origenists said that the Father and Son were two distinct persons, they used exactly the same words, and said that Father and Son were two hypostases and two ousiai.

To get rid of this divisive confusion, the Cappadocians (led by Basil) made two proposals: (i) The word ousia should from now on refer specifically to the one divine nature or essence, as the Nicenes said; but (ii) the word hypostasis should refer specifically to the two distinct persons of Father and Son, as the origenists said.

Learn more:

1. Got Questions: Who were the Cappadocian Fathers?
2. 5 Minutes in Church History: The Three Cappadocians
3. The Center for Baptist Renewal: Meet the Cappadocian Fathers

Related terms:

• Ambrose of Milan
• Athanasius
• Basil of Caesarea
• Gregory of Nanzianzus
• Gregory of Nyssa
• Irenaeus of Lyons
• Justin Martyr
• Origen
• Sabellius
• Tertullian

Filed under Christian History

1From 2000 Years of Christ’s Power by N. R. Needham.

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