homoiousian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely LowAcademic, Historical, Theological
Quick answer
What does “homoiousian” mean?
A person who holds the doctrine that the Son is of like, but not identical, substance with the Father.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who holds the doctrine that the Son is of like, but not identical, substance with the Father.
Pertaining to the belief, prevalent in the 4th-century Christian theological controversy, that God the Father and God the Son are of similar but not the same essence or substance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant usage differences; the term is equally archaic and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely historical-theological; no modern colloquial connotations.
Frequency
Virtually never encountered outside historical studies of Patristics or Christian theology.
Grammar
How to Use “homoiousian” in a Sentence
The [Noun] was a homoiousian.He adhered to the homoiousian [Noun].The debate between homoousian and homoiousian [Noun].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “homoiousian” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The homoiousian faction sought a compromise at the Council of Seleucia.
- Basil of Ancyra was a leading homoiousian thinker.
American English
- The homoiousian position was a crucial part of the 4th-century debates.
- He wrote from a distinctly homoiousian perspective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in historical theology, church history, and Patristic studies.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
The technical context is historical Christian theology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “homoiousian”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “homoiousian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “homoiousian”
- Misspelling as 'homoiusian' or 'homiousian'.
- Confusing it with 'homoousian'.
- Using it in any modern, non-historical context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare, specialised term used only in academic discussions of 4th-century Christian theology.
Homoousian means 'of the same substance' (orthodox position). Homoiousian means 'of similar substance' (a middle-ground, compromise position). The difference is a single Greek letter iota (i).
They were a group of bishops and theologians in the 4th century, including Basil of Ancyra, who opposed both strict Arianism and the Nicene homoousian formula, proposing 'homoiousios' as a compromise.
Yes, primarily as a noun (e.g., 'He was a homoiousian') and as an adjective (e.g., 'the homoiousian doctrine'). It is not used as a verb or adverb.
A person who holds the doctrine that the Son is of like, but not identical, substance with the Father.
Homoiousian is usually academic, historical, theological in register.
Homoiousian: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɒmɔɪˈuːzɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊmɔɪˈuːziən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Homoiousian: think 'HOMO' (same) + 'IOU' (I owe you) + 'sian' – "I owe you something similar, but not identical."
Conceptual Metaphor
THEOLOGICAL POSITION AS A SPATIAL LOCATION (e.g., a middle ground, a via media).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'homoiousian' specifically refer to?