The Third Category: Traditional Jewish Monotheism and Classical Binitarian or Trinitarian Monotheism

Abstract

This chapter moves the hermeneutical inquiry from the generic actions of the two distinct figures seen in early Judaism, and among modern christologists, to the classical tradition during the patristic era of the early church. It focuses not just on ‘generic action’ between the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit) but on the concepts of numeric identity of nature and essence as guarantors for monotheism. I explored the views of Gregory of Nyssa (action determines nature) and St Thomas Aquinas (nature determines action), to see whether these are viable models undergirding monotheism, and if such could be affirmed from the Gospel of John. I discuss the possibility of Leibniz’s Law ‘Identity of Indiscernibles’ to see whether aspects of philosophical theology would help in elucidating the hermeneutical approach to understanding action and nature among the distinct divine figures of Trinitarian Monotheism.