Divine Simplicity
God is not assembled from parts; what he has, he simply is
Divine simplicity holds that God is not composed of parts, so that his attributes are not pieces added to him but identical with his very essence: he does not have goodness, he is goodness. Affirmed broadly in both East and West, and developed by Augustine in On the Trinity and by Aquinas, the doctrine has a strong Thomist formulation whose precise meaning and implications remain debated among theologians.
How it traveled
- Against Heresies: Book IILyons · 202explains
- A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity.Rome · 258explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395explains
- Answer to Eunomius' Second BookNyssa · 395explains
- Exposition of the Christian FaithMilan · 397explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- Concerning the Nature of Good, Against the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Morals of the ManichæansHippo Regius · 430explains
- John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox FaithDamascus · 749explains
- MonologiumCanterbury · 1109explains
- ProslogiumCanterbury · 1109explains
- Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26])Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43])Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Angels (qq[50]-64)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on Man (qq[75]-102)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Conservation and Government of Creatures (qq[103]-119)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on The Distinction of Things In General (Q[47])Paris · 1274explains
- Book First. of the Knowledge of God the CreatorGeneva · 1564explains
- Dissertation on the End for Which God Created the WorldNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 10.—Of the Simple and Unchangeable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God, in Whom Substance and Quality are Identical. There is, accordingly, a good which is alone simple, and therefo
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
When the existence of a thing has been ascertained there remains the further question of the manner of its existence, in order that we may know its essence. Now, because we cannot know what God is, bu
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, From all we have said, it is clear there can be no accident in God. First, because a subject is compared to its accidents as potentiality to actuality; for a subject is in some sense ma
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 3: Corporeal parts are attributed to God in Scripture on account of His actions, and this is owing to a certain parallel. For instance the act of the eye is to see; hence the eye at
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, God is the same as His essence or nature. To understand this, it must be noted that in things composed of matter and form, the nature or essence must differ from the "suppositum," becau
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 1: A thing that has nothing added to it can be of two kinds. Either its essence precludes any addition; thus, for example, it is of the essence of an irrational animal to be without
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 3: Further, whatever things exist, in no way differing from each other, are the same. But God and primary matter exist, and in no way differ from each other. Therefore they are absolutely th
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Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
We next consider God's immutability, and His eternity following on His immutability. On the immutability of God there are two points of inquiry: (1) Whether God is altogether immutable? (2) Whether
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On the Holy Trinity · Augustine of Hippo
2. This discussion has arisen from that which is written, that “Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Wherefore our discourse is compressed into these narrow limits, while we desire to s
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This good is equally Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. And this is a single, necessary Being, which is every good, and wholly good, and the only good.—Since the Word is true, and is truth itself, ther
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On the Holy Trinity · Augustine of Hippo
10. If, however, it is fitting that God should be said to subsist—(For this word is rightly applied to those things, in which as subjects those things are, which are said to be in a subject, as color
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But let us still scrutinize his words. He declares each of these Beings, whom he has shadowed forth in his exposition, to be single and absolutely one. We believe that the most boorish and simple-mind
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
1. The doctrine of Scripture concerning the immensity and the spirituality of the essence of God, should have the effect not only of dissipating the wild dreams of the vulgar, but also of refuting the
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City of God · Augustine of Hippo
Chapter 6.—Concerning the Meaning of the Platonists in that Part of Philosophy Called Physical. These philosophers, then, whom we see not undeservedly exalted above the rest in fame and glory, have s
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It is simple in such a way that all things that can be said of its essence are one and the same in it: and nothing can be said of its substance except in terms of what it is. IS it to be inferred, th
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How this Being is said to be substance: it transcends all substance and is individually whatever it is. BUT, if what we have ascertained concerning the simplicity of this Nature is established, how i
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On the Holy Trinity · Augustine of Hippo
Ps. xc. 1 1 Cor. i. 24 1 John iv. 16 Col. iii. 10 Gen. i. 27 Chapter 4.—What Universal Nature Teaches Us Concerning God. 6. Let us, then, now seek the Trinity which is God, in the things themsel
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God is the very life whereby he lives; and so of other like attributes. BUT undoubtedly, whatever thou art, thou art through nothing else than thyself. Therefore, thou art the very life whereby thou
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God is life, wisdom, eternity, and every true good.—Whatever is composed of parts is not wholly one; it is capable, either in fact or in concept, of dissolution. In God wisdom, eternity, etc., are not
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He alone is what he is and who he is.—All things need God for their being and their well-being. THEREFORE, thou alone, O Lord, art what thou art; and thou art he who thou art. For, what is one thing
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