Monarchy of the Father
The Father as the single fountainhead from whom the Son and Spirit eternally flow
The Monarchy of the Father teaches that the Father is the sole source, or arche, and principle of the Son and the Spirit within the Trinity, while all three share one divine being. The Cappadocian Fathers, especially Gregory of Nazianzus, developed this emphasis. It is stressed in Eastern Orthodox Trinitarian theology and bears on the filioque dispute over whether the Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or from the Father and the Son.
How it traveled
- Against Praxeas.— · c. 220 CEexplains
- Defence of the Nicene Definition. (De Decretis.)Alexandria · c. 373 CEexplains
- De Spiritu SanctoCaesarea (Cappadocia) · c. 379 CEexplains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · c. 386 CEexplains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · c. 390 CEexplains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · c. 430 CEexplains
- Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43])Paris · c. 1274 CEexplains
Key passages(20)
Each passage is tagged by what it does with the idea: explains it, applies it in practice, redefines it with a new meaning, or challenges it. Relevance shows how directly the passage is about this idea.
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
Lecture VI. Concerning the Unity of God Περὶ Θεοῦ Μοναρχίας. The word μοναρχία, as used by Plato (Polit. 291 C), Aristotle (Polit. III. xiv. 11. εἶδος μοναρχίας βασιλικῆς), Philo Judæus (de Circumci
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De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
Chapter XVIII. In what manner in the confession of the three hypostases we preserve the pious dogma of the Monarchia. Wherein also is the refutation of them that allege that the Spirit is subnumerate
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Defence of the Nicene Definition. (De Decretis.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
By the Monarchy is meant the doctrine that the Second and Third Persons in the Ever-blessed Trinity are ever to be referred in our thoughts to the First as the Fountain of Godhead, vid. §15. note 9, a
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Against Praxeas. · Anti-marcion
Chapter III.—Sundry Popular Fears and Prejudices. The Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity Rescued from These Misapprehensions. The simple, indeed, (I will not call them unwise and unlearned,) who always
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
τῆς μοναρχίας τοῦ θεοῦ. See note on the title of Cat. VI. Praxeas made use of the term “Monarchy” to exclude the Son (and the Spirit) from the Godhead. Tertullian in his treatise against Praxeas maint
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The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
Chapter III. 1. And gladly does he accept and welcome this sacrifice, and commend the presenter of so august and noble an offering, by protracting his reign to a lengthened period of years, giving la
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Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43]) · Thomas Aquinas
We now consider the persons singly; and first, the Person of the Father, concerning Whom there are four points of inquiry: (1) Whether the Father is the Principle? (2) Whether the person of the Fath
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Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
XXXVI. I will remind you again about Illuminations, and that often, and will reckon them up from Holy Scripture. For I myself shall be happier for remembering them (for what is sweeter than light to t
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De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
19. It will follow that we should next in order point out the character of the provision of blessings bestowed on us by the John i. 9. 2 Tim. iv. 8. John v. 22. John xi. 25. Heb. i. 3. Judith ix
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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
For ever, O Lord, Thy Word is settled in heavenHe sent His Word and healed themThou sendest forth Thy Spirit, they are createdBy the word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the host of them by
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The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
Lecture VII. The Father. Ephesians iii. 14, 15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father,…of whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named, &c. 1. Of God as the sole Principle we have said
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
Nor does another cavil avail them, that Christ was God in his Father. For though we admit that, in respect of order and gradation, the beginning of divinity is in the Father, we hold it a detestable f
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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
In the first Book of his Contra Arianos Athanasius refers to Christ’s word in St. John xiv. 28. He remarks that He does not say “the Father is better (κρείσσων) than I,” lest it should be inferred tha
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Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43]) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: According to the Philosopher (De Anima ii, text 49), a thing is denominated chiefly by its perfection, and by its end. Now generation signifies something in process of being made
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Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43]) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 1: Common terms taken absolutely, in the order of our intelligence, come before proper terms; because they are included in the understanding of proper terms; but not conversely. For
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Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43]) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: "Unbegotten" is taken sometimes in a negative sense only, and in that sense Jerome says that "the Holy Ghost is unbegotten," that is, He is not begotten. Otherwise "unbegotten" m
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Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43]) · Thomas Aquinas
The second consideration of God regards Him as "one." In that view Augustine (De Doctr. Christ. i, 5) appropriates "unity" to the Father, "equality" to the Son, "concord" or "union" to the Holy Ghost.
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Now I broach these ridiculously childish suggestions as to children sitting in the market-place and playingcontrariescontrary ideas to beginning and end reproduce on their side also the contradiction
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Book First. of the Knowledge of God the Creator · John Calvin
17. On the other hand, the Scriptures demonstrate that there is some distinction between the Father and the Word, the Word and the Spirit; but the magnitude of the mystery reminds us of the great reve
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Against Praxeas. · Anti-marcion
Chapter IX.—The Catholic Rule of Faith Expounded in Some of Its Points. Especially in the Unconfused Distinction of the Several Persons of the Blessed Trinity. Bear always in mind that this is the ru
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