Trintarianism: What Is A Person?

When we use the word “Person” when talking about the the Trinity, what exactly do we mean?

The proper term is “hypostasis.”

An individual, complete substance existing entirely in itself; an incommunicable substance.

Illustrated, this is pretty straightforward.   In Doctor Who, Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant, & Ncuti Gatwa are 3 separate hypostases of a single personal being called “the Doctor.”   It amazes me how many people who think the concept of the Trinity is a difficult concept to grasp or that is terribly irrational watch Dr. Who & have no problem with this sort of ontology but when it comes to God, they totally check out.  

As to God: A Person is an individual, complete substance existing entirely in itself; an incommunicable substance.

God’s attributes are the same with respect to each Hypostasis.   As to essence: infinite, eternal, unchangeable; as to attributes: being, wisdom, power, justice, holiness, goodness, & truth.  

As to identity, the 3 hypostases’ one incommunicable substance would be their 3 individual identities.    The Father is not the Son nor Spirit.  The Son is not the Father or Spirit.  The Spirit is neither the Father nor the Son.

Each hypostasis exists entirely complete & self-existent (autotheos & a se) & is simultaneously perichoretic with the others so that they are identifiable as distinct from one another & always in some sense with but not part of the others.  They are not derivative of one another, but they are perichoretic with one another.

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