The Logos in God and the Logos in Man: the Junction of the 3rd and 4th Centuries

Abstract

The III and the IV centuries were marked by a noteworthy development of the Christian thought on Logos driven by the theological need to distinguish in a clear way the Creator and His creatures. In fact, Logos is a key concept in the formulation of the relationship between God and world. From this perspective a fil rouge connects Origen, Eusebius of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa. In this development essential metaphysical issues come into play, the ontological value assigned to relation in particular. For this process Origen’s contribution was essential, because he showed the impossibility to apply to God the distinction between Logos prophorikos and Logos endiathetos and developed an analogical understanding of the divine Logos and logos in man.