Cataphatic (Affirmative) Theology
Naming God by every good thing he has made and revealed
Cataphatic, or affirmative, theology approaches God by affirming the perfections revealed of him, calling him good, wise, and just, naming him from his effects in creation and revelation. Associated with Pseudo-Dionysius and his treatise on the Divine Names, it is the 'positive way.' It is often paired with its counterpart, the negative way, which guards against supposing such names capture God fully.
How it traveled
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Answer to Eunomius' Second BookNyssa · 395explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26])Paris · 1274explains
Key passages(20)
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
The Letters · Basil of Caesarea
A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity. · Novatian
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. John · John Chrysostom
Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
Treatise on The One God (QQ[2-26]) · Thomas Aquinas