Divine Incomprehensibility
The mind can know that God is, yet never wrap itself around what God is
Divine incomprehensibility holds that God's very essence overflows and outruns the grasp of any created mind. As John Chrysostom argued in his homilies On the Incomprehensible Nature of God, creatures may truly know God through his works and revelation, yet can never fully comprehend his being. To know God is real, but it is always knowing the inexhaustible One who remains greater than every thought we form of him.
How it traveled
- Hortatory Address to the GreeksRome · 165explains
- Against Heresies: Book IILyons · 202explains
- Against Heresies: Book IVLyons · 202explains
- Exhortation to the HeathenAlexandria · 215explains
- The Octavius of Minucius Felix.Rome · 250explains
- A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity.Rome · 258explains
- The Life of Constantine with Orations of Constantine and EusebiusCaesarea · 339explains
- Ephraim Syrus: The Pearl. Seven Hymns on the FaithEdessa · 373explains
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- De Spiritu SanctoCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Answer to Eunomius' Second BookNyssa · 395explains
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395explains
- The Great CatechismNyssa · 395explains
- On the Soul and the ResurrectionNyssa · 395explains
- Exposition of the Christian FaithMilan · 397explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Homilies on First CorinthiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Commentary and Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Galatians and EphesiansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Paul's Epistle to the RomansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The ConfessionsHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Against the Epistle of Manichæus, Called FundamentalHippo Regius · 430explains
- A Treatise on the Soul and its OriginHippo Regius · 430explains
Key passages(20)
The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Timothy, Titus, and Philemon · John Chrysostom
A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity. · Novatian
Against Heresies: Book IV · Irenaeus of Lyons
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
Answer to Eunomius' Second Book · Gregory of Nyssa
Discussion: Third Part · Martin Luther
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. John · Augustine of Hippo
On Christian Doctrine · Augustine of Hippo
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus