Hypostatic union: Difference between revisions

'''Hypostasis''' had come into use as a technical term prior to the Christological debates of the late fourth and fifth centuries. Before there were Christians, the word was used in [[Greek philosophy]], primarily in [[Stoicism]].<ref>R. Norris, "Hypostasis," in The Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. E. Ferguson. New York: Garland Publishing, 1997</ref><ref>[[Aristotle]], "Mund.", IV, 21.</ref> ''Hypostasis'' had some use in the [[New Testament]] that reflect the later, technical understanding of the word; especially Hebrews 1:3.<ref>Other New Testament occurrences require a different understanding of it. E.g., 2 Corinthians 9:4 and 11:17.</ref> Although it can be rendered literally as "substance" this has been a cause of some confusion<ref>{{cite book|last=Placher |first=William |title=A History of Christian Theology: An Introduction |year=1983 |location=Philadelphia |publisher=Westminster Press |isbn=0-664-244963 |pages=78–79}}</ref> so it is now often translated "subsistence". It denotes an actual, concrete existence, in contrast with abstract categories such as Platonic ideals.