Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Terminology Tuesday: Aseity

Aseity: The divine property of being completely independent of everything distinct from God himself. Everything other than God depends on God, but God depends on nothing besides himself.1

1. Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki & Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), p. 13.

5 comments :

Veritasdomain said...

I think this doctrine has huge ramification for the rest of theology

Ex N1hilo said...

It does, Veritasdomain. The denial of Aseity is definitional of idolatry. I take that to be one of Paul's major points in Acts 17.

Veritasdomain said...

Indeed Ex N1hilo

Anonymous said...

If Molinism, doesn't God depend on counterfactuals of creaturely freedom that are outside himself for middle knowledge? So if molinism, no aseity?

Ex N1hilo said...

janitorialmusings,

Yes. I believe that is a major problem for Molinism. However, in the discussions I have had online with Molinists (I'm not sure I've ever met a Molinist in person.), they have been dismissive of that concern.

"Well of course Molinism doesn't imply a denial of aseity."

I think they are trying to hold two contrary opinions and ignore the conradiction.

Post a Comment

Thanks for taking the time to comment. By posting your comment you are agreeing to the comment policy.

Blog Archive

Amz