PHILOSOPHICAL ASSUMPTIONS OF THE CHURCH FATHERS
God and Creation
Raúl Kerbs
Resumen
(VWHDUWtFXORWUDWDGHPRVWUDUTXHORVSULPHURV3DGUHVGHOD,JOHVLDQRWRPDURQODVSUHVXSRVLFLRQHVEiVLFDVGHVXWHRORJtDGHODV(VFULWXUDVVLQRGHODÀORVRItDJULHJD$GHPiVVHPXHVWUD
TXH HOORV UHFXUULHURQ D OD ÀORVRItD JULHJD SDUD MXVWLÀFDU HVWH SURFHGLPLHQWR $O VHJXLU HVWH
FDPLQRDEDQGRQDURQODLGHQWLGDGEtEOLFDGHOFULVWLDQLVPR(VWHDUWtFXORGHPXHVWUDHVWRHVSHFtÀFDPHQWHPHGLDQWHXQHVWXGLRGHODGRFWULQDGH'LRV\GH&ULVWRHQORVSULPHURV3DGUHVGH
OD,JOHVLD\GHODGRFWULQDGHODFUHDFLyQGHOPXQGRHQ6DQ$JXVWtQ
3DODEUDVFODYHSUHVXSRVLFLRQHVÀORVyÀFDV3DGUHVGHOD,JOHVLD6DQ$JXVWtQ&UHDFLyQGHO
PXQGR²DWHPSRUDOLGDGWLHPSR
Abstract
7KLVDUWLFOHWULHVWRVKRZWKDWHDUO\&KXUFK)DWKHUVGLGQWWDNHWKHEDVLFSUHVXSSRVLWLRQVRI WKHLUWKHRORJ\IURPWKH6FULSWXUHVEXWIURP*UHHNSKLORVRSK\)XUWKHUPRUHLWGHPRQVWUDWHV
WKDWWKH\UHVRUWHGWR*UHHNSKLORVRSK\WRMXVWLI\WKHLUSURFHGXUH,QGRLQJVRWKH\DEDQGRQHG
WKH ELEOLFDO LGHQWLW\ RI &KULVWLDQLW\ 6SHFLÀFDOO\ WKLV DUWLFOH HYLQFHV LW WKURXJK D VWXG\ RI WKHHDUO\&KXUFK)DWKHU·VGRFWULQHRI *RGDQG&KULVWDQG6W$XJXVWLQH·VGRFWULQHRI WKH
FUHDWLRQRI WKHZRUOG
.H\ZRUGVSKLORVRSKLFDOSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV&KXUFK)DWKHUV6W$XJXVWLQH&UHDWLRQRI WKH
ZRUOG²WLPHOHVVQHVVWLPH
Introduction
7KHSXUSRVHRI WKLVDUWLFOHLVWRVKRZWKDWLQGHÀQLQJPDQ\&KULVWLDQ
GRFWULQHV WKH &KXUFK )DWKHUV FRQQHFWLRQ ZLWK SKLORVRSK\ GLG QRW OLH LQ
UHFHLYLQJ SKLORVRSKLFDO LQÁXHQFHV EXW LQ WKH IDFW WKDW WKH\ GLG LQWHUSUHW
PHWKRG SUHVXSSRVLWLRQV SKLORVRSKLFDOO\ LQVWHDG RI IROORZLQJ WKH ELEOLFDO
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ,QRWKHUZRUGVLWLVDERXWVKRZLQJWKDWWKHÀUVW&KULVWLDQ
WKHRORJLDQV IRUVRRN WKH ELEOLFDO LGHQWLW\ RI &KULVWLDQ WKHRORJ\ WR DGRSW D
*UHHNSKLORVRSKLFDOLGHQWLW\DWWKHOHYHORI PHWKRGSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV7KLV
K\SRWKHVLVUHOLHVRQDQDSSURDFKDERXWWKHZD\KXPDQPLQGIXQFWLRQV6XFK
DSSURDFKZLOOEHH[SODLQHGLQRUGHUWREHWWHUXQGHUVWDQGZKDWWKHDGRSWLRQ
RI SKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI PLQGSUHVXSSRVLWLRQVE\&KXUFK)DWKHUV
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
32
Raúl A. Kerbs
FRQVLVWHGLQ7RSUHVHQWRXUDUJXPHQWDWLRQLWKDVEHHQGLYLGHGLWLQWRWZR
SDUWV LH D WKH GRFWULQHV RQ *RG DQG &KULVW LQ WKH IDWKHUV EHIRUH 6DLQW
$XJXVWLQHDQGEWKHGRFWULQHRQFUHDWLRQLQ6DLQW$XJXVWLQH
The doctrines on God and Christ in the Fathers
before Saint Augustine
(DUO\ &KXUFK )DWKHUV GHYHORSHG D GRFWULQH RI *RG·V QDWXUH 7KRXJK
LWZDVQRWSURSRVHGV\VWHPDWLFDOO\VWDWHPHQWVRQGLYLQHDWWULEXWHVFDQEH
IRXQGLQWKHLUZULWLQJVWKDWUHYHDODGHÀQLWHDWWLWXGHWRZDUGV*RG·VEHLQJ
The Church Fathers’ concept of God
7KLVVHFWLRQVWDUWVE\GHVFULELQJKRZWKH3DWKHUVWKRXJKWDERXW*RG·V
EHLQJ$ULVWLGHVÀUVWKDOI RI WKHVHFRQGFHQWXU\$'GHFODUHGWKDW*RGLVD
VSLULWXDOEHLQJZLWKRXWEHJLQQLQJDQGHQGRQHXQQDPHGLQFRPSUHKHQVLEOH
HWHUQDO LPPXWDEOH SHUIHFW VHOIVXIÀFLHQW FUHDWRU XQPRYHG PRYHU *RG
KDVQRQHHGRI DQ\WKLQJ1
$WKHQDJRUDVVHFRQGKDOI RI WKHVHFRQGFHQWXU\FRQFHLYHG*RGDVDQ
LPSDVVLEOHEHLQJLQFRPSUHKHQVLEOHDQGXQOLPLWHG2,QGHIHQGLQJ&KULVWLDQ
DJDLQVWSDJDQDFFXVDWLRQV$WKHQDJRUDVUHVRUWVWR3ODWR·VDQG$ULVWRWOH·VLGHD
RI *RGDVVLPLODUWRWKH&KULVWLDQLGHDRI *RG$WKHQDJRUDVWULHVWRGHIHQG
&KULVWLDQVE\DUJXLQJWKDWLI SDJDQVFDQIUHHO\VSHDNRI D*RGWKHZD\WKH\
GRDQG&KULVWLDQVEHOLHYHLQD*RGRI WKHVDPHQDWXUHZK\LVWKHUHDODZ
DJDLQVW&KULVWLDQVLQIRUFH"37HUWXOOLDQDURXQGWKH\HDUVDQG$'
GHÀQHG*RGDVLQSRVVHVVLRQRI HWHUQLW\ZKLFK+HGRHVQRWVKDUHZLWKDQ\
RWKHUEHLQJQRWHYHQZLWK+LV6RQDQGE\ZKLFKKHLVHVVHQWLDOO\RQH7KDW
ZKDWSHUWDLQVWR*RGRQO\SHUWDLQVWR+LPDQGPXVWQRWEHDWWULEXWHGWRDQ\
RWKHUEHLQJQRWHYHQZLWKDQ\DQRWKHUPHDQLQJ47KHGLYLQHEHLQJSHUWDLQV
H[FOXVLYHO\WRWKH)DWKHU*RG·VPDQLIHVWDWLRQLQWKHZRUOGLVWKH6RQZKR
LVDSDUWRI GLYLQLW\DQGKDVDNLQGRI GHULYHGH[LVWHQFH5)RU$WKHQDJRUDV
$ULVWLGHV7KH$SRORJ\RI $ULVWLGHVWKH3KLORVRSKHUWUDQVODWHGIURP*UHHNDQG6\ULDFE\'0
.D\7KH$QWH1LFHQH)DWKHUV$1)YROV$OEDQ\25$*(66RIWZDUH9HUVLRQ
FKDSWHU
2
$WKHQDJRUDV$3OHDIRUWKH&KULVWLDQVLQ$1)FKDSWHU
3
,EtGFKDSWHU
4
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW+HUPRJHQHVLQ$1)
5
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW3UD[HDVLQ$1)
1
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
DQG7HUWXOOLDQ*RGLVWKHWUXO\UHDORQHHWHUQDORUWLPHOHVVLQHIIDEOHDQG
LPSDVVLEOH&UHDWLRQLVQRWWUXO\UHDOEHFDXVHLWLVFRUUXSWLEOHWHPSRUDODQG
SHULVKDEOH6
-XVWLQDURXQG$'VWDWHGWKDW*RGLVXQQDPHGEHFDXVHQDPHV
VHUYHWRGLVWLQJXLVKRQHWKLQJIURPDQRWKHULQWKHUHDOPRI WKHPXOWLSOHDQG
GLYHUVHEXWVLQFH*RGLVRQHDQGXQLTXHKHFDQQRWEHQDPHGLQDQ\ZD\7
)RU,UHQDHXV$'*RGLVRQHLPPXWDEOHVLPSOHKHLVDEHLQJ
ZKLFKODFNVQRWKLQJDQGKDVQRQHHGRI DQ\WKLQJDQLPPDWHULDOLQWHOOLJHQFH
ZKLFKLVQRWDIIHFWHGE\WLPH 8
&OHPHQWRI $OH[DQGULD$'GHÀQHG*RGE\TXRWLQJ3DUPHQLGHV
WKURXJK3ODWR´7KHUHDUHPDQ\VLJQVRI DEHLQJWKDWLVXQHQJHQGHUHGDQG
LPSHULVKDEOH FRPSOHWH XQLTXH LPPXWDEOH DQG ZLWKRXW JHQHUDWLRQµ 9 ,I LWLVVXSSRVHGWKDWELEOLFDOWH[WVDQG*UHHNVRXUFHVKDYHVLPLODUPHDQLQJ
&OHPHQW GHVFULEHG *RG DV LQYLVLEOH LQHIIDEOH LQH[SUHVVLEOH E\ KXPDQ
FRQFHSWVLQGLYLVLEOHLQÀQLWHEHDULQJQRÀJXUHWLPHPRYHPHQWSODFHRU
QDPH$VIDUDV*RGLVFRQFHUQHGLWFDQEHOHDUQZKDW+HLVQRWLQVWHDG
RI ZKDWKHLVYLDQHJDWLYD:HWKLQNRI *RGDV*RRG,QWHOOLJHQFH%HLQJ
)DWKHU*RG'HPLXUJHRU/RUGEXWZHGRLWLPSURSHUO\VLQFHPLQGQHHGWR
UHO\RQVRPHWKLQJIRUVXSSRUW)ROORZLQJWKHZD\LQZKLFK1HR3ODWRQLVP
WDNHVWKHQHJDWLYHZD\WRLWVORJLFDOFRQFOXVLRQ&OHPHQWDUJXHGWKDWHYHU\
QDPHZHXVHWRUHIHUWR*RGUHIHUVWRWKLQJVWKDWDUHIDPLOLDUWRXVEXWQRQH
RI WKHVHDUHZRUWK\RI *RG$OONQRZOHGJHLVEDVHGRQHOHPHQWVSUHYLRXVO\
NQRZQE\XVEXWWKHUHLVQRWKLQJEHIRUHWKH8QHQJHQGHUHG$FFRUGLQJWR
&OHPHQWWKLVZRXOGEHWKHXQNQRZQ*RGZKRP3DXOWULHGWRSUHDFKWRWKH
$WKHQLDQV $FWV 'HVSLWH FODLPLQJ *RG WR EH XQNQRZDEOH KH
DOVRVWDWHGWKDW*RGLVLPSDVVLEOHLPPXWDEOHDQGLQFRUSRUHDOLQGXFLQJKLP
WRDVVHUWWKDWWKHELEOLFDOUHIHUHQFHVWRPDWHULDOLW\DQGSDVVLRQVRI *RGDUH
DOOHJRULFDODQGVKRXOGEHLQWHUSUHWHGWRXQGHUVWDQGLWVKRO\PHDQLQJ*RG
KDV QR SDVVLRQV DQJHU GHVLUHV IHDUV QRW EHFDXVH KH FDQ EHDW WKHP EXW
EHFDXVHKLVQDWXUHFDQQRWUXQDQ\GDQJHU10
$WKHQDJRUDV$3OHDIRUWKH&KULVWLDQVLQ$1)7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW+HUPRJHQHVLQ$1)
FKDSWHU
7
-XVWLQ+RUWDWRU\$GGUHVVWRWKH*UHHNVLQ$1)
8
,UHQDHXV$JDLQVW+HUHVLHVLQ$1),,,,,,9
9
+HUPDQQ'LHOV'LH)UDJPHQWHGHU9RUVRNUDWLNHU%HUOLQ:HLGPDQQVFKH%XFKKDQGOXQJQG
HGLWLRQYRO,%
10
&OHPHQW RI $OH[DQGULD 6WURPDWD ,99 0DUWLULR FULVWLDQR H LQYHVWLJDFLyQ VREUH 'LRV *UHHN
6SDQLVK HGLWLRQ ZLWK LQWURGXFWLRQ WUDQVODWLRQ DQG QRWHV E\ 0DUFHOR 0HULQR 5RGUtJXH]
0DGULG&LXGDG1XHYDERRN9FKDSWHUERRN,9FKDSWHU
6
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
33
34
Raúl A. Kerbs
,WKDVEHHQVKRZQWKDWWKH&KXUFK)DWKHUVGHÀQHG*RGE\PHDQVRI FRQFHSWVQRWIRXQGLQ6FULSWXUHV7KHWHUPVWKH\XVHG²VXFKXVWLPHOHVVLPPXWDEOH²DUHQRWVWHPPHGRQDQDWWHPSWWRFRQYH\E\VRPHPHDQVWKHZD\
6FULSWXUHVFRQFHLYHWKHEHLQJRI *RGDQGKLVWUDQVFHQGHQFHRI WKHZRUOG
$OWKRXJK6FULSWXUHVVWDWHFOHDUO\WKDW*RGWUDQVFHQGVFUHDWLRQLWGRHVQRW
LPSHGH*RG·VSHUPDQHQWUHYHODWLRQLQWKHUHDOPRI FUHDWLRQ·VKLVWRU\
$VWRWKHWKHRORJLFDOPHWKRGLWPXVWEHVDLGWKDW&KXUFK)DWKHUVZHUH
ZRUNLQJLQWKHUHDOPRI WKHRORJ\LQZKLFKWKHWKHRORJLDQLVFRQFHUQHGQRW
RQO\ZLWKWKHPHDQLQJRI WKHWH[WEXWÀUVWDQGIRUHPRVWZLWKWKHUHODWLRQVKLSRI WKHWH[WZLWKUHDOLW\,QWKLVGRPDLQWKHNH\TXHVWLRQLVWKHWUXWK
RI WKH6FULSWXUHVVHQWHQFHVDQGKRZWKHWKHRORJLDQZRUGVSURYHWUXH7KH
VSHFLÀFSUREOHPLVQRWRQO\WKHPHDQLQJRI WKHZRUG´*RGµEXWZKDW*RG
DFWXDOO\LV7KH)DWKHUVDUHLQWHUSUHWLQJWKHKHUPHQHXWLFDOSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV
WKHWKHRORJLDQEULQJVZLWKKLPVHOI WRWKHWDVNRI LQWHUSUHWLQJWKHGDWDLQ
RUGHUWRNQRZWKHREMHFW7KH)DWKHUV·LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI *RGDQGWKHZRUOG
LQWKHDIRUHPHQWLRQHGUHIHUHQFHVLVSDUWLFXODUO\H[SUHVVHGDVKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHV*RGKDVEHHQLQWHUSUHWHGDVWLPHOHVVDQGLPPXWDEOHZKHUHDVWKH
ZRUOGKDVEHHQLQWHUSUHWHGDVWHPSRUDODQGPXWDEOHRUFKDQJHDEOH
(DUO\&KXUFK)DWKHUVGHÀQHG*RGE\PHDQVRI DWWULEXWHVWKDWDUHFRQWUDU\WRWKHWHPSRUDOPXOWLSOHPDWHULDODQGFKDQJLQJZRUOG7KLVZD\RI GHÀQLQJ*RGHQWDLOHGWKHPDSUREOHPDVWKH\KDGWRGHÀQHWKHQDWXUHRI &KULVW7RVROYHWKLVSUREOHPDQGFRQFLOLDWH*RG·VDEVROXWHWUDQVFHQGHQFH
UHJDUGLQJ WKH ZRUOG ZLWK WKH LGHD RI FUHDWLRQ DQG UHYHODWLRQ WKH )DWKHUV
LQWHUSUHW&KULVWDVWKHÀUVWFUHDWXUHRI *RG11,QVRIDUDV+HKDVKDGDEHJLQQLQJWKH6RQFDQFUHDWHDZRUOGUHODWHWRLWUHYHDOWKH:RUGLQFDUQDWH
LWVHOIXQGHUJRKXPLOLDWLRQIRUWKHVDNHRI PDQ·VVDOYDWLRQZLWKRXWFRPSURPLVLQJWKHLPSDVVLYLW\LQFRPSUHKHQVLELOLW\DQGLQYLVLELOLW\RI )DWKHU·VGLYLQH
HVVHQFH12
7HUWXOOLDQ DUJXHV WKDW WR DYRLG EODVSKHP\ DJDLQVW WKH )DWKHU LW LV
QHFHVVDU\WRDGPLWWKDWZKDWVXIIHUHGDQGGLHGLQ&KULVWZDVQRWWKHGLYLQH
QDWXUHEXWWKHKXPDQ*RGFDQQRWVXIIHUDQG&KULVWDV6RQRI *RGFDQQRW
VXIIHUHLWKHUEHFDXVH*RGZDVQRWVHSDUDWHGIURPWKH6RQVLQFHWKH6RQLV
*RG&KULVWVXIIHUHGRQO\LQVRIDUDVKHZDVDPDQ137KHDUJXPHQWVKHUH
-XVWLQ$SRORJ\LQ$1) ,,'LDORJXH:LWK7U\SKRLQ$1)7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW
+HUPRJHQHVLQ$1)$WKHQDJRUDV$3OHDIRUWKH&KULVWLDQVLQ$1),UHQDHXV
$JDLQVW+HUHVLHVLQ$1),,
12
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW0DUFLRQLQ$1),,7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW3UD[HDVLQ$1)
13
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW3UD[HDVLQ$1)
11
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
H[SRVHGVKRZWKDWWKHRSSRVLWLRQEHWZHHQ*RGDQGWKHZRUOGFRQWDLQHGLQ
WKHFRQFHSWRI *RGERUURZHGIURPSKLORVRSK\LVDSSOLHGE\7HUWXOOLDQWR
WKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQWKHGLYLQHDQGKXPDQQDWXUHRI WKH6RQ7HUWXOOLDQ
IHHOVWKHGLYLQHSDUWRI &KULVWPXVWEHVDYHGIURPVXIIHULQJWKXVKLVFODLP
WKDWLWZDVWKHÁHVKZKLFKVXIIHUHGLQWKH/RJRV
7HUWXOOLDQ DOVR UHIXVHG *QRVWLF VHSDUDWLRQ EHWZHHQ DWWULEXWHV ZRUWK\
RI *RG DQG DWWULEXWHV WKDW ²LQ *QRVWLFV RSLQLRQ³ DUH QRW ZRUWK\ RI *RGEHWZHHQWKH-HVXVZKRXQGHUZHQWVXIIHULQJDQGWKH&KULVWZKRZDV
LPSDVVLEOH14'HVSLWHWKLVKHDUJXHGWKDWVLQFH*RGLVLPPXWDEOHHWHUQDO
DQG XQDEOH WR DGRSW D IRUP LQ &KULVW WKH GLYLQH DQG KXPDQ QDWXUHV DUH
WRJHWKHU EXW QRW PL[HG 7KH SURSHUWLHV RI ERWK QDWXUHV ZHUH SUHVHUYHG
VRWKDWWKH6SLULWSHUIRUPHGWKHVXSHUQDWXUDODQGPLUDFXORXVDFWVZKLOHWKH
ÁHVKVXIIHUHGKXQJHUWKLUVWVRUURZDQGÀQDOO\GLHGRQWKHFURVV15
/LNH 7HUWXOOLDQ ,UHQDHXV IRXJKW DJDLQVW WKH RSSRVLWLRQ WKH *QRVWLFV
HVWDEOLVKHGEHWZHHQWKHFUHDWRU*RGDQGWKHUHGHHPHU*RGEHWZHHQ*RG
DVULJKWHRXVMXGJHDQG*RGDVJRRGDQGPHUFLIXO16,UHQDHXVDOOHJHGWKDW
ZKR VXIIHUHG ZDV WKH 6RQ RI *RG +RZHYHU WKH SUHVXSSRVLWLRQ RI WKH
LPSDVVLYLW\ RI *RG FRQGLWLRQHG KLV WKRXJKW DV KH DVVHUWV WKDW WKH 6RQ
EHFDPH SDVVLEOH LQ WKH PRPHQW RI LQFDUQDWLRQ ZKLFK VKRZV WKDW IRU
,UHQDHXVWKH6RQZDVLPSDVVLEOHEHIRUHWKHLQFDUQDWLRQ17 )ROORZLQJDVLPLODU
SDWK+\SROOLWXVGLHGDURXQG$'GHFODUHGWKDWIURPRQHSHUVSHFWLYH
WKH6RQZKLFKDSSDUHQWO\LVQRWFRHWHUQDOZLWKWKH)DWKHUPDNHVYLVLEOHWKH
LQYLVLEOH*RGDQGWKDWWKURXJKWKHÁHVKWKHLPSDVVLEOH:RUGRI WKH)DWKHU
EHFRPHVSDVVLEOH 18
$QRWKHUFKXUFKIDWKHUZKRSURQRXQFHGLQWKHVDPHWUHQGRI WKRXJKW
ZDV &OHPHQW RI $OH[DQGULD $FFRUGLQJ WR KLP &KULVW ZDV HWHUQDO DQG
FRPSOHWHO\ LPSDVVLEOH IUHH IURP DOO SDVVLRQ DIIHFWLRQ DSSHWLWH SOHDVXUH
DQG SDLQ (YHQWKRXJKKHDVVXPHGD SDVVLEOH ERG\ IRU RXU VDOYDWLRQ KLV
ERG\ZDVIUHHIURPWKHQHHGVDQ\ERG\QRUPDOO\KDVEHFDXVHKHZDVNHSW
VDIH E\ D KRO\ SRZHU &KULVW DVVXPHG D ÁHVK VXEMHFW WR SDVVLRQV EXW KH
WUDLQHGLWXQWRDVWDWHRI LPSDVVLELOLW\+RZHYHU&OHPHQWDVVHUWVWKDW&KULVW
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW0DUFLRQLQ$1),VV,,VV7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW3UD[HDVLQ
$1)FKDSWHU
15
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW3UD[HDVLQ$1)
16
,UHQDHXV$JDLQVW+HUHVLHVLQ$1),,,,
17
,EtG,,,
18
+\SROOLWXV$JDLQVW7KH+HUHV\2I 2QH1RHWXVLQ$1)
14
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
35
36
Raúl A. Kerbs
VDWLVÀHGKLVQHHGVWRSUHYHQWSHRSOHPHHWLQJKLPIURPWKLQNLQJKHZDVRQO\
DSSHDUDQFHDVGRFHWLVWVODWHUFODLPHG19
7KHVHLGHDVDERXWWKHQDWXUHRI &KULVWDUHWKHUHVXOWRI DFRQFHSWRI *RGREWDLQHGE\RSSRVLWLRQWRTXDOLWLHVRI WKHWHPSRUDOZRUOG6FULSWXUHV
HYHUUHYHDO*RGLQUHJDUGWRFUHDWLRQWRWHPSRUDOZRUOG,Q6FULSWXUHVVXFK
UHODWLRQVKLS LV QRW LQWHUSUHWLQJ WKH 6RQ DV D EHLQJ ZKR KDV QRW WKH VDPH
QDWXUHDVWKH)DWKHUQRUDVDEHLQJZKRVHGLYLQHQDWXUHUHPDLQVLPSDVVLEOH
DQGDOLHQWRDQ\FRQWDFWZLWKWKHWHPSRUDODQGFKDQJLQJZRUOG:KHUHGLG
WKH)DWKHUVJHWVXFKFRQFHSWLRQRI *RGIURP"
The philosophical conditioning on Church Father’s concept of God
7KH DQVZHU WR WKH TXHVWLRQ SRVHG OLHV LQ WKH PHWKRG WKH )DWKHUV
LPSOLFLWO\IROORZHGOHDGLQJWKHPWRGUDZWKHVDPHFRQFOXVLRQVGHVSLWHWKH
GLIIHUHQWHPSKDVLVWKH\SXWLQWKHVDPHVXEMHFWV%H\RQGWKHPHWKRGZKDW
OHGWKHPWRWKHVDPHFRQFOXVLRQVWKURXJKGLYHUVHSDWKVZHUHWKHSULQFLSOHV
RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHGDWDDQGWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQVWKH\DVVXPHGRQWKH
VRXUFHVRI WKHGDWD
7KH EDVLFV RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO SULQFLSOHV DUH
QHFHVVDU\LQDQ\PHWKRGEHFDXVHWKH\VHWXSWKHEDVLFDVVXPSWLRQVZKLFKPDNH
LWSRVVLEOHWRWKLQNDQGVSHDNDERXWDQ\VXEMHFW7KHPDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHVDUHWKHPRVWEDVLFSUHVXSSRVLWLRQVWKHPLQGQHHGVWREHDEOHWR
IXQFWLRQDQGWRJHWDFTXDLQWHGZLWKUHDOLW\DVVXFK:HKDYHDOUHDG\VHHQWKH
ZD\WKH)DWKHUVLQWHUSUHWHG*RGDQGWKHZRUOGDVSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV+RZHYHU
WKHVHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQVLQWXUQDVVXPHDQLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJ,QRUGHUWR
JHWWRNQRZUHDOLW\DQGVD\VRPHWKLQJDERXWLWRXUPLQGQHHGVDSUHYLRXV
LGHDDERXWZKDWUHDOLW\´LVµ7KLVLVFDOOHGWKHRQWRORJLFDOSUHVXSSRVLWLRQ
ZKLFKLVWKHEURDGHVWEDFNJURXQGWKHPLQGQHHGVWRLQWHUSUHWLQRUGHUWR
ZRUN5HJDUGOHVVRI WKHGLYHUVLW\RI WKLQJVZHNQRZRXUPLQGGRHVNQRZ
LWDOODVWKLQJV´EHLQJµWKXVPLQGQHHGVWRSUHYLRXVO\KDYHDQLGHDDERXW
ZKDW´EHLQJµLV
,QRUGHUWRJHWNQRZOHGJHDQGPDNHDVVHUWLRQVDERXW*RG·VDQGZRUOG·V
EHLQJ &KXUFK )DWKHUV KDG WR SUHVXSSRVH DQ LGHD DERXW EHLQJ DW DOO 7KH
LVVXHWRIRFXVKHUHLV:KDWZDVWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJWKHIDWKHUVWRRN
&OHPHQW RI $OH[DQGULD 6WURPDWD 9,9,,, 9LGD LQWHOHFWXDO \ UHOLJLRVD GHO FULVWLDQR *UHHN
6SDQLVK HGLWLRQ ZLWK LQWURGXFWLRQ WUDQVODWLRQ DQG QRWHV E\ 0DUFHOR 0HULQR 5RGUtJXH]
0DGULG&LXGDG1XHYD9,
19
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
IRUJUDQWHGDQGZKDWGHWHUPLQHGWKHLUGHÀQLWLRQRI *RG·VEHLQJDQGWKHLU
XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI *RG·V UHODWLRQVKLS WR WKH ZRUOG" 6LQFH DW WKDW WLPH WKH
)DWKHUVFRXOGQRWUHÁHFWLWRQNQRZOHGJHQRURQPHWKRGWKH\GLGQRWUDLVH
WKH SUREOHP RI WKH PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO SULQFLSOHV WKH\ ZHUH ZLOOLQJ WR
DGRSWLQRUGHUWRGHYHORSWKHGRFWULQHRQ*RGDQGRQ&KULVW7KLVODFNRI UHÁHFWLRQLPSHGHGWKHPWRUHDOL]HWKDWWKH%LEOHKDVLWVRZQLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
RI WKHPDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDOSULQFLSOHVDQGDWWKHVDPHWLPHLWOHGWKHPWR
IROORZ XQFRQVFLRXVO\ EXW FRKHUHQWO\ WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ SUHYDLOLQJ DW WKDW
WLPHLHWKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
,Q RUGHU WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH SURSRVLWLRQ RI WKLV DUWLFOH LW LV LPSRUWDQW
WR NHHS LQ PLQG WKDW WKHUH LV QR VLQJOH KXPDQ UDWLRQDOLW\ EXW VHYHUDO
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQV RI UDWLRQDOLW\ 7KHUH LV D P\WKRORJLFDO D SKLORVRSKLFDO D
ELEOLFDODQGDPRGHUQVFLHQWLÀFLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI UDWLRQDOLW\:KDWPDNHVWKH
GLIIHUHQFH EHWZHHQ WKHP LV WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHV EHLQJ LQ JHQHUDO *RG ZRUOG PDQ NQRZOHGJH WKDW UHDVRQ DV
VXFKQHHGVLQRUGHUWRZRUN7KHUHIRUHRSSRVLQJSKLORVRSKLFDOUDWLRQDOLW\
DQG ELEOLFDO UDWLRQDOLW\ DV ZHOO DV FULWLFL]LQJ WKH IRUPHU DV LQDGHTXDWH
WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH ODWWHU GRHV QRW PHDQ WR GLVFUHGLW WKH HIIHFWLYHQHVV RI *RG·VFUHDWLYHZRUNLQFUHDWLQJKXPDQUHDVRQ*RGFUHDWHGPDQ·VDELOLW\WR
WKLQNEXWWKLQNLQJDOZD\VLPSOLHVDVSHFLÀFZD\RI LQWHUSUHWLQJWKHEDVLF
PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDOSULQFLSOHVDQGWKHUHDUHGLIIHUHQWZD\VWRGRLW
:KDW LV XVXDOO\ FDOOHG ´QDWXUDO UHDVRQµ LV D KXPDQ P\WKRORJLFDO
SKLORVRSKLFDOVFLHQWLÀFLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHVHEDVLFDVVXPSWLRQV,QWKH
%LEOH *RG UHYHDOHG D ZD\ RI LQWHUSUHWLQJ WKH EDVLF PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHVLHDUDWLRQDOLW\WKDWFRQVLVWVRI DVHULHVRI EDVLFLQWHUSUHWDWLRQV
*RG ZRUOG PDQ NQRZOHGJH DQG D QXPEHU RI LGHDV WKH KXPDQ PLQG
QHHGVWRJUDVSLQRUGHUWREHDEOHWRXQGHUVWDQGWKHGLYLQHUHYHODWLRQDQG
WKH ZRUN RI VDOYDWLRQ XQGHUWDNHQ E\ *RG IRU WKH VDNH RI PDQ +HUH LW
LVQRWSRVVLEOHWRJRLQWRGHWDLOVDERXWWKDWUDWLRQDOLW\EXWLQDQLQWHQWWR
V\QWKHWLFDOO\ H[SUHVV ZKDW LW HQFRPSDVVHV LW FDQ EH VDLG WKDW LW LQFOXGHV
*RG·VDQDORJLFDOWHPSRUDOLW\DQG+LVSHUPDQHQWZRUNERWKLQWKHLQÀQLWH
GLPHQVLRQRI GLYLQHWLPHDQGLQWKHÀQLWHGLPHQVLRQRI FUHDWHGWLPHWKH
FUHDWLRQRI WKHZRUOGLQWLPHWKHXQLW\RI PDQWKHDEVHQFHRI KXPDQ·VVRXO
XQFRQGLWLRQDOLPPRUWDOLW\WKHJUHDWFRQWURYHUV\EHWZHHQ*RGDQGWKHGHYLO
DQG WKH KLVWRULFDO FRQFHSWLRQ RI ELEOLFDO NQRZOHGJH WKDW FUHDWHV PHDQLQJ
WKURXJKELEOLFDOW\SRORJLFDOFHQWUDOKLVWRULFDOIDFWVVXFKDVWKHFRYHQDQWDQG
WKHVDQFWXDU\,I KXPDQUHDVRQZDQWVWRXQGHUVWDQGGLYLQHUHYHODWLRQLWKDV
WRDGRSWWKHVHEDVLFDVVXPSWLRQV7KHTXHVWLRQLVQRWZKHWKHUWKH´QDWXUDO
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
37
38
Raúl A. Kerbs
UHDVRQµ PD\ RU PD\ QRW NQRZ HYHQ RQH SDUW RI WKH WUXWK EXW ZKHWKHU
KXPDQ UHDVRQ LV UHDG\ WR DEDQGRQ WKH P\WKRORJLFDO SKLORVRSKLFDO RU
VFLHQWLÀFLQWHUSUHWDWLRQVRI WKHEDVLFPDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDOSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV
DQGWRDVVXPHWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQV*RGKDVUHYHDOHGLQ6FULSWXUHLQRUGHUWR
EHDEOHWRXQGHUVWDQGWKHPHVVDJHWKDW+HKDVUHYHDOHGWRPDQDQGQRWWKH
PHVVDJHPDQZRXOGZDQWWRXQGHUVWDQG
$OWKRXJKQRWDOO*UHHNSKLORVRSKHUVWKRXJKWWKHVDPHZD\DOOVKDUHG
WKHLGHDWKDWWKHEHLQJRUWUXHUHDOLW\LVWLPHOHVV,WPLJKWEHVDLGWKDWWKH
*UHHNV LQWHUSUHWHG WKHLU JRGV DV EHLQJ LQYROYHG LQ WKH WLPH RI PDQ DQG
ZRUOG%XWWKLVZRXOGPHDQWRLJQRUHWKHIDFWWKDW*UHHNSKLORVRSK\UHDFWHGDJDLQVW*UHHNP\WKVDQGDQWKURSRPRUSKLVPV7KLVUHDFWLRQOHG*UHHN
SKLORVRSKHUVWRFRQFHLYHWKHEHLQJRUWUXHUHDOLW\DVWLPHOHVVDQGXQFKDQJLQJ3KLORVRSK\GHÀQHGWKHWUXHUHDOLW\DVVRPHWKLQJFRPSOHWHO\RSSRVLWHWR
WLPH$QGWKLVSKLORVRSKLFDOVWDQFHQRORQJHUDOORZVWKHXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKDW
*RGFDQDFWLQWLPH6RWKHUHLVVRPHWKLQJVSHFLÀFWRWKHELEOLFDO*RG,Q
6FULSWXUHDOOHOHPHQWVRI ELEOLFDOUDWLRQDOLW\RSHUDWHXQGHUWKHDVVXPSWLRQ
WKDW*RGLVDQDORJLFDOO\WHPSRUDODQGWKDWWKHUHLVQRGLPHQVLRQRI GLYLQLW\
RXWVLGHWLPH6LQFH*UHHNSKLORVRSK\VWHPVIURPDIXQGDPHQWDODVVXPSWLRQFRQVLGHUHGEHLQJRSSRVLWHWRWKHELEOLFDORQHHYHU\WKLQJWDNHQIURPLW
ZRXOGGLVWRUWWKHXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI ELEOLFDOUHYHODWLRQ
'XHWRWKHVFRSHRI WKLVDUWLFOHLWLVQRWSRVVLEOHWRGHPRQVWUDWHWKDW
VRPH VFKRODUV FODLP WKDW &KXUFK )DWKHUV LQWHUSUHWHG WKH UHDOLW\ RI *RG
IURPDQRQ*UHHNYLHZSRLQW+RZHYHUDVLWLVWREHVKRZQLQWKLVDUWLFOH
&KXUFK )DWKHUV IDLOHG WR JUDVS WKH VSHFLÀFV RI ELEOLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKHUHDOLW\RI *RGDVDQDQDORJLFDOO\WHPSRUDOEHLQJDQGGHSDUWHGLQVWHDG
IURPWKH*UHHNSKLORVRSKLFDODVVXPSWLRQWKDWWKHWUXHUHDOLW\LVWLPHOHVV
)RUWKLVUHDVRQWKH\DOZD\VWULHGWRVDYH*RG·VLPPXWDELOLW\DQGLPSDVVLELOLW\DVLWZLOOEHVKRZQ7KHSUREOHPRI 3DWULVWLFWLPHVFKRODUVLVWKDWWKH\
IDLOHGWRTXHVWLRQWKHPDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDODVVXPSWLRQVWKHPLQGQHHGVWR
LQWHUSUHWLQRUGHUWRIXQFWLRQ7KH\SDUWLFXODUO\IDLOHGWRH[DPLQHWKHXQTXHVWLRQHGDVVXPSWLRQWKDW*RGLVWLPHOHVVDQGWKDW+LVWHPSRUDODFWLRQ
PXVWEHXQGHUVWRRG V\PEROLFDOO\ RU PHWDSKRULFDOO\ 0DQ\ VFKRODUVHLWKHU
-HZVRU&DWKROLFVDQG3URWHVWDQWVWKLQNLWLVXQOLNHO\QRWWRÀQGDQ\WKLQJ
LQ *UHHN SKLORVRSK\ XVHIXO IRU &KULVWLDQLW\ %XW LW LV XVHOHVV WR UDLVH WKLV
GHVLUH LI LQ H[DPLQLQJ &KXUFK )DWKHUV· WH[WV LW LV SRVVLEOH WR VHH ²DV LW LV
GRQHLQWKLVDUWLFOH²WKDWWKHSKLORVRSKLFDOQRWLRQRI *RG·VWLPHOHVVQHVVLV
LQFRPSDWLEOH ZLWK WKH ELEOLFDO QRWLRQ RI *RG DV DQ DQDORJLFDOO\ WHPSRUDO
EHLQJ,WPLJKWEHFRQVLGHUHGWKDWWKHWLPHOHVVQHVVWLPHFRQWUDSRVLWLRQLV
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
QRW HQRXJK WR RSSRVH *UHHN SKLORVRSK\ WR ELEOLFDO UHYHODWLRQ +RZHYHU
DVWKLVFRQWUDSRVLWLRQEHORQJVWRWKHPRVWEDVLFOHYHORI WKRXJKW²WKHOHYHO
RI WKHDVVXPSWLRQDERXW´EHLQJLQJHQHUDOµ²LWV\VWHPDWLFDOO\DIIHFWVHYHU\WKLQJWKHPLQGWKLQNVZKHWKHULWLVRUQRWDZDUHRI WKLVFRQGLWLRQLQJ,WLV
QHFHVVDU\WRFKRRVHEHWZHHQWKHLGHDRI WKHWLPHOHVVQHVVRI WUXHUHDOLW\DQG
WKHLGHDRI WKHDQDORJLFDOWHPSRUDOLW\RI *RG,WLVQRWSRVVLEOHWRKDYHD
ELWRI ERWKEHFDXVHWKLVOHDGVWRDFRQWUDGLFWLRQDWWKHPRVWEDVLFOHYHORI WKRXJKW$SRVVLEOHREMHFWLRQVKRXOGEHGLVFXVVHGEHIRUHGHDOLQJZLWKWKH
SKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJWKDWFRQGLWLRQHGWKHFRQFHSWRI *RG
LQWKHHDUO\)DWKHUV%DVHGRQWKHZHOONQRZQIDFWWKDWPDQ\)DWKHUVUHIXVHG
WKHXVHRI SKLORVRSK\LQ&KULVWLDQLW\WKHVWDWHPHQWUHJDUGLQJWKHLUDGRSWLRQ
RI DSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJFRXOGEHREMHFWHG1HYHUWKHOHVV
WKHDGRSWLRQRI SKLORVRSKLFDOPDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDOSULQFLSOHVWRRNSODFHLQGHSHQGHQWO\RI WKHDWWLWXGHRI WKH)DWKHUVWRZDUGWKHXVHRI SKLORVRSK\
LQ &KULVWLDQLW\ 7KH DLP RI WKLV DUWLFOH LV WR SURYH WKLV FODLP E\ VKRZLQJ
WKDWERWKWKHIDWKHUVZKRUHMHFWHGSKLORVRSK\DQGWKRVHZKRDFFHSWHGLW
DGRSWHGWKHVDPHSULQFLSOHVDQGWKDWSUHFLVHO\WKHVHSULQFLSOHVVKDSHGWKH
)DWKHU·VXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI WKHGRFWULQHRI *RGDQG&KULVW
6RPHRI WKH)DWKHUVNQRZQIRUWKHLURSSRVLWLRQWRWKHXVHRI SKLORVRSK\
ZHUH7HUWXOOLDQ7DWLDQDQG,UHQDHXV7HUWXOOLDQFRQVLGHUHGWKDWIDLWKLVQRW
UDWLRQDOO\ FRPSUHKHQVLEOH DQG WKDW LWV FUHGLELOLW\ OLHV WKHUH $FFRUGLQJ WR
7HUWXOOLDQ6FULSWXUHVDUHFRPSOHWHO\VHOIVXIÀFLHQWDQGZLWKRXWWKHQHHGRI DQ\SKLORVRSKLFDOUHDVRQLQJWREHFRPHFRPSUHKHQVLEOH207KHUHMHFWLRQRI SKLORVRSK\EHFRPHVGLVGDLQ21´,EHOLHYHEHFDXVHLWWREHOLHYHLVDEVXUGµ22
EHFDPH RQH RI 7HUWXOOLDQ·V PRVW IDPRXV ZDWFKZRUGV 7KLV DWWLWXGH
XQGHUPLQHV SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI UHDVRQ 7KHUHIRUH DFFRUGLQJ
WR 7HUWXOOLDQ ZKDW UHPDLQV DSDUW IURP *UHHN SKLORVRSK\ LV WR UHFRJQL]H
WKDW&KULVWLDQIDLWKLVLUUDWLRQDO/LNH&KXUFK)DWKHUV7HUWXOOLDQGLGQRWDVN
LI 6FULSWXUHV FRXOG KDYH LWV RZQ LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EDVLF SUHVXSSRVLWLRQV
RI UHDVRQ WKXV LW LV ´UDWLRQDOµ LQ LWV RZQ ZD\ 'HVSLWH KLV RSSRVLWLRQ WR
SKLORVRSK\ 7HUWXOOLDQ DGRSWHG SKLORVRSKLFDO LGHDV ZKHQ IRU H[DPSOH KH
DGRSWHGVWRLFPDWHULDOLVPZKLFKOHGKLPWRDIÀUPWKDW*RGOLNHHYHU\WKLQJ
7HUWXOOLDQ7KH3UHVFULSWLRQ$JDLQVW+HUHWLFVLQ$1)FKDSWHU
,EtG
22
´«PRUWXXVHVW'HL)LOLXVSURUVXVFUHGLELOHHVWTXLDLQHSWXPHVWHWVHSXOWXVUHVXUUH[LW
FHUWXPHVWTXLDLPSRVVLELOHµ«WKH6RQRI *RGGLHGLWLVE\DOOPHDQVWREHEHOLHYHG
EHFDXVH LW LV DEVXUG $QG +H ZDV EXULHG DQG ULVH DJDLQ WKLV IDFW LV FHUWDLQ EHFDXVH LW
LV LPSRVVLEOH 7HUWXOOLDQ 'H FDUQH &KULVWL FKDSWHU 9 HQ 0LJQH 3DWURORJLD /DWLQD YRO >7XUQKROWL%HOJLXP7\SRJUDSKL%UHSROV(GLWRUHV3RQWLÀFL@D7HUWXOOLDQ2Q7KH
)OHVK2I &KULVWLQ$1)
20
21
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
39
40
Raúl A. Kerbs
PXVWKDYHVRPHNLQGRI FRUSRUDOLW\23+HDOVRDGRSWHG*UHHNGXDOLVPLQ
DIÀUPLQJWKDWWKHVLPLODULW\EHWZHHQ*RGDQGPDQOLHVLQVSLULWXDOLW\
7DWLDQZDVFRQYHUWHGWR&KULVWLDQLW\DIWHUVWXG\LQJ*UHHNSKLORVRSK\$VD
&KULVWLDQKHRSSRVHGWRXVHSKLORVRSK\LQ&KULVWLDQLW\ZKLFKKHFRQVLGHUHG
DKLJKHUNQRZOHGJHWKDQDOO*UHHNVFKRROVRI SKLORVRSK\1HYHUWKHOHVVWKH
SODWRQLFLQÁXHQFHLVVWULNLQJLQKLPDVKHH[SODLQVIRUH[DPSOHWKDWFUHDWHG
PDQ SRVVHVVHG HYHU\ SHUIHFWLRQ EXW GXH WR VLQ WKH VRXO IDOOV WR HDUWK
VHSDUDWHV LWVHOI IURP WKH GLYLQH VSLULW DQG GLHV )XUWKHUPRUH KH DVVHUWHG
WKDW WKH VRXO LV DEOH QRW WR GLH LI LW ZRUNV WRJHWKHU ZLWK WKH GLYLQH VSLULW
DQGDVFHQGVWRDSODFHZKHUHWKHVSLULWOHDGVLWV,QDFRPSOHWHO\SODWRQLF
LQVSLUDWLRQ7DWLDQDIÀUPHGWKDWRQHKDVWRORRNDIWHUWKHXQLRQRI WKHVRXO
ZLWK*RG·VVSLULWVRWKDWLWEHFRPHVRQHZLWK+LP24
,UHQDHXVVKDUHGZLWKRWKHUIDWKHUVWKHUHMHFWLRQRI SKLORVRSK\DQGWKH
LGHDRI VHOIVXIÀFLHQF\RI 6FULSWXUHV+HDGYRFDWHGWKHLULQWHJULW\DJDLQVWWKH
*QRVWLFVSOLWEHWZHHQWUXHDQGIDOVHSDUWV25+RZHYHULQWKHEHVW*QRVWLF
VW\OH KH LQWHUSUHWHG DOOHJRULFDOO\ WKH 2OG 7HVWDPHQW DQG VHDUFKHG IRU D
VSLULWXDO PHDQLQJ IRU PDQ\ IDFWV DQG QXPEHUV RI WKH 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW26
$OOHJRULFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ LV WLJKWO\ OLQNHG WR SODWRQLF DQG QHRSODWRQLF
GXDOLVP6XFKLQWHUSUHWDWLRQZDVWKHZHDNDQGQRQELEOLFDOOLQNWKDWPDQ\
)DWKHUVGLGHVWDEOLVKEHWZHHQWKH2OGDQGWKH1HZ7HVWDPHQW5HJUHWWDEO\
WKH&KXUFK)DWKHUVGLGQRWUHDOL]HWKDWWKHWUXHQH[XVLVWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
RI WKHEDVLFSUHVXSSRVLWLRQVRI PLQGWKDWELQGVERWK7HVWDPHQWV
7KHVHH[DPSOHVVKRZWKDWRSSRVLQJWRSKLORVRSK\GRHVQRWJXDUDQWHHWR
JHWULGRI LWRUWREHDEOHWRWKLQNZLWKRXWDVVXPLQJDWOHDVWXQFRQVFLRXVO\
VRPH SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQV 7KDW LV RQH RI WKH JUHDWHU SUREOHPV
SHUVLVWLQJ WRGD\ LQ &KULVWLDQLW\ ³RI DIÀUPLQJ WKDW IDLWK LV QRW UDWLRQDOO\
FRPSUHKHQVLEOHRUWKDWLWLVEH\RQGUHDVRQ7KHSUREOHPLVWRNHHSWKLQNLQJ
DQGVSHDNLQJDIWHUDVVHUWLQJWKDW7KHQDVXQFRQVFLRXVO\UHDVRQKDVEHHQ
LGHQWLÀHGZLWKWKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI UHDVRQWKHUHVXOWLVWKDW
SKLORVRSK\LVNHSWLQXVH
-XVWLQ DQG &OHPHQW RI $OH[DQGULD FRQVLGHUHG SKLORVRSK\ DV D XVHIXO
WRROWRGHÀQHFRQYH\DQGV\VWHPDWL]H&KULVWLDQGRJPDWLFV$VWKH\OLYHGLQ
WKHERRPLQJRI V\QFUHWLVPDQGHFOHFWLFLVPPDQ\RI WKHIDWKHUVXVHGWKH
23
24
25
26
7HUWXOOLDQ$JDLQVW3UD[HDVLQ$1)7HUWXOOLDQ2Q7KH)OHVK2I &KULVWLQ$1)
7DWLDQ$GGUHVVWRWKH*UHHNVLQ$1)FKDSWHUV
,UHQDHXV$JDLQVW+HUHVLHV,,,FKDSWHUFKDSWHU
,UHQDHXV$JDLQVW+HUHVLHVLQ$1),9,,,,9
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
UHVRXUFHVWKDWVHUYHGWKHLUDSRORJHWLFSXUSRVHV,QWKLVZD\WKH\JUDGXDOO\
DGRSWHG LGHDV IURP SKLORVRSK\ DQG WULHG WR SXUJH WKHP IURP ZKDW WKH\
EHOLHYHGFRQWUDU\WR&KULVWLDQIDLWK+RZHYHULQDVPXFKDVLWLVLPSRVVLEOHWR
WKLQNZLWKRXWDVVXPLQJDQLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHEDVLFPLQGSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV
LQIDFWZKDW)DWKHUVXQFRQVFLRXVO\DGRSWHGZHUHWKHPDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHV RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI UHYHDOHG GDWD 6R EH\RQG UHMHFWLRQ RU
DFFHSWDQFHRI SKLORVRSK\&KXUFK)DWKHUVIDLOHGWRFDUU\RXWWKHLULQWHQWLRQV
WR NHHS IDLWKIXO WR 6FULSWXUHV LQ WKH UHDOP RI WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EDVLF
SUHVXSSRVLWLRQV
6ORZDQGLPSHUFHSWLEO\WKH\EHJDQWRUHDGELEOLFDOWH[WVDQGWRGHÀQH
GRFWULQHVIURPWKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHVHSUHVXSSRVLWLRQV$V
WKHUHZDVDODFNRI UHÁHFWLRQVDERXWPHWKRGDQGLWVFRPSRQHQWVWKH)DWKHUV
GLGQRWEHFRPHDZDUHRI WKHGHFLVLYHUROHSOD\HGE\PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHV RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ $V D FRQVHTXHQFH PDQ\ RI WKHP UHVRUWHG
H[SOLFLWO\ WR 3ODWR DQG $ULVWRWOH WR REWDLQ VXSSRUW IRU WKH UHYHDOHG LGHD
RI GLYLQLW\27 :KDW GHWHUPLQHV WKH GHÀQLWLRQ RI *RG·V EHLQJ DQG &KULVW·V
EHLQJ LV WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EHLQJ WKDW LV WKH FKLHI PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO SULQFLSOH RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH UHYHDOHG GDWD 7KH
LGHDRI EHLQJDWDOOZDVXQGHUO\LQJWKHLGHDRI *RGWKH)DWKHUVERUURZHG
IURPSKLORVRSK\
3KLORVRSKHUV GHÀQHG EHLQJ DV RQH LPPXWDEOH LPSHULVKDEOH
XQHQJHQGHUHGHWHUQDOWLPHOHVVLPSDVVLEOHVHOIVXIÀFLHQWZLWKRXWFRQWDFW
ZLWKWKHZRUOG7KH\JHWWKLVLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJE\GHQ\LQJDWWULEXWHVRI WKLQJVWKDWDUHPXOWLSOHPXWDEOHSHULVKDEOHHQJHQGHUHGWHPSRUDOVXEMHFW
WRSDVVLRQVGHSHQGHQWDQGUHODWHGWRRWKHUWKLQJV7KLVLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJ RU WUXH UHDOLW\ ZDV DSSOLHG DQG HQIRUFHG E\ SKLORVRSKHUV WR GHÀQH
ZKDW WKH\ UHJDUGHG DV WKH SHUIHFW EHLQJ RU *RG 7KXV WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EHLQJ GHWHUPLQHG DQG FRQGLWLRQHG WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI *RG
7KH&KXUFK)DWKHUVVRXJKWWKHVXSSRUWRI SKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
RI *RGWRIDFHSDJDQ·VFULWLFLVPDFFRUGLQJWRZKLFKWKHELEOLFDOUHYHODWLRQ
RI *RGFRQWDLQVDFRQFHSW WKDW FRQWUDGLFWVZKDWZDV WKHQ FRQVLGHUHGWR
EH WKH UDWLRQDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI UHDOLW\ WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
3DJDQVLGHQWLÀHGWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI *RGLQJHQHUDOZLWKWKHSKLORVRSKLFDO
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI *RG DQG EHLQJ 6WDUWLQJ IURP WKLV LGHQWLÀFDWLRQ WKH\
FULWLFL]HGWKHELEOLFDOFRQFHSWRI D*RGZKRUHYHDOVLWVHOI LQWLPHDFWVLQ
27
$WKHQDJRUDV$3OHDIRUWKH&KULVWLDQVLQ$1)
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
41
42
Raúl A. Kerbs
WLPHEHFRPHVLQFDUQDWHGLHVUHVXUUHFWVDQGFRQWLQXHVWRZRUNLQDWHPSRUDO
FHOHVWLDO UHDOP 7R GHIHQG WKHPVHOYHV DJDLQVW WKLV FULWLFLVP WKH &KXUFK
)DWKHUVWULHGWRVKRZWKDWWKHUHYHDOHGFRQFHSWRI *RGGRHVQRWFRQWUDGLFW
SKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI *RGDQGWKHUHIRUHLWLVQRWLUUDWLRQDO
,Q DGGLWLRQ WR DGRSWLQJ SKLORVRSK\ WR GHIHQG WKHPVHOYHV DJDLQVW WKH
FULWLFLVPRI SDJDQV&KXUFK)DWKHUVJRWFRQYLQFHGWKDW6FULSWXUHVLQWHUSUHW
EHLQJDQG*RGLQWKHVDPHZD\WKDW*UHHNSKLORVRSK\7KHH[SUHVVLRQRI WKLV EHOLHI FDQ EH IRXQG LQ &OHPHQW RI $OH[DQGULD +LV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EHLQJ GLG QRW FRPH IURP 6FULSWXUHV VLQFH DFFRUGLQJ WR KLP ´EDUEDURXV
SKLORVRSK\ WKDW LV %LEOLFDO&KULVWLDQ IDLWK GLVWLQJXLVKHG OLNH 3ODWR WKH
LQWHOOLJLEOHDQGVHQVLEOHZRUOGEHLQJWKHÀUVWWKHDUFKHW\SHDQGWKHVHFRQG
WKH LPDJH RI ZKDW LV FDOOHG SDUDGLJPµ28 7KH XQFULWLFDO DFFHSWDQFH DQG
FRQVWDQW LPSOHPHQWDWLRQ RI SODWRQLF GLYLVLRQ RI UHDOLW\ LQWR WZR ZRUOGV
VKRZV WKDW &OHPHQW FRQVLGHUV WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EHLQJ
ERWKWLPHOHVVDQGLPPXWDEOH
7KLV FRQYLFWLRQ ZHQW EH\RQG WKH FRQVFLRXV VWDQFH WKDW HDFK RI WKHP
KDGDERXWWKHFRPSDWLELOLW\RI FHUWDLQVSHFLÀFSKLORVRSKLFDOGRFWULQHVZLWK
ELEOLFDO UHYHODWLRQ ,W ZDV VXFK D GHHSURRWHG FRQYLFWLRQ WKDW WKH\ ZHUH
QRWDZDUHRI WKHUROHWKDWSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI *RGDQGEHLQJ
SOD\HG DV PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO SULQFLSOHV RI WKH WKHRORJLFDO PHWKRG WKH\
LPSOHPHQWHG+RZGLGWKLVEHOLHI DULVHDQGRQZKDWJURXQGVGLGLWUHVW"
Church Fathers philosophically justified the need to use philosophy and
to found theology in other sources besides Scripture
$OWKRXJK RQ D FRQVFLRXV OHYHO WKH\ NQHZ WKH GLIIHUHQFHV EHWZHHQ WKH
%LEOH DQG SKLORVRSK\ WKH XQFRQVFLRXV DGRSWLRQ RI PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDO
SULQFLSOHV RI SKLORVRSK\ JDYH WKHP D UHDVRQ WR WDNH IRU JUDQWHG WKDW
6FULSWXUHVLQWHUSUHWEHLQJDQG*RGLQWKHVDPHZD\WKDW*UHHNSKLORVRSK\
7KDWUHDVRQ ZDVSURYLGHGE\6WRLF DQG 1HR3ODWRQLVWLGHD RI WKH/RJRV
7KLVLQWHUSUHWDWLRQZDVDGRSWHGE\TXLWHDIHZ&KXUFK)DWKHUVHVSHFLDOO\
-XVWLQ DQG LW VXSSOLHG WKHP ZLWK DW OHDVW IRXU LPSRUWDQW FRQFHSWLRQV ,Q
WKH ÀUVW SODFH D MXVWLÀFDWLRQ IRU WKH DGRSWLRQ RI SKLORVRSK\ VHFRQGO\ D
KDUPRQL]DWLRQ RI SKLORVRSK\ ZLWK WKH %LEOH ZKLFK DOVR DOORZHG WKHP WR
H[SODLQGLIIHUHQFHVDVSDUWRI WKDWKDUPRQ\WKLUGO\DWKHRU\WREHDEOHWR
UHODWH*RGLQWHUSUHWHGDVWLPHOHVVDQGLPPXWDEOHWRWKHZRUOGLQWHUSUHWHG
&OHPHQWRI $OH[DQGULD6WURPDWD,999
28
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
DVWHPSRUDODQGPXWDEOHDQGODVWO\WKHIRXQGDWLRQIRUWKHLGHDWKDWWKHRORJ\
PXVWEHEDVHGRQUHDVRQEHVLGHV6FULSWXUHV
$QDO\]LQJWKHMXVWLÀFDWLRQIRUWKHDGRSWLRQRI SKLORVRSK\ZHVKDOOVHH
WKDWLQ6WRLFLVPWKH/RJRVLVDNLQGRI LPSHUVRQDOGLYLQLW\WKDWSHUPHDWHVDQG
DUUDQJHVWKHZKROHXQLYHUVHLQ1HR3ODWRQLVPWKH/RJRVLVDQLQWHUPHGLDWH
EHLQJWKDWHPDQDWHGIURPWKH2QHDQGZKLFKHQOLJKWHQVVRXOVWRÀQGWKH
ZD\EDFNWRKLP$OWKRXJK-XVWLQGLGQRWDFFHSWDOOWKHWHDFKLQJVRI 6WRLFLVP
DQG1HR3ODWRQLVPKHDVVXPHGWKDWWKHLULGHDVDERXWWKHORJRVPDWFKWKH
/RJRVRU:RUGRI WKH*RVSHORI -RKQ7KH/RJRVÀUVWLOOXPLQDWHG+HEUHZ
SURSKHWVEXWWKHQLWZRXOGDOVRKDYHHQOLJKWHQHGWKH*UHHNSKLORVRSKHUV
WKHUHIRUHZKDWHYHULVWUXHDQGJRRGLQ*UHHNSKLORVRSKHUVLWLV&KULVWLDQ
EHFDXVHLWFRPHVIURPWKHLOOXPLQDWLRQRI WKH/RJRVZKLFKLV&KULVW7KH
IDFWWKDW6WRLFVDQG1HRSODWRQLVWVNQHZWKHH[LVWHQFHRI WKH/RJRVDQGWDONHG
DERXW+LPZRXOGEH²DFFRUGLQJWR-XVWLQ²DPDQLIHVWDWLRQRI WKHOLJKWWKH\
KDYHUHFHLYHGIURPWKH/RJRV&RQVHTXHQWO\LI WKH/RJRVDOVRLOOXPLQDWHG
SKLORVRSKHUVWKHXVHRI SKLORVRSK\LQ&KULVWLDQLW\JHWVMXVWLÀHG$OWKRXJK
-XVWLQUHFRJQL]HVWKDWGHPRQVPLVOHGWKH*UHHNV29KHWKLQNVWKHVHHUURUVDUH
LQRWKHUDUHDVQRWLQWKHLGHDRI *RG·VQDWXUHDQGKLVUHODWLRQVKLSZLWKWKH
ZRUOG'HVSLWHPDLQWDLQLQJWKDW&KULVWLDQGRFWULQHVDUHPRUHVXEOLPHWKDQ
DOO KXPDQ SKLORVRSK\ -XVWLQ VWDWHG WKDW ´WKH WHDFKLQJV RI 3ODWR DUH QRW
GLIIHUHQWIURPWKRVHRI &KULVWEXW«WKH\DUHQRWLQDOOUHVSHFWVVLPLODU
DVQHLWKHUDUHWKRVHRI WKHRWKHUV6WRLFVDQGSRHWVDQGKLVWRULDQVµ30%HLQJ
DOLWWOHPRUHVSHFLÀF-XVWLQDUJXHGWKDWWRWKHH[WHQWWKDW&KULVWLDQLW\KROGV
WKDWWKHZRUOGZDVSURGXFHGDQGDUUDQJHGE\*RGLWVHHPVWREHH[SUHVVLQJ
WKHGRFWULQHRI 3ODWRLQVRIDUDVLWDQQRXQFHVWKDWDOOWKLQJVZLOOEHFRQVXPHG
E\ÀUHLWVHHPVWRVKDUHWKHGRFWULQHRI WKH6WRLFVDQGLQVRIDUDVLWKROGV
WKDWWKHVRXOVRI WKHZLFNHGZLOOEHSXQLVKHGDQGWKDWWKHVRXORI WKHJRRGV
ZLOOEHH[HPSWHGIURPSXQLVKPHQWLWVHHPVWREHVD\LQJWKHVDPHWKLQJV
WKDWSKLORVRSKHUVDQGSRHWV31-XVWLQZDVVRFRQYLQFHGWKDWWKH%LEOHDQG
SKLORVRSK\DJUHHWKDWWRH[SODLQWKLVDJUHHPHQWKHUHVRUWHGWRWKHLGHDRI DQLQWHOOHFWXDOORDQDOOHJHGO\WDNHQE\*UHHNSKLORVRSKHUVIURP0RVHVDQG
WKH-HZLVKSURSKHWV32DQLGHDWKDWKDGDOUHDG\EHHQKHOGE\-HZLVKWKLQNHUV
DV$ULVWREXOXVDURXQG%&DQG)LORRI $OH[DQGULDDURXQG%&
29
30
31
32
-XVWLQ$SRORJ\LQ$1) ,
,EtG ,,FKDSWHU
,EtG ,
-XVWLQ$SRORJ\LQ$1) ,-XVWLQ+RUWDWRU\$GGUHVVWRWKH*UHHNVLQ$1)
FKDSWHU7DWLDQDQG7KHRSKLOXVQGFHQWXU\WKRXJKWWKDW*UHHNSKLORVRSKHUVFRSLHG
IURP+HEUHZZULWLQJVDOWKRXJKVXSSRVHGO\GLVWRUWLQJDQGPL[HGWKHPZLWKIDOVHLGHDV
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
43
44
Raúl A. Kerbs
$',QWKHVDPHYHLQ-XVWLQDUJXHGWKDW3ODWRZRXOGKDYHWDNHQWKHLGHD
RI FUHDWLRQIURP0RVHV33%XWLQDGGLWLRQWRDSSHDOLQJWRWKLV´LQWHOOHFWXDO
ORDQµ -XVWLQ SKLORVRSKLFDOO\ MXVWLÀHG WKH FRLQFLGHQFHV EHWZHHQ &KULVWLDQ
IDLWKDQGSKLORVRSK\WKURXJKWKH6WRLFDQG1HR3ODWRQLVWLGHDRI WKHVHHGV
RI /RJRVWKDWKDYHEHHQLPSODQWHGE\QDWXUHLQDOOPHQ34
7KHDSSHDOWR/RJRVLOOXPLQDWLRQDOORZHG-XVWLQWRH[SODLQWKHGLIIHUHQFHV
EHWZHHQSKLORVRSK\DQGELEOLFDOUHYHODWLRQDVSDUWRI WKHKDUPRQ\EHWZHHQ
ERWK ,QGHHG WKH LGHD RI D FRPPRQ LOOXPLQDWLRQ E\ /RJRV OHG KLP WR
DVVHUWDGLIIHUHQFHRQO\LQIRUPEXWnot in contentEHWZHHQSKLORVRSK\DQG
ELEOLFDO UHYHODWLRQ 2OG 7HVWDPHQW ELEOLFDO IDLWK LV VXSHULRU WR SKLORVRSK\
RQO\EHFDXVHLWUHFHLYHGWKHWUXWKHDUOLHUDQGLQDVXSHUQDWXUDOPLUDFXORXV
ZD\35ZKLOHWKH*UHHNSKLORVRSKHUVUHFHLYHGLWODWHUDQGLQDQDWXUDOZD\
%XWUHJDUGLQJWKHFRQWHQWELEOLFDOIDLWKDJUHHVZLWKUHDVRQ367KHUHYHODWLRQ
RI WKH/RJRVWKURXJKWKHLQFDUQDWLRQRI &KULVWGRHVQRWDGGQHZFRQWHQW
WR WUXWK LW RQO\ IXOÀOOV WKH SURSKHFLHV PLUDFXORXVO\ PDNHV WKH WUXWK
XQGHUVWDQGDEOH DQG XQPL[HG ZLWK HUURU WR DOO SHRSOH DQG HQVXUHV YLFWRU\
RYHUHYLO-XVWLQDVVHUWHGWKDWWKH&KULVWZKRDSSHDUHGIRURXUVDNHZDVWKH
IXOOQHVV RI UHDVRQ ,Q RWKHU ZRUGV IRU KLP WKHUH LV RQO\ D GLIIHUHQFH RI GHJUHH EHWZHHQ ELEOLFDO UHYHODWLRQ DQG SKLORVRSK\ WKH ÀUVW EHLQJ JUHDWHU
WKDQWKHVHFRQGEXWQRWRSSRVHGWRLW37'LIIHUHQFHVRFFXURQWKHJURXQG
RI DEDVLFKDUPRQ\:LWKWKLVDSSURDFK-XVWLQWRRNIRUJUDQWHGWKDWWKHZD\
SKLORVRSKHUV FRQFHLYHG *RG ZDV WKH VDPH UHYHDOHG LQ WKH 2OG DQG 1HZ
7HVWDPHQW-XVWLQLVQRWFRQFHUQHGDERXWWKHSRVVLELOLW\RI XQGHUVWDQGLQJ
WKHELEOLFDOFRQFHSWRI *RGIURPDQLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJWKDWLVGLIIHUHQW
IURP*UHHNSKLORVRSK\KHGLGQRWZRQGHUHLWKHULI HWHUQLW\LPPXWDELOLW\
DQG SHUIHFWLRQ RI *RG UHDOO\ PHDQ WKH VDPH WR WKH *UHHN SKLORVRSKHUV
DQGLQWKHELEOLFDOUHYHODWLRQ+HGLGQRWSRVHWKRVHTXHVWLRQVEHFDXVHKH
7DWLDQ$GGUHVVWRWKH*UHHNVLQ$1)FKDSWHU7KHRSKLOXVRI $QWLRFK7KHRSKLOXV7R
$XWRO\FXVLQ$1),,,
33
-XVWLQ$SRORJ\LQ$1),-XVWLQDUJXHVWKDW3ODWRZURWHWKH7LPDHXVLQH[DFW
FRUUHVSRQGHQFHZLWKZKDW0RVHVKDGVDLGDERXW*RGEXWGLGQRWUHFRJQL]HWKH%LEOLFDO
VRXUFHEXWSUHVHQWHGWKHLGHDVDVWKHLURZQ7RH[SODLQWKHGLIIHUHQFHVEHWZHHQFUHDWLRQLQ
0RVHVDQG3ODWR-XVWLQJRHVRQWRVD\WKDW3ODWROHDUQHGIURPWKH0RVHV·ZULWLQJVZKHQ
KHZDVLQ(J\SWEXWLQUHWXUQLQJWR$WKHQVKHKDGWRKLGHLWVRWKDWWKH$WKHQLDQVGLGQRW
DFFXVHKLPRI QRWEHOLHYLQJLQWKH*UHHNJRGVDVWKH\KDGGRQHZLWK6RFUDWHV+RUWDWRU\
$GGUHVVWRWKH*UHHNVLQ$1)
34
-XVWLQ$SRORJ\LQ$1),,,
35
7DWLDQ$GGUHVVWRWKH*UHHNVLQ$1)
36
-XVWLQ'LDORJXH:LWK7U\SKRLQ$1)&KDSWHU
37
$FFRUGLQJ WR -XVWLQ &KULVWLDQ GRFWULQHV DUH PRUH VXEOLPH WKDQ DOO KXPDQ SKLORVRSK\
-XVWLQ$SRORJ\LQ$1),,FKDSWHUV
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
DVVXPHG WKDW WKH PHDQLQJ LV WKH VDPH VLQFH SKLORVRSKHUV ZHUH QDWXUDOO\
LOOXPLQDWHG E\ WKH VDPH /RJRV WKDW VXSHUQDWXUDOO\ UHYHDOHG WKH WUXWK WR
0RVHVDQGWRWKH+HEUHZSURSKHWV-XVWLQUHFRJQL]HGWKDWZLWK&KULVWLDQ
IDLWKKXPDQSKLORVRSK\KDGEHHQRYHUFRPHE\DSHUIHFWUHYHODWLRQRI WKH
/RJRV+XPDQSKLORVRSK\KDGFRPHWRDQHQG+RZHYHUDOWKRXJKKHZDV
QRWDZDUHRI LWKHSXWDQHQGWRSKLORVRSK\RQO\LQWKHOHYHORI H[SOLFLW
H[SUHVVLRQVRI 3ODWR$ULVWRWOHWKH6WRLFVHWFEXWQRWLQWKHOHYHORI WKH
LPSOLFLW DVVXPSWLRQV LQ WKHVH IRUPXODWLRQV ZKLFK NHSW RSHUDWLQJ LQ KLV
WKLQNLQJDQGGHWHUPLQLQJKLVXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI WKH6FULSWXUHV
6WRLFDODQG1HR3ODWRQLVWLGHDRI WKH/RJRVZDVDGRSWHGE\&KULVWLDQ
DSRORJLVW)DWKHUVQRWRQO\WRMXVWLI\WKHFRLQFLGHQFHRI &KULVWLDQUHYHODWLRQ
ZLWK*UHHNSKLORVRSK\DQGWKHUHIRUHWRMXVWLI\WKHXVHRI SKLORVRSK\EXW
DOVRWRLQWHUSUHWWKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQ*RGLQWHUSUHWHGDVWLPHOHVVDQG
WKHZRUOGLQWHUSUHWHGDVWHPSRUDO:HKDYHDOUHDG\VHHQKRZWKHFRQFHSW
RI *RGDVDQLPPXWDEOHDQGWLPHOHVVEHLQJGHWHUPLQHGWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
RI WKH QDWXUH RI &KULVW 7KLV LV D PDQLIHVWDWLRQ RI WKH PRUH JHQHUDO
SUREOHP&KULVWLDQVKDGWRVROYHGXHWRWKHFRQFHSWRI *RGERUURZHGIURP
SKLORVRSK\LHWKHSUREOHPRI WKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQ*RGDQGWKHZRUOG
7KH%LEOHGLVWLQJXLVKHVEHWZHHQ*RGDQGWKHZRUOGEXWQRWE\HVWDEOLVKLQJ
DQ RSSRVLWLRQ WKDW SUHYHQWV WKH UHODWLRQVKLS RI ERWK 1HYHUWKHOHVV DV
&KXUFK )DWKHUV GHÀQHG *RG DV RSSRVHG WR WKH WHPSRUDO ZRUOG WKH\
WKRXJKWWKH\VKRXOGEDVHWKHSRVVLELOLW\RI DUHODWLRQVKLSRI *RGZLWKWKH
ZRUOG7RVROYHWKLVSUREOHPFUHDWHGE\SKLORVRSK\WKH\DOVRUHVRUWHGWRLW
&RQVHTXHQWO\WKHVWRLFDQGQHRSODWRQLFLGHDRI WKH/RJRVZDVWKHWRROWKDW
&KXUFK)DWKHUVXVHGWRH[SODLQWKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQ*RGDQGWKHZRUOG
ZLWKLQWKHLGHDRI *RGWKH\KDGERUURZHGIURPSKLORVRSK\*RGUHODWHV
WRWKHZRUOGWKURXJKWKH/RJRVZKRLVWKHFUHDWRUDQGUHYHODWRU7KHLGHD
RI /RJRVDVDQLQWHUPHGLDWHEHLQJDOORZHGWKHPWRFRQQHFW*RGZLWKWKH
ZRUOGZLWKRXWFRPSURPLVLQJWKHWLPHOHVVQHVVDQGLPPXWDELOLW\RI *RG
$VUHJDUGVWKHIRXQGDWLRQIRUWKHLGHDWKDWWKHRORJ\PXVWEHEDVHGRQ
UHDVRQEHVLGHV6FULSWXUHVVXFKLGHDKDGDQRWKHUFRQVHTXHQFHRQWKHOHYHORI PDFURKHUPHQHXWLFDOSULQFLSOHVSDUWLFXODUO\LQWKHUHDOPRI WKHNQRZOHGJH
RI *RG DQG RI WKH VRXUFHV RI WKHRORJ\ 7KLV FRQVHTXHQFH ZDV WKH LGHD
WKDWWKHUHLVDQDWXUDOUHYHODWLRQRI WKH/RJRVWKDWHQOLJKWHQVWKHUHDVRQRI DOOPHQDQGDVXSHUQDWXUDOUHYHODWLRQJLYHQWRPDQ\PHQDQGUHFRUGHGLQ
WKH%LEOH%RWKUHYHODWLRQVDUHLQGHSHQGHQWRI RQHDQRWKHUEXWKDUPRQLF
7KHUHIRUH WKH VRXUFHV RI WKHRORJLFDO NQRZOHGJH DUH ERWK WKH %LEOH DQG
KXPDQUHDVRQ,QGHÀQLQJWKHEHLQJRI *RGLQIDFW&KXUFK)DWKHUVZHUH
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
45
46
Raúl A. Kerbs
DOUHDG\ LPSOHPHQWLQJ WKLV LGHD 7KH DFFHSWDQFH RI UHDVRQ DV D VRXUFH RI WKHRORJLFDONQRZOHGJHZDVQRWOLPLWHGWRWKH&KXUFK)DWKHUVZKRH[SOLFLWO\
DFFHSWHG SKLORVRSK\ RU WR WKRVH ZKR DGRSWHG WKH VWRLF DQG QHRSODWRQLF
LGHDRI WKHLOOXPLQDWLRQE\WKH/RJRV,QGHHGLQGHÀQLQJWKHEHLQJRI *RG
,UHQDHXVZDVEDVHGRQ6FULSWXUHEXWKHDOVRWKRXJKWLWLVSRVVLEOHWRKDYHD
IXOONQRZOHGJHRI *RGDQGRI HYHU\WKLQJQHFHVVDU\IRUVDOYDWLRQIURPWKH
FRQVFLRXVQHVVIURPPDQ·VQDWXUDONQRZOHGJHRI WKHZRUOGDQGIURP*RG·V
SURYLGHQWLDOJRYHUQPHQWRYHUFUHDWLRQ6XSHUQDWXUDOUHYHODWLRQDJUHHVZLWK
WKLVQDWXUDONQRZOHGJH,QRWKHUZRUGV,UHQDHXVDIÀUPHGWKDWUHDVRQIURP
QDWXUHDQGKLVWRU\KDVWKHFDSDFLW\WRNQRZWKHFUHDWRU387KHUHIRUHLQKLV
ELEOLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQKHLQWURGXFHGDUDWLRQDOGHÀQLWLRQRI *RGXVLQJWKH
´QHJDWLYH SDWKµ DQG WKXV WKH LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EHLQJ DV WLPHOHVV IURP
ZKLFKWKHFRQFHSWRI *RGLVREWDLQHGDVDQLPPXWDEOHEHLQJXQDIIHFWHG
E\ WLPH39 :LWK WKHVH LGHDV ,UHQDHXV ZKR KDV EHHQ FRQVLGHUHG WKH PRUH
UHOXFWDQW WKHRORJLDQ WR JLYH ZD\ WR WKH LQÁXHQFH RI *UHHN SKLORVRSK\40
DGPLWWHG WKDW WKHRORJ\ KDV VHYHUDO VRXUFHV DV WKH VXSHUQDWXUDO UHYHODWLRQ
DQGUHDVRQ
:LWK WKH DSSHDUDQFH RI SOXUDOLW\ RI VRXUFHV LQ WKHRORJ\ DV DQ LGHD
&KULVWLDQWKRXJKWOHJLWLPL]HGWKHKHUPHQHXWLFDOPHWKRGLQXVH+HQFHWKLV
UHDVRQLQJLQWURGXFHGLQ&KULVWLDQLW\PXFKPRUHWKDQWKHLGHDWKDWWKHRORJ\
KDVVHYHUDOVRXUFHV:KDWZDVEHLQJLQFRUSRUDWHGZDVQRWWKHUHDVRQEXW
WKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI UHDVRQ7KLVPHDQVWKDWWKHÀUVW&KXUFK
)DWKHUV WRRN IRU JUDQWHG WKDW WKH ZD\ RI NQRZLQJ DQG WKH SULQFLSOHV RI XQGHUVWDQGLQJDUHSURYLGHGE\SKLORVRSK\QRWE\6FULSWXUH7KHUHIRUHWKH
WZRVRXUFHVUHDVRQDQG6FULSWXUHZHUHQRWVHHQDVEHLQJRQWKHVDPHOHYHO
EXWLWWXUQHGRXWWKDWUHDVRQȥLGHQWLÀHGZLWKSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
RI SULQFLSOHV RI NQRZOHGJH³ HQGHG XS GHWHUPLQLQJ WKH PHDQLQJ RI 6FULSWXUH6RWKHLQFRUSRUDWLRQWR&KULVWLDQLW\ZDVDWKHRORJLFDOPHWKRGE\
ZKLFKWKH%LEOHDQGUHDVRQDUHVRXUFHVRI GDWDEXWSKLORVRSK\SURYLGHVWKH
SULQFLSOHVRI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHGDWD7KLVFDQEHVHHQLQWKH$XJXVWLQLDQ
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI ELEOLFDOFUHDWLRQKLVWRU\
The doctrine of creation in Saint Augustine
,UHQDHXV$JDLQVW+HUHVLHVLQ$1),,,,,
,EtG,,,,,,9
40
2VFDU&XOOPDQQ&ULVWR\HOWLHPSR%DUFHORQD(VWHOD
38
39
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
,QWKHELEOLFDOKLVWRU\RI FUHDWLRQ*RGLVLQYROYHGLQWHPSRUDODFWLRQV
7KLV UHFRUG PDNHV LW FOHDU WKDW *RG LV HVVHQWLDOO\ UHODWHG WR WLPH )LUVW ,
ZLOO VKRZ KRZ $XJXVWLQH LQWHUSUHWHG WKH ELEOLFDO UHFRUG RI FUHDWLRQ DQG
VHFRQGO\ZKDWDUHWKHDVVXPSWLRQVWKLVLQWHUSUHWDWLRQWDNHVIRUJUDQWHG
The Augustinian interpretation of creation history
$VIRUWKHFUHDWLRQRI WKHXQLYHUVH$XJXVWLQHPDLQWDLQHGWKDW*RGÀUVW
FUHDWHGZKDWWKH%LEOHFDOOV´KHDYHQRI KHDYHQVµZKLFKKHXQGHUVWRRGDV
DQLQWHOOHFWXDOKHDYHQZLWKRXWVSDFHDQGWLPHLQZKLFKWKHWUXWKLVNQRZQ
VLPXOWDQHRXVO\7KLVKHDYHQSDUWLFLSDWHVRI WKHHWHUQLW\DQGLPPXWDELOLW\RI *RGEXWLWLVQRWFRHWHUQDOZLWK*RGEHFDXVHLWLVFUHDWHG417KHQDFFRUGLQJ
WR $XJXVWLQH *RG ZRXOG KDYH FUHDWHG ZKDW WKH %LEOH FDOOV ´WKH KHDYHQV
DQG WKH HDUWKµ DQG $XJXVWLQH XQGHUVWRRG WKH KHDYHQ DV EHLQJ YLVLEOH WR
WKHVHQVHVDQGWKHHDUWK42,QRWKHUZRUGV*RGÀUVWFUHDWHGDWLPHOHVVDQG
LPPXWDEOHKHDYHQDQGWKHQWKHWHPSRUDODQGPXWDEOHZRUOGZHVHHWKURXJK
WKHVHQVHV
5HJDUGLQJWKHFUHDWLRQRI WKH(DUWK$XJXVWLQHGLVWLQJXLVKHGÀUVWWKH
LQYLVLEOHIRUPOHVVDQGFKDRWLFHDUWKWKDWLVQRWUHODWHGWRWKHFUHDWLRQGD\V
EXW UHIHUUHG WR LQ WKH SKUDVH ´LQ WKH EHJLQQLQJ *RG FUHDWHG WKH KHDYHQV
DQGWKHHDUWKµ7KLVHDUWKEHLQJIRUPOHVVDQGFKDRWLFGRHVQRWSHUWDLQWR
WKHVSDWLDODQGWHPSRUDORUGHURI FUHDWLRQ6HFRQG$XJXVWLQHGLVWLQJXLVKHG
WKHHDUWK*RGDUUDQJHGRUGHULQJWKHFKDRVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHWHPSRUDORUGHU
RI WKH VL[ GD\V RI FUHDWLRQ43 $XJXVWLQH FRQFHLYHG WKDW WKH ´KHDYHQ DQG
HDUWKµ IURP WKH FUHDWLRQ KLVWRU\ UHODWHV WR WKH XQLYHUVDO GLVRUGHUHG DQG
PL[HGPDWWHUZKLFKZDVFUHDWHGRXWRI QRWKLQJDQGZDVUHDG\WRUHFHLYH
WKHIRUPVIURPWKHFUHDWRULQRUGHUWRJLYHELUWKWRWKH´ZRUOGµFRQVLVWLQJ
RI VHSDUDWHDQGGLVWLQFWWKLQJV447KHELEOLFDOKLVWRU\LQIRUPVWKDWWKHHDUWK
ZDVZLWKRXWIRUPYRLGDQGGDUNEHFDXVH²VR$XJXVWLQH²LWODFNHGIRUP
41
42
43
44
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV6SDQLVKWUDQVODWLRQE\ÉQJHO&XVWRGLR9HJDHQ2EUDVGH6DQ
$JXVWtQYRO,,0DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHV&ULVWLDQRVWKHG&;,,
;,,
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV;,,
,EtG
,EtG;,,6DLQW$XJXVWLQH'HO*pQHVLVDODOHWUDLQFRPSOHWHKHQFHIRUWK*/,,6SDQLVK
WUDQVODWLRQ E\ %DOELQR 0DUWtQ HQ 2EUDV GH 6DQ $JXVWtQ YRO ;9 0DGULG %LEOLRWHFD GH
$XWRUHV&ULVWLDQRV
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
47
48
Raúl A. Kerbs
ZKLFKLVWKHHVVHQFHRI WKLQJV'DUNQHVVLVODFNRI OLJKWLWLVWKHQRQEHLQJ
RUWKHDEVHQFHRI EHLQJ45
*RGÀUVWFUHDWHGDIRUPOHVVPDWWHU²ZKLFKLQ$XJXVWLQHRZQZRUGVWKH
*UHHNVFDOOHG´FKDRVµ²DQGWKHQWKLQJVDURVH´)LUVWWKHPDWWHUZDVPDGH
FRQIXVHGDQGIRUPOHVVVRWKDWODWHULWVKRXOGEHPDGHDOOWKLQJVWKDWWRGD\
DUHVHSDUDWHGDQGIRUPHGµ467KLVPHDQVWKDWIRU$XJXVWLQH*RGGLGQRW
FUHDWHWKLQJVGXULQJVL[GD\VEXW+HSODFHGLQWKHPDWWHUWKHVHHGRI WKLQJV
ZKLFKDURVHODWHU
,I ZHWDNHWKHVHHGRI DWUHHZHVD\WKDWWKHUHDUHWKHURRWVWUXQNEUDQFKHV
IUXLW DQG OHDYHV QRW EHFDXVH WKH\ DSSHDU DOUHDG\ WKHUH EXW EHFDXVH IURP
WKHUHWKH\KDYHWREHERUQWKXVLWZDVVDLG´LQWKHEHJLQQLQJ*RGFUHDWHG
WKHKHDYHQDQGWKHHDUWKµDVLI LWZHUHWKHVHPHQRI KHDYHQDQGHDUWKEHLQJ
VWLOOFRQIXVHGWKHPDWWHURI KHDYHQDQGHDUWK,WKDVEHHQFDOOHGKHDYHQDQG
HDUWKWRWKDWVWXII EHFDXVHLWZDVVXUHWKDWIURPWKHUHKDGWRSURFHHGWKH
KHDYHQDQGHDUWKZHQRZVHH47
,QRWKHUZRUGV*RGFUHDWHGDQGSODFHGWKHIRUPRI WKLQJVWKHVSHFLHV
RI EHLQJVRQWKHPDWWHUEXWLQSRWHQWLDOLW\VRWKDWWKH\FRXOGEHLQDFWXDOLW\
ODWHU48 &UHDWLRQ LV LQWHUSUHWHG WKHQ DV WKH WHPSRUDO GHYHORSPHQW RI DQ
LQVWDQWDQHRXV DFWLRQ SHUIRUPHG E\ *RG RXWVLGH RI WLPH WKH FUHDWLRQ RI IRUPVRUVSHFLHV
,Q WKH SUHYLRXV GHVFULSWLRQ $XJXVWLQH PDNHV DQ LPSOLFLW GLVWLQFWLRQ
EHWZHHQ DQ LQWHOOHFWXDO RSHUDWLRQ DQG D FRUSRUHDO RSHUDWLRQ :KHQ
WKH *HQHVLV WHOOV ´DQG LW ZDV VRµ $XJXVWLQH LQWHUSUHWV WKLV WR PHDQ WKDW
6DLQW $XJXVWLQH*/,6DLQW$XJXVWLQH'HO *pQHVLVFRQWUD ORV PDQLTXHRVKHQFHIRUWK
*&0,WUDGGH%DOELQR0DUWtQ2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQYRO;90DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHV
FULVWLDQRV,,$XJXVWLQHH[SODLQVWKDWWKHFUHDWLRQRI WKLVPDWWHUZLWKRXW
IRUPGRHVQRWPHDQWKDW*RGFUHDWHGWKHODFNRI EHLQJWKDWEHORQJVWRQRWKLQJ*/,
*&0,$XJXVWLQHDUJXHVWKDWWKHVSLULWXDOZLWKRXWIRUPZDVFUHDWHGÀUVWZKDW
LVV\PEROL]HGE\WKH´VN\µDQGWKHQWKHIRUPOHVVPDWWHURI DOOERGLHVV\PEROL]HGE\WKH
´HDUWKµ7KLVFUHDWLRQRFFXUUHGRXWVLGHWLPH6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV+HUH
LQDGGLWLRQWRWKHFRQFHSWVRI PDWWHUDQGIRUP$XJXVWLQHLVDSSO\LQJWKHVSLULWPDWWHU
FRQWUDVW7KHVSLULWXDOZDVFUHDWHGÀUVWEHFDXVHLWLVPRUHZRUWK\WKDQWKHPDWHULDO6DLQW
$XJXVWLQH*/,,
46
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*&0,,7KHGLVWLQFWLRQEHWZHHQWKHFUHDWLRQRI DIRUPOHVV
SDUWDQGRI DQRWKHUSDUWZLWKIRUPLVDSSOLHGE\$XJXVWLQHWRHDFKGD\RI FUHDWLRQ6RKH
LQWHUSUHWVWKDW´ZKHQLWLVVDLG¶ZDVPDGHWKHDIWHUQRRQ·WKHIRUPOHVVPDWWHULVUHIHUUHGWR
DQGZKHQLWLVVDLG¶ZDVPDGHWKHPRUQLQJ·LWLQGLFDWHVWKHIRUPLPSULQWHGLQWKHPDWWHU
LQWKHVDPHZRUNRI *RGEHFDXVHLQWKHPRUQLQJRQFHFRQFOXGHGWKHZRUNWKHGD\LV
GRQHµ*/,
47
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*&0,VHHDOVR*/,
48
6DLQW $XJXVWLQH */, ,9 9,,, ,; 6DLQW $XJXVWLQH 7UDWDGR GH OD
6DQWtVLPD7ULQLGDGKHQFHIRUWKTST,6SDQLVKWUDQVODWLRQE\/XLV$ULDV2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQ
YRO90DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHV&ULVWLDQRV,,,
45
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
VRPHWKLQJZDVFUHDWHG´LQWKHQDWXUHRI LQWHOOHFWXDOUHDVRQVµWKHQZKHQ
WKHKLVWRU\WHOOVIRUH[DPSOHWKDW´WKHZDWHUZDVJDWKHUHGXQWRRQHSODFH
DQG WKH GU\ ODQG DSSHDUHGµ LW PHDQV WKDW WKH RSHUDWLRQ ZDV SHUIRUPHG
FRUSRUHDOO\,QWKHUHDVRQVRI WKHLQWHOOHFWXDOQDWXUHDOOWKLQJVZHUHPDGH
DWWKHVDPHWLPHEXWLQWKHFRUSRUHDOQDWXUHWKH\HPHUJHGRYHUWLPH49,W
LVWKHLQWHOOHFWXDORSHUDWLRQZKLFKFUHDWHVVLPXOWDQHRXVO\DQGWLPHOHVVO\WKH
IRUPVRI WKLQJVLWLVWKHFRUSRUHDORSHUDWLRQZKLFKRYHUWLPHJHWVWKHVH
IRUPVEHFRPHVHSDUDWHDQGLQGLYLGXDOWKLQJVHDFKRQHZLWKLWVRZQIRUP
DQGPDWWHU
7KLV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ LV HYLGHQFHG FOHDUO\ ZKHQ $XJXVWLQH DUJXHG WKDW
KXPDQVRXOZDVFUHDWHGDORQJZLWKWKHDQJHOV50EHIRUHWKHERG\VLQFHWKLV
ZDVFUHDWHGRQO\LQWKHVHQVHWKDW*RGSXWLQWKHPDWWHUWKHVHHGVWKHUHRI
ZKHUHDVWKHVRXOEHLQJVSLULWXDOZDVFUHDWHGRQWKHÀUVWGD\RI FUHDWLRQ51 and
ODWHULW´WHQGHGZLOOLQJO\WRUXOHWKHERG\µ52+RZHYHUVXFKLQWHUSUHWDWLRQ
GRHV QRW ÀW WKH ELEOLFDO UHFRUG EXW VXEPLW LWVHOI WR FHUWDLQ SULQFLSOHV RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ WKDW GHWHUPLQH WKH PHDQLQJ RI ELEOLFDO H[SUHVVLRQV 7KHVH
SULQFLSOHVRI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQFRQVLVWHVSHFLDOO\RI WKH$XJXVWLQLDQFRQFHSWLRQ
RI WKHEHLQJRI *RGDQGRI +LVUHODWLRQVKLSWRWLPH
The philosophical assumptions that condition the Augustinian
interpretation of biblical creation
$XJXVWLQHWKRXJKWWKDWLQWKHUHYHODWLRQRI WKHEHLQJRI *RGRI ([RGXV
´,DPZKR,DP«VD\XQWRWKHFKLOGUHQRI ,VUDHO,$PKDWKVHQWPH
XQWR\RXµZDVWKHLGHDWKDW*RGLVSURSHUO\VSHDNLQJDQLPPXWDEOHHVVHQFH
ZLWKRXWFKDQJH532QO\*RG´,µLVUHDOEHFDXVH+HKDVQRDFFLGHQWVQDPHO\
SURSHUWLHVWKDW+HFRXOGORVHRUDFTXLUHLQDPRPHQW
$OORWKHUVXEVWDQFHVRUHVVHQFHVDUHVXEMHFWWRDFFLGHQWVDQGDQ\PXWDWLRQ
ODUJHRUVPDOOLVFDUULHGRXWZLWKWKHLUKHOSEXWUHJDUGLQJ*RGLWFDQQRW
VSHDNRI DFFLGHQWVDQGWKHUHIRUHWKHUHLVRQO\RQHLPPXWDEOHVXEVWDQFHRU
49
50
51
52
53
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*/,
6DLQW$JXVWLQH/DFLXGDGGH'LRVKHQFHIRUWK&'6SDQLVKWUDQVODWLRQE\-RVp0RUiQHQ
2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQYRO;9,0DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHV&ULVWLDQRV, ;,
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*/,9,,
,EtG9,,
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST99,,
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
49
50
Raúl A. Kerbs
HVVHQFHWKDWLV*RGFRQVHTXHQWO\RQO\KHZKRGRHVQ·WFKDQJHQRUFDQ
FKDQJHLVZLWKRXWGRXEWWUXO\WKH%HLQJ54
,Q WKH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ RI *RG·V EHLQJ ZH PXVW GHQ\ ²PDLQWDLQHG
$XJXVWLQH² HYHU\WKLQJ FRUSRUHDO DQG VSLULWXDOO\ PXWDEOH :LWK WKH
´3ODWRQLVWVµ$XJXVWLQHDJUHHGWKDW*RGLVDEVROXWHO\VLPSOHDQGLPPXWDEOH55
:KHUHDVDOOFRUSRUHDOLVPXWDEOH*RGLVLPPXWDEOH567KHKXPDQVRXOLVQRW
FRUSRUHDOEXWLWLVPXWDEOHVRZHKDYHWROHDYHLWWRGHÀQH*RG6RZKDWLV
GHQLHGRI *RGLVQRWRQO\FRUSRUDOLW\EXWDOVRPXWDELOLW\+HRQO\´LVµWUXO\
WKHLPPXWDEOHDQG*RGLVE\QDWXUHWKHRQO\LPPXWDEOHEHLQJWKHRQO\RQH
QRW H[SHULHQFLQJ DQ\ NLQG RI FKDQJH57 &RQÀGHQW WKDW 6FULSWXUH LQWHUSUHW
EHLQJ DQG *RG LQ WKH VDPH ZD\ WKDW SKLORVRSK\ $XJXVWLQH EHOLHYHG WKDW
SHUIHFWLPPXWDELOLW\RI *RGLVH[SUHVVHGLQWKHERRNRI :LVGRPWKDWUHDGV
´6WD\LQJLQLWVHOIPDNHVDOOWKLQJVQHZµ58
7KHLPPXWDELOLW\RI *RGLPSOLHV+LVHWHUQLW\´+HLVDOVRWUXH(WHUQLW\
DVKHLVLPPXWDEOHZLWKRXWEHJLQQLQJRUHQGDQGWKHUHIRUHLQFRUUXSWLEOH
7RVD\WKDW*RGLVHWHUQDOLPPRUWDOLQFRUUXSWLEOHDQGXQFKDQJHDEOHLVWR
VD\WKHVDPHWKLQJµ59,QRWKHUWH[WV$XJXVWLQHDUJXHGLQYHUVHO\WKDW*RG·V
HWHUQLW\LPSOLHV+LVLPPXWDELOLW\´$V*RGLVHWHUQDOKLVDGYLFHLVHWHUQDO
WRRDQGFRQVHTXHQWO\LPPXWDEOHDV+HLVµ607KLVFDQEHXQGHUVWRRGLI ZH
FRQVLGHUWKDW*RG·VHWHUQLW\LVQRWDQLQÀQLWHWHPSRUDOLW\EXWDODFNRI WLPH
´QRWKLQJWHPSRUDOPD\EHLQ*RGµ61´*RGPXVWEHFRQFHLYHGDVHWHUQDO
ZLWKRXW WLPHµ ´ZLWKLQ WKH SDOH RI WKH VRYHUHLJQ 7ULQLW\ ZKR LV *RG
WKHUHDUHQRWLPHLQWHUYDOVµ62*RGGRHVQRWSUHFHGHWHPSRUDULO\WRWLPH
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST9VHHDOVR99
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&'9,,,
56
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH'HODQDWXUDOH]DGHOELHQ&RQWUDORVPDQLTXHRV6SDQLVKWUDQVODWLRQE\0DWHR
/DQVHURVHQ2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQYRO,,,0DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHVFULVWLDQRV
57
6DLQW $XJXVWLQH 'H OD GRFWULQD FULVWLDQD KHQFHIRUWK '& 6SDQLVK WUDQVODWLRQ E\ %DOELQR
0DUWtQHQ2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQYRO;90DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHV&ULVWLDQRV
,TST,93URO9,,,;,,99,,,;99
&RQIHVLRQHV9,,9,,'HOOLEUHDOEHGUtR6SDQLVKWUDQVODWLRQE\(YDULVWR6HLMDVHQ
2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQYRO,,,0DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHVFULVWLDQRV,,
58
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST,,$XJXVWLQHTXRWHV:LVGRP
59
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST;9$XJXVWLQHLVEDVHGRQDWH[WZKHUH3DXOVD\VWKDW*RGLV
WKHRQO\RQHZKRKDVLPPRUWDOLW\6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST,,,
60
6DLQW $XJXVWLQH TST ;9 $XJXVWLQH WKLQNV WKLV SRVLWLRQ FDQ EH GHULYHG IURP
WKHELEOLFDOWH[WZKHUHLWLVVDLGWKDW´PDQ\DUHWKHWKRXJKWVLQWKHPLQGRI PDQEXWWKH
FRXQVHORI WKH/RUGVWDQGVIRUHYHUµ3URYHUEV
61
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST9
62
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST9
54
55
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
LQ*RGWKHUHLVQRWHPSRUDOVXFFHVVLRQDWDOO*RGLVDQHWHUQDOWRGD\DQ
HWHUQDOSUHVHQWZLWKRXWGLVWLQFWLRQEHWZHHQSDVWSUHVHQWDQGIXWXUH636LQFH
PXWDELOLW\QHHGVWLPHDVPHDVXUHWKHQWKHDEVHQFHRI PXWDELOLW\QHFHVVDULO\
LPSOLHVWKHDEVHQFHRI WLPH,Q*RGWKHUHLVQRWLPHQRFKDQJH64$XJXVWLQH
HPSKDVL]HGWKDWLI WKHUHZDVWLPHDQGFKDQJHLQ*RGWKHUHZRXOGEHQR
WUXHHWHUQLW\DQGWKDWLI WLPHUHPDLQHGLWZRXOGEHQRWLPH657KHUHIRUH
*RG·VLPPXWDELOLW\DQGWLPHOHVVQHVVLPSO\HDFKRWKHU
:KHQ VSHDNLQJ RI *RG·V UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK WKH WHPSRUDO DQG PDWHULDO
ZRUOG $XJXVWLQH GLVWLQJXLVKHG WLJKWO\ EHWZHHQ *RG·V EHLQJ DQG *RG·V
PDQLIHVWDWLRQ$VLWVHVVHQFHLVLQYLVLEOHDQGLPPXWDEOHGLYLQLW\LWVHOI FDQ
QHYHU DSSHDU LQ WKH WHPSRUDO DQG PDWHULDO ZRUOG LW FDQ RQO\ UHYHDO LWVHOI WKURXJK D FUHDWHG EHLQJ66 7KLV EDVHV WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI LQWHUSUHWLQJ WKH
ELEOLFDO WH[WLQ D ZD\ WKDW ÀWV LQ WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI *RG
7KH ELEOLFDO ODQJXDJH DERXW *RG DV VRPHRQH XQGHUJRLQJ FKDQJH LV RQO\
D PDQQHU RI VSHDNLQJ ´IRU XVµ ´1RWKLQJ FDQ EH ZRUWKLO\ VDLG RI *RG
1HYHUWKHOHVV IRU XV WR QRXULVK RXUVHOYHV DQG WR XQGHUVWDQG WKH WKLQJV
WKDWFDQQRWEHH[SUHVVHGE\DQ\KXPDQODQJXDJHDUHH[SUHVVHGE\ZRUGV
ZHFDQXQGHUVWDQGµ67)RUH[DPSOHZKHQWKH6FULSWXUHVDWWULEXWHWR*RG
VRPHWKLQJUHODWHGWRWKHWLPH´DVLQ3VDOPZKLFKVD\V¶/RUGWKRX
KDVWEHHQRXUUHIXJH·WKLVLQGLFDWHVQRPXWDWLRQLQ*RGEHFDXVH+HDOZD\V
UHPDLQVWKHVDPHµ68$OOWKDWLVVDLGRI *RGUHJDUGLQJWKHUHODWLRQLVQR
DFFLGHQWEHFDXVH+HLVQRWPXWDEOH69
7KHDGRSWLRQRI WKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI *RGDVDWLPHOHVV
DQG LPPXWDEOH EHLQJ LQHYLWDEO\ OHDGV WR FRQVLGHU ELEOLFDO H[SUHVVLRQV
UHIHUULQJWR*RGDVUHODWHGWRWLPHDQGFKDQJHDVDQDORJLFDORUPHWDSKRULFDO
7KHDFFLGHQWVRI SRVLWLRQKDELWWLPHDQGSODFHFDQEHDWWULEXWHGWR*RG
RQO\LPSURSHUO\DQGDVLQYROYLQJWUDQVIHURUPHWDSKRULFDOVHQVH6RLWLVVDLG
WREHVLWWLQJRQDFKHUXEZKLFKLQGLFDWHVDFHUWDLQSRVLWLRQFRYHUHGE\VHDV
DVUR\DOPDQWOHUHIHUULQJWRWKHKDELW´<RXUGD\VDUHHQGOHVVµVD\ZHLQUHODWLRQWRWLPHDQG´,I ,ULVHWRKHDYHQ\RXDUHWKHUHµUHIHUULQJWRWKHSODFH70
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV;,
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&' ;,
65
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV
66
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST,,,,,,,,,
67
6DLQW$JXVWLQH*&0,
68
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST;9
69
,EtG9
70
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST9
63
64
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
51
52
Raúl A. Kerbs
:KHQ WKH %LEOH VSHDNV RI WKH ZUDWK DQG YHQJHDQFH RI *RG LW LV
H[SUHVVHGPHWDSKRULFDOO\71EHFDXVH*RGLVLPSDVVLEOHDQGLPPXWDEOH7KH
VWRULHVRI DSSDULWLRQVRI *RGWRWKHSDWULDUFKVRI WKH2OG7HVWDPHQWDOZD\V
H[SUHVVV\PEROLFDOO\WKHSUHVHQFHRI *RGWKURXJKDPXWDEOHFUHDWXUH72
7KH DGRSWLRQ RI WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO FRQFHSW RI *RG H[SODLQV ZK\
$XJXVWLQH LQWHUSUHWHG WKH ELEOLFDO UHFRUG RI FUHDWLRQ LQ WKH WHUPV DERYH
GHVFULEHG*RG·VWLPHOHVVQHVVGHWHUPLQHVLQWKHÀUVWSODFHWKHLGHDRI an
DEVROXWHFUHDWLRQRI WLPH%HIRUHWKHFUHDWLRQRI WKHZRUOGWKHUHZDVQR
WLPH7KHUHFDQEHQRWLPHZLWKRXWFUHDWXUHVWKDWFKDQJHDQGPRYH737LPH
FRXOGQRWKDYHFRH[LVWHGZLWK*RGEHIRUHFUHDWLRQEHFDXVHWKHUHLVQRWLPH
LQ*RG$FFRUGLQJWR$XJXVWLQHWKH%LEOHVSHDNVRI HWHUQDOWLPHVEXWWKHVH
DUHQRW´HWHUQDOµDV*RGVLQFH*RGH[LVWVEHIRUHWLPH7LPHLVDWKLQJWKDW
*RGFUHDWHGDQGWKDWRQO\EHJDQWRH[LVWVLQFHFUHDWLRQ*RGFRXOGQRWKDYH
FUHDWHGWKHWLPHLI +HKDGQRWH[LVWHGEHIRUHWLPHEXW´EHIRUHµQRWLQD
WHPSRUDOVHQVH747KHUHIRUH*RGFUHDWHGWKHZRUOGQRWLQWLPHEXWRYHU
WLPH75:KHQWKH%LEOHVD\VWKDW´LQWKHEHJLQQLQJµ*RGFUHDWHGWKHKHDYHQV
DQGWKHHDUWKIRU$XJXVWLQHWKLVPHDQV´QRWLQWKHEHJLQQLQJRI WLPHEXW
LQ&KULVWµ76
6HFRQGO\DV*RGLVWLPHOHVVDQGKDVQHLWKHU´EHIRUHµQRU´DIWHUµWKHQ
WKHZRUOGFDQQRWKDYHEHHQFUHDWHGVXFFHVVLYHO\GD\E\GD\DVWROGLQWKH
ERRNRI *HQHVLV7KHFUHDWLRQUHFRUGLVSUHVHQWHGLQDWHPSRUDORUGHUQRW
EHFDXVH*RGUHDOO\FUHDWHGLWWKDWZD\EXWLQRUGHUWKDWZHFDQXQGHUVWDQG
WKURXJK WKH H\HV RI WKH ÁHVK WKDW LV IRUP RXU WHPSRUDO SHUVSHFWLYH
)XUWKHUPRUHWKHUHFRUGSUHVHQWVWKHGLYLQHZRUNWHPSRUDOO\EHFDXVH´WKH
WHPSRUDOQDWXUHH[HFXWHGWKHLUPRYHPHQWVWHPSRUDOO\µ77EXW´DOOWKDWLVVDLG
RI *RG WKDW EHJLQV RU HQGV LQ QR ZD\ LV WR XQGHUVWDQG DV RFFXUULQJ LQ
WKHQDWXUHRI *RGEXWLQKLVFUHDWXUHµ78)RUH[DPSOH´WKHVSLULWRI *RG
PRYHGXSRQWKHIDFHRI WKHZDWHUVµVKRXOGQRWEHXQGHUVWRRGDVLI *RG
PRYHGRFFXS\LQJDSODFH,QDQ\FDVHLWZRXOGKDYHWREHXQGHUVWRRGVR
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH'&,,,6DLQW$XJXVWLQH(QTXLULGLyQ6SDQLVKWUDQVODWLRQE\$QGUpV
&HQWHQR2EUDVGH6DQ$JXVWtQYRO,90DGULG%LEOLRWHFDGH$XWRUHVFULVWLDQRV
72
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHTST,,
73
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&'&
74
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV;,
75
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&'*&0,*/,
76
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*&0 ,
77
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*/,
78
,EtG
71
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
$XJXVWLQH DV UHIHUULQJ WR OLYLQJ FUHDWXUH LQ ZKLFK WKH YLVLEOH ZRUOG ZDV
FRQWDLQHGDQGWRZKLFK*RGZRXOGKDYHJUDQWHGWKHSRZHUWRSHUIRUPKLV
ZRUNV79
7KHWUXWKLVLQWKHSHUPDQHQWDQGVWDEOHZKLFKFDQEHJUDVSHGE\UHDVRQ
DORQH
$QGLI *RGQHHGVWLPHWRH[HFXWHVRPHWKLQJWKHQKRZGRHVRQHXQGHUVWDQG
ZKDWLVZULWWHQ´WR<RXLVVXEMHFWHGZKHQ\RXZDQWWKHSRZHUµ"2ULVWKDW
DOO WKLQJV DUH FRPSOHWHG LQ *RG OLNH WKH\ DUH LQ UHDVRQ DQG DUW ZLWKRXW
H[WHQVLRQ RI WLPH EXW E\ WKH VDPH YLUWXH WKURXJK ZKLFK PDNHV WKLQJV
VWDEOHWKLQJVZHFRQWHPSODWHDVWUDQVLHQWEXWQRWDVSHUPDQHQW"80
$XJXVWLQH UKHWRULFDOO\ NHSW DVNLQJ ´,V VXFK WKDW LW ZRXOG PHDQ RQFH
DQG IRUHYHU WKDW *RG GRHV QRW ZRUN DV PHQ XVXDOO\ GR EXW WKDW LW KDV
EHHQQDUUDWHGDVLWFRXOGEHIRUPHQ"µ 813XWWLQJDVLGHWKHIDFWWKDWWKHWH[W
TXRWHGE\$XJXVWLQHLVFRQVLGHUHGDVQRQFDQRQLFDO$XJXVWLQHWKRXJKWWKDW
WKHVWDWHPHQW´WR<RXLVVXEMHFWHGZKHQ\RXZDQWWKHSRZHUµKDGWREH
LQWHUSUHWHGDVPHDQLQJWKDW*RGGLGQRWQHHGWRFUHDWHWKHZRUOGLQWKHZD\
UHSRUWHG E\ WKH 6FULSWXUHV EXW LQVWDQWDQHRXVO\ DQG WLPHOHVVO\ $XJXVWLQH
ZDV VR FRQYLQFHG RI *RG·V WLPHOHVVQHVV DQG LPPXWDELOLW\ WKDW WR KLP LW
VHHPHG HYLGHQW WKDW D WH[W DV WKH RQH TXRWHG ZDV VD\LQJ WKDW *RG GRHV
QRWQHHGWLPHVHTXHQFHWRSHUIRUPKLVFUHDWLYHZRUN)URPWKLVLQWXUQ
$XJXVWLQH JRW WKH IRXQGDWLRQ WR XQGHUVWDQG PHWDSKRULFDOO\ RWKHU ELEOLFDO
WH[WV WKDW FRQWUDGLFWHG KLV FRQYLFWLRQV VWHPPLQJ IURP WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHQDWXUHRI *RG
$XJXVWLQHZDVYHU\FOHDULQVD\LQJWKDWWKHWUXWKLVQRWDVSUHVHQWHGLQ
WKHELEOLFDOQDUUDWLYH
6RPD\EHLWZDVVDLG´DQGWKHHYHQLQJDQGWKHPRUQLQJZHUHRQHGD\µÀUVW
DVUHDVRQXQGHUVWDQGVWKDWFRXOGRUPXVWEHGRQHEXWQRWLQWKHZD\RQH
ZRUNV LQ WLPH LQWHUYDOV LQ *RG·V RSHUDWLRQ WKHUH DUH QR WLPH LQWHUYDOV
DOWKRXJKWKHVHDUHLQWKHZRUNVWKHPVHOYHV82
$XJXVWLQHDVVXPHGDFOHDUGLVWLQFWLRQEHWZHHQWKHWUXWK´LQLWVHOI µDQG
WKHWUXWK´IRUXVµ5HDVRQJUDVSVWKHWUXWK´LQLWVHOI µWKDWWKHELEOLFDOWH[W
SUHVHQWV ´IRU XVµ $FFRUGLQJ WR WKH SKLORVRSKLFDO LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI EHLQJ
WKDW$XJXVWLQHIROORZHGRQRQHSDUWLWLVWKHRUGHUQDWXUHKDVDVLWLVLQ*RG
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*/,
,EtG$JXVWLQHTXRWHV:LVGRP
81
,EtG
82
,EtG
79
80
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
53
54
Raúl A. Kerbs
DQGRQWKHRWKHUSDUWLWLVWKHRUGHULQZKLFKLWZDVFUHDWHGLQVL[GD\V837KH
6FULSWXUHVVSHDNRI WKLQJVWHPSRUDOO\FUHDWHGLQRUGHUWRWLPHDQGWRRXUXQGHUVWDQGLQJEXW*RGGRHVQRWNQRZWKHPWHPSRUDOO\WKHHWHUQDO:RUGFUHDWHGHYHU\WKLQJVLPXOWDQHRXVO\ 84,QKLV:RUGWKHUHLVQRWLPHVXFFHVVLRQRU
FKDQJH*RGFUHDWHVDOOWKLQJVVLPXOWDQHRXVO\VD\LQJWKHPDOWKRXJKWKH\DUH
PDGHVXFFHVVLYHO\85$XJXVWLQHPDLQWDLQHGWKDWWKH6FULSWXUHVVD\WKDW*RG
FUHDWHGHYHU\WKLQJLQVL[RUVHYHQGD\VEXWLWLVDOVRLQWKH6FULSWXUHV$XJXVWLQHGLGQRWLGHQWLI\ZKHUHWKDW*RGFUHDWHGHYHU\WKLQJDWRQFH86&RQVHTXHQWO\WKHELEOLFDOWH[WLVFRQVLGHUHGDVDSHGDJRJLFDORULOOXVWUDWLYHZD\
RI WUDQVPLWWLQJVXFFHVVLYHO\DQGWHPSRUDULO\WKHFUHDWLRQWKDWLQ*RGRFFXUV
VLPXOWDQHRXVO\87)RU$XJXVWLQHWKHUHZDVQRFRQWUDGLFWLRQVLQFH6FULSWXUHV
WKRXJKKHGLGQRWLGHQWLI\ZKHUHLWZDVH[SUHVVHGSUHVHQWRQO\WRFDUQDO
H\HVVRPHWKLQJWKDWKDVQRWKDSSHQHGH[DFWO\DVWKH\SUHVHQWWRFDUQDOH\HV
)RU$XJXVWLQH*RGGLGQRWFUHDWHWHPSRUDOWKLQJVEXWLWVWLPHOHVVFDXVH
WKHIRUP7KURXJKWKHGLVWLQFWLRQEHWZHHQWKHLQWHOOHFWXDOWLPHOHVVDQGWKH
FRUSRUHDOWHPSRUDOWKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJFRQGLWLRQHG
WKH $XJXVWLQLDQ LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH KLVWRU\ RI FUHDWLRQ PRYLQJ KLP
FRPSOHWHO\DZD\RI WKHVHQVHWKDWWKHUHFRUGKDVLI LWLVXQGHUVWRRGIURP
WKHWHPSRUDOELEOLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI EHLQJ
Conclusion
:KHQ LQWHUSUHWLQJ WKH ELEOLFDO KLVWRU\ RI FUHDWLRQ LQ D ZD\ FRQVLVWHQW
ZLWKWKHSKLORVRSKLFDOLGHDWKDW*RGLVHVVHQWLDOO\WLPHOHVVDQGLPPXWDEOH
6DLQW$XJXVWLQHDVVXPHGWKDWWKHVRXUFHRI WKHRORJ\LVQRWRQO\6FULSWXUH
EXW UHDVRQ WRR ,Q DGGLWLRQ $XJXVWLQH DVVXPHG WKDW WKH RQO\ SRVVLEOH
LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI UHDVRQ LV WKH *UHHN SKLORVRSKLFDO RQH 7KXV 6DLQW
$XJXVWLQH WRRN WKH SULQFLSOHV RI LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH ELEOLFDO UHFRUG RI FUHDWLRQ QRW IURP 6FULSWXUH EXW IURP *UHHN SKLORVRSK\ 6DLQW $XJXVWLQH
QRWRQO\GLGQ·WLQWHUSUHWUHDVRQIURPWKH6FULSWXUHVEXWLQWKHFRQWH[WRI WKH
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*/,
([SUHVVLQJ KLV LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI 6FULSWXUH $XJXVWLQH SXWV LQWR WKH PRXWK RI *RG WKH
IROORZLQJ´:KDWGRHVP\VFULSWXUHVD\WKDW·VZKDW,VD\EXWLWVD\VLWLQRUGHUWRWLPH
ZKLOHWLPHKDVQRWKLQJWRGRZLWKP\ZRUGZKLFKVWD\VZLWKPHXQFKDQJHGLQHWHUQLW\
DQGVRWKRVHWKLQJVZKLFK\RXVHHE\P\6SLULW,VHHWKHPDQGDOVRWKHWKLQJV\RXVD\E\
P\6SLULW,VD\WKHPWRR%XWZKHUHDV\RXVHHDQGVD\WKHPWHPSRUDULO\,GRQ·WVD\WKHP
WHPSRUDULO\µ&
85
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH&RQIHVLRQHV
86
6DLQW$XJXVWLQH*/,,9
87
,EtG9,,
83
84
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
Philosophical Assumptions of the Church Fathers
LGHDWKDWWKHRORJ\KDVDSOXUDOLW\RI VRXUFHVSXWWKHUHDVRQSKLORVRSKLFDOO\
LQWHUSUHWHGDERYH6FULSWXUH6RSKLORVRSKLFDOSUHVXSSRVLWLRQVDERXW*RG
DQGWKHZRUOGHQGHGXSGHWHUPLQLQJWKHPHDQLQJWKDWWKHELEOLFDOKLVWRU\RI FUHDWLRQKDGIRU$XJXVWLQH
7KH $XJXVWLQLDQ LQWHUSUHWDWLRQ RI WKH ELEOLFDO UHFRUG RI FUHDWLRQ
UHLQIRUFHGLQ&KULVWLDQLW\WKHLGHDWKDWWKHGLYLQHDFWLRQVLQWLPHQDUUDWHG
E\ 6FULSWXUHV PXVW EH LQWHUSUHWHG PHWDSKRULFDOO\ DV PHDQLQJ VRPHWKLQJ
HOVH WKDW LV FRQVLVWHQW ZLWK WKH *UHHN SKLORVRSKLFDO LGHD FRQFHUQLQJ WKH
WLPHOHVVQHVVDQGLPPXWDELOLW\RI *RG
7KHUHLVDZLGHVSUHDGLGHDWKDW6FULSWXUHVMXVWXVHWKHRQO\ODQJXDJHZH
FDQXQGHUVWDQGDERXW*RGEXWWKDW*RGFDQQRWEHOLNH+HLVSRUWUD\HGE\
WKDWODQJXDJH7KLVLGHDGRHVQRWEHORQJWRWKHKHDOWK\KXPDQXQGHUVWDQGLQJ
QRUFRUUHVSRQGWRWKHXQLYHUVDOWUXWKEXWKDVLWVRULJLQLQ&KXUFK)DWKHUV·
DGRSWLRQRI *UHHNSKLORVRSKLFDOLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHQDWXUHRI *RGDQG
UHDVRQ
&HUWDLQO\QRWDOOLQELEOLFDOODQJXDJHDERXW*RGFDQEHWDNHQOLWHUDOO\EXW
WKLVGRHVQRWDOORZWRDGRSWWKHLGHDRI ZKDW*RGUHDOO\LVIURPRXWVLGHRI 6FULSWXUH7KHZKROH6FULSWXUHDVWKHVROHDQGSULPDU\VRXUFHRI WKHRORJ\
PXVWSURYLGHWKHLQWHUSUHWDWLRQRI WKHQDWXUHRI *RG2QO\WKHQLVSRVVLEOH
WRGLVWLQJXLVKZKDWFDQDQGZKDWFDQQRWEHWDNHQOLWHUDOO\RI ELEOLFDOODQJXDJH
DERXW*RG$OWKRXJKWKHELEOLFDO UHFRUG RI FUHDWLRQGRHVQ·WH[SODLQKRZ
*RGGLGWRFUHDWHWKHZRUOGLWSUHVHQWVWKHFUHDWLRQDVDQHYHQWLQZKLFK
*RGDFWVUHDOO\LQWLPH7KHUHLVQRWKLQJLQWKHKLVWRU\RI FUHDWLRQLQGLFDWLQJ
DQLQWHQWLRQWRFRQYH\LQDQDQDORJRUPHWDSKRULFDOZD\´IRUXVµDGLYLQH
DFWLRQWKDWZRXOGWDNHSODFHLQWKHGLYLQHWLPHOHVVQHVVDQGLPPXWDELOLW\
5D~O$OEHUWR.HUEV
8QLYHUVLGDG$GYHQWLVWDGHO3ODWD
(PDLOUDXONHUEV#JPDLOFRP
(GLWLRQDQG7UDQVODWLRQ$GULDQD*LJHQD
5HFLELGR
$FHSWDGR
Enfoques XXVI, 1 (Otoño 2014): 31-55
55