Trinity and Divine Simplicity

[ChristIsTheWay]

Thanks for extended discussion! Please consider the following:
The second person must sacrifice all-knowledge because possessing all-knowledge in a relationship limits the joy the person can experience. A simple parallel is found in consideration of the decrease in joy experienced when watching a movie in which you know everything that is to happen, before it happens.
The third person must sacrifice all-knowledge and all-wisdom for the fulfillment of kindness to the created persons. Since it is impossible to know everything as a created person, the third person becomes fully ignorant to demonstrate the moral growth from ignorance to all-wise, which is a form of all-knowledge, and Eternally Loving.

Doesn’t this run the risk of introducing an ontological subordinationism into the Trinity? I was always taught that the persons of the Trinity possess the same characteristics.

According to Church Teaching #460 - "For the Son of God became man so that we might become God."80
Here is one way to understand literally becoming one in capability with God:
Since God is a living being who is all-powerful, then recognize the pinnacle of being all-powerful is getting everything wanted and/or needed.
Jesus shared with us how to get everything wanted and needed when he “embraced unjust crucifixion.” To get everything wanted and needed as a human, simply want to be patient and kind, even in the face of unjust cruelty, to the point of death for the experience of unending joy with unbreakable peace for all.
Therefore, when you accomplish always wanting to be patient and kind towards all for the experience of joy and peace for all, you will have become one in morality with God because God is Love and “Love is Patient, is Kind.”

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and critiques. Thank you for helping me grow in understanding by asking great questions for reflection!

I think I understand what you’re trying to say. You’re saying because of the doctrine of theosis, we inherit all that God has, including His perfect Love?

Thanks for engaging me so far. I am enjoying our discussion. Sorry it has been taking me so long to respond.

 

[jochoa]

Doesn’t this run the risk of introducing an ontological subordinationism into the Trinity? I was always taught that the persons of the Trinity possess the same characteristics.

Any further explanation of “God IS” can run the risk of introducing an ontological subordinationism. Simply consider that the Son has the characteristic of being begat, whereas the Father is not begotten; or consider that only the Father knows the day of the sign of the Son of Man, which is knowledge that the Son does not have. Although these details of the persons of the Trinity are actual, does not introduce any subordinate ontology to the persons of the Trinity. In order to reconcile how can a person who does not know everything still be all-knowing, I propose for your consideration that all-wisdom is a form of all-knowledge. For example, if one knows how to get everything wanted and needed, then one essentially has all-knowledge because if this one wanted all-knowledge, then by definition one would know how to get all-knowledge, and one would have all-knowledge.

I think I understand what you’re trying to say. You’re saying because of the doctrine of theosis, we inherit all that God has, including His perfect Love?

That is a fair enough understanding. However, I would word it as: Because God’s greatest creation possible is friends for unending joy with unbreakable peace for Him and created beings that are equal in capability and morality, friends of God receive God’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, thereby making them God. Please know, my intention for sharing the Catechism was mainly to offer Church-support for my understanding.

Thanks for engaging me so far. I am enjoying our discussion. Sorry it has been taking me so long to respond.

Right back at you! I have thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on your questions and understandings. I look forward to further discussion!