The Concept of God at Nicaea.

The article examines the philosophical dimensions of key terms in the Nicene Creed of 325, focusing on the substitution of the phrase "from the ousia (essence) of the Father" for the earlier "from the hypostasis (subsistence) of the Father," and the theological implications of treating ousia as distinct from the Father. It reviews the varied meanings of the term homoousios (consubstantial) in Christian tradition and explores why pre-Nicene Catholic Christians were cautious about its use. The study also analyzes whether ousia and hypostasis are synonymous within the Creed's anathemas and considers the interpretation of the phrase "from things which are not" in relation to creation. Throughout, the article highlights complex features of the Creed's language, such as the pairing of the neologism pantokrator (Almighty) with poietes (Maker), reflecting a nuanced engagement with both biblical and Greek philosophical vocabularies.