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Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names · 16 of 16 · tr. C.E. Rolt

Chapter 2, Section 1p

224 These two phrases well express the meaning of the title “Beyond things and supernally infusing Unity” (ὑπερηνωμένη), which I have generally translated, like ἡνωμένη, as “Undifferenced.” 225 τῇ ἐξ αὐτοῦ θεώσει . . . θεῶν πολλῶν γιγνομένων. See Intr., p. 43. 226 Cf. p. 71, n. 1. 227 The fullness of God’s Unity is manifested, (1) in all the multiplicity of the material world, (2) after a higher manner in the deified souls of men and in angels. 228 Each deified soul is a differentiation of God (cf. p. 71, n. i); yet the Unity of God transcends them all, even after God has thus poured Himself into them. 229 i. e. These active Manifestations whereby God enters into each part of the universe, yet without loss of Unity. 230 See the beginning of this chapter.
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Themes
Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

The text emphasizes describing God by negation ('Beyond things', 'Undifferenced'), transcending positive categories.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The phrase 'Beyond things' suggests the divine's radical concealment from ordinary perception.

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Divine Simplicitytheology

The doctrine that God has no parts, divisions, or composite attributes; pure undivided being.

The passage repeatedly emphasizes God's 'Undifferenced' nature and Unity that transcends differentiation.

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Emanation Hierarchycosmology

A chain of divine beings or principles flowing downward from a single transcendent source (the One or the Father), each level less perfect than the one above.

References to God pouring Himself into souls imply a downward flow from the divine source.

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Evil As Privationtheology

Augustinian and Plotinian doctrine that evil has no positive being of its own but is a lack, distortion, or absence of the good — denying ontological dualism while preserving moral seriousness.

The material world is contrasted with the divine fullness, implying deficiency rather than positive evil.

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Monadcosmology

The absolutely simple, undivided first principle from which all multiplicity and existence flows.

The text centers on 'Unity' as an absolutely simple, undivided first principle from which existence flows.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

The concept of God pouring Himself into souls implies a merging or union between the divine and the individual.

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Pleromacosmology

The divine fullness or totality of the highest realm, populated by aeons and divine attributes, contrasted with the deficient material world.

The text describes the 'fullness of God’s Unity' manifested in the material world and deified souls.

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Theosis Deificationsoteriology

The doctrine — central to Eastern Orthodox and Maximian theology — that the human person is progressively transformed into a partaker of the divine nature by grace, not merely justified or united in passing ecstasy.

The text explicitly states that God pours Himself into deified souls of men and angels, transforming them.

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Unity Of Beingtheology

The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim.

The passage repeatedly asserts the 'fullness of God’s Unity' and its manifestation across all levels of existence.

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Related passages · 7 parallels
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Shared concept: Divine Hiddenness — The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father. (derived)