Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names · 5 of 6 · tr. C.E. Rolt

Chapter 7, Section 1e

i and more especially because the Divine Reason is more simple than all simplicity, and, in the transcendence of Its Super-Essential Being, is independent of all things.

419 419 God is called Reason: (1) because He is the Giver of reason; (2j because reason causes unity (e.g.

it unifies our thoughts, making them coherent), and God in His creative activity causes unity and in His ultimate Godhead is Unity.

This Reason is the simple and verily existent Truth: that pure and infallible Omniscience round which divinely inspired Faith revolves.

It is the permanent Ground of the faithful, which builds them in the Truth and builds the Truth in them by an unwavering firmness, through which they possess a simple knowledge of the Truth of those things which they believe 420 420 The Divine Omniscience is: (1) the Object of our faith because we trust in it; (2) the Ground of our faith because the development of our faith comes from it.

Faith is a faint image of Divine Knowledge, and is gradually perfected by being changed into knowledge.

For if Knowledge unites the knower and the objects of knowledge, 154 and if ignorance is always a cause of change and of self-discrepancy in the ignorant, naught (as saith Holy Scripture) shall separate him that believeth in the Truth from the Foundation of true faith on which he shall possess the permanence of immovable and unchanging firmness.

For surely knoweth he who is united to the Truth that it is well with him, even though the multitude reprove him as one out of his mind.

Naturally they perceive not that he is but come out of an erring mind unto the Truth through right faith.

But he verily knows that instead of being, as they say, distraught, he hath been relieved from the unstable ever-changing movements which tossed him hither and thither in the mazes of error, and hath been set at liberty through the simple immutable and unchanging Truth.

Thus is it that the Teachers from whom we have learnt our knowledge of Divine Wisdom die daily for the Truth, bearing their natural witness in every word and deed to the single Knowledge of the Truth which Christians possess: yea, showing that It is more simple and divine than all other kinds of knowledge, or rather that it is the only true, one, simple Knowledge of God.

399 All wisdom or knowledge implies the distinction between thinker and object of thought.

The undifferentiated Godhead is beyond this distinction; but (in a sense) it exists in the Persons of the Trinity and between them and the world, and hence from Them comes Absolute Wisdom, though the Godhead transcends it.

400 1 Cor.

i.

25 .

401 This is the Doctrine of Unknowing.

Cf.

“Through love, through hope, and faith’s transcendent dower, We feel that we are mightier than we know.” 402 The term “God” is rightly used here because the manifested Absolute is meant.

403 1 Cor.

i.

25 .

404 Col.

ii.

3 .

405 (1) Very Wisdom = Wisdom in the abstract.

(2) Wisdom as a whole = Wisdom embodied in the universe as a whole.

(3) Wisdom in each individual instance = Wisdom as shown in the structure of some particular plant or animal, or part of a plant or animal.

(1) Is an Emanation; (2) and (3) are created.

406 i.

e.

They are not limited by the material world, which, with its laws, is known through sensation and discursive reason.

407 This speculation is, no doubt, based on experience.

A concentration of the spiritual faculties in the act of contemplation produces that unity of the soul of which all mystics often speak.

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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 God's transcendence beyond all categories like simplicity and reason.

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Cosmic Consciousnessanthropology

A state of awareness transcending ordinary human consciousness, often involving unity with the universe or higher dimensions.

Divine Reason is described as causing unity and unifying thoughts in the cosmos.

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Divine Simplicitytheology

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

The passage explicitly states that Divine Reason is 'more simple than all simplicity' and that God is the 'simple and verily existent Truth'.

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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.

The text distinguishes between Godhead (transcendent) and Absolute Wisdom (an Emanation).

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

Faith is described as a 'faint image' of Divine Knowledge that is gradually perfected into knowledge.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

Divine Knowledge is presented as the permanent Ground that builds the faithful within them.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.

The text states that the Truth builds the Truth in them by an unwavering firmness.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

God is described as active in His creative activity and as a Giver of reason.

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Logoscosmology

The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world.

The passage explicitly identifies the Divine Reason as the ordering principle through which God causes unity and creates the universe.

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Monadcosmology

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

The reference to 'Godhead' implies a singular first principle from which all flows.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

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

The text describes the faithful as built in the Truth and united to it through an unwavering firmness.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

The passage describes being relieved from unstable movements and set at liberty through Truth.

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Separation From Sourcesoteriology

The felt condition of exile from one's divine origin — Rumi's reed flute torn from its bed, Plotinus's 'we have forgotten,' the Gnostic forgetfulness; the affective wound that complements return_to_source and gives the return its motive.

The text describes the state of error as being tossed hither and thither in mazes before liberation.

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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.

God is described as Unity and the cause of unity in creation.

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Related passages · 10 parallels

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Shared concept: Unity Of Being — The doctrine that all existence is ultimately one substance or one divine reality; non-duality as a theological claim. (derived)

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Shared concept: Gnosis Direct Knowledge — Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone. (derived)

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Shared concept: Logos — The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world. (derived)

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Shared concept: Logos — The divine reason, word, or ordering principle through which the universe was created; mediates between the transcendent God and the material world. (derived)

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Shared concept: Cosmic Consciousness — A state of awareness transcending ordinary human consciousness, often involving unity with the universe or higher dimensions. (derived)

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Shared concept: Separation From Source — The felt condition of exile from one's divine origin — Rumi's reed flute torn from its bed, Plotinus's 'we have forgotten,' the Gnostic forgetfulness; the affective wound that complements return_to_source and gives the return its motive. (derived)

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Shared concept: Gnosis Direct Knowledge — Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone. (derived)