Muller Definitions

Question 1

Actus Purus

Answer 1

Latin, “Pure/Perfect Actualization/Actuality” God is pure being in potency and absolutely eternally perfect and fulfilled in himself.

Question 2

Analogia

Answer 2

Latin for “analogy” Relation of likeness between two beings or analogates. It has two forms called analogia attributionis (analogy of attribution) and analogia proportionalitatis (analogy of proportionality)

Question 3

Aseitas

Answer 3

Latin, for “having being from one’s self”. it means from selfness as opposed to abalietas, “from anotherness”

Question 4

Causa

Answer 4

Latin for “cause”. That which brings about motion or mutation (where motion here is equivalent to change)

Question 5

Decretum

Answer 5

Latin for “decree”. The decree is the actual willing or expression of that decision, which is free, absolute, inalterable, logically antecedent to all things, and predicated only on the nature of the divine essence.

Question 6

Ex Nihilo

Answer 6

Latin “Out of Nothing”. Referring to the diving creation of the world not out of pre-existent and therefore eternal materials but out of non-being. Nothing here is a genuine empty space that does not limit God.

Question 7

Homoousios

Answer 7

Greek, “of the same substance, consubstantial” It ultimately indicates the numerical unity of essence in the three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit against the Arian contention of three distinct substances.

Question 8

Lex

Answer 8

Latin for “law”, Generally what has been manifested by God and used in reference to law being as general as all of scripture or as specific as the specific tenets of the ceremonial law. There are four main types, eternal law, natural law, human law, and divine law.

Question 9

Opera Dei

Answer 9

Latin, “The works of God”. A term applied to creation, the preservation of creation, and the decree.

Question 10

Opera Dei ad Extra

Answer 10

Latin, “the outward or external works of God” divine activities according to which God creates, sustains, and otherwise relates to all finite things

Question 11

Opera Dei ad Intra

Answer 11

Latin for “The inward or internal works or activities of God.” The internal works of God without relation to external things, both personal and essential.

Question 12

Opera Trinitatis ad extra sunt indivisa

Answer 12

Latin for “The ad extra (or external) works of the Trinity are undivided.” Since God is one in essence, all persons of the Godhead operate in actions external to God even though some actions may be predicated of one person.

Question 13

Potentia

Answer 13

Latin for “Power, potential, potency, efficacy”. Can be either active or operative potency, which is capacity to effect something or of exercising and efficacy or efficiency in action; and passive potency, in the sense of being capable of existing or being acted upon.

Question 14

Praemotio Physica

Answer 14

Latin for “physical premotion”. Reflective of the idea that God is the source of all motion in the universe.

Question 15

Prima Causa

Answer 15

Latin for “The first cause”. God is the cause of all things, noncontingent, necessary being whose causal activity sets in motion all contingent causes and their effects

Question 16

Subsistentia

Answer 16

Latin for “subsistence or subsistent” indicating patricular being or existent, an individual instance of a given essence. Used for persons of the trinity.

Question 17

Substantia

Answer 17

Latin for “substance”, a substance is the individual thing, whether material or spiritual, that provides a foundation in which both essential and incidental properties inhere. Primary (exists only in the subject), secondary (can exist in multiple subjects)

Question 18

Verbum Dei

Answer 18

Latin for “Word of God”. This word is used in four ways. First, the eternal word of God; second, the incarnate word, Jesus Christ; third, the inspired word of the Holy Scripture; and fourth, the internal word of the Spirit which testifies to the heart about the truth of scripture

Question 19

Via eminentiae

Answer 19

Latin for “The way of eminence”. The way of positive attribution to the divine by raising things of the finite order to the infinite, especially spiritual attributes. (Love, Wrath, etc.)

Question 20

Via Negativa

Answer 20

Latin for “negative way” identifying or defining divine attributes by negating the attributes of the finite order (such as measurable vs immeasurable)