1. Many persons, in
their study of the sacred dogmas, failing to distinguish between what
is common in the essence or substance, and the meaning of the
hypostases, arrive at the same notions, and think that it makes no
difference whether οὐσία or hypostasis be spoken
of. The result is that some of those who accept statements on
these subjects without any enquiry, are pleased to speak of “one
hypostasis,” just as they do of one “essence” or
“substance;” while on the other hand those who accept three
hypostases are under the idea that they are bound in accordance with
this confession, to assert also, by numerical analogy, three essences
or substances. Under these circumstances, lest you fall into
similar error, I have composed a short treatise for you by way of
memorandum. The meaning of the words, to put it shortly, is as
follows: