The confusion arising from the uncertainty in the
use of these two words is well illustrated in the account which
Athanasius De Synodis, c.
45, p. 474, in this Series. himself gives of this
same Synod of Antioch: “They who deposed the Samosatene,
took Co-essential (ὁμοούσιος) in a
bodily sense, because Paul had attempted sophistry and said,
‘Unless Christ has of man become God, it follows that He is
Co-essential with the Father; and if so, of necessity there are three
essences (οὐσίαι), one the previous
essence, and the other two from it;’ and therefore guarding
against this they said with good reason, that Christ was not
Co-essential (ὁμοούσιον).”
Athanasius then explains on what grounds the Bishops at Nicæa
“reasonably asserted on their part, that the Son was
Co-essential.” Athanasius himself states that, in giving
this explanation of the rejection of οὐσιον by the Bishops
who condemned the Samosatene, he had not their Epistle before
him Ib. c. 43.; and his statement, that Paul used the term
not to express his own view, but to refute that of the Bishops, is
thought to be opposed to what Hilary says Liber de Synodis,
513.,
“Male ὁμοούσιον
Samosatenus confessus est: sed numquid melius Ariani
negaverunt?”