Prosopon

Prosopon^[a] originally meant 'face' but is used as a theological term^[4] in Christian theology as designation for the concept of a divine person.^[5] The term has a particular significance in Christian triadology (study of the Trinity), and also in Christology.^[6]^[7]

In the Bible, prosopon is mostly translated as 'face'. In English language, prosopon is used mainly in scholarly works, related to theology, philosophy or history of religion. While it is commonly translated as person, it is also translated as "role,"^[8] or "character," like a character in a play.^[9] The term prosopon should not be confused with the term hypostasis. Both terms are used to describe the Father, Son, and Spirit but hypostasis indicates a reality of existence that prosopon may not have.^[10] Whether the Trinity should be described as three hypostases or three prosopa was a core issue in the Arian Controversy.

Prosopon is a Greek term. The Latin equivalent, traditionally used in Western Christianity, and from which the English term person is derived, is persona.

^ "Prosopon". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20.
^ "Prosopon". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
^ "prosopon". Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
^ González 2005, p. 142.
^ Daley 2009, p. 342–345.
^ Grillmeier 1975, p. 501-519.
^ Meyendorff 1989, p. 173, 190-192, 198, 287, 338.
^ Hanson, p. 649
^ Basil of Caesarea “can readily use prosopon in the traditional exegetical sense of 'character' or 'part' (almost as in a play) which God or Christ or others were supposed to have assumed.” (Hanson, p. 692)
^ “Basil treats hypostasis and πρόσωπον (prosopon, the face) as synonymous, but he also sees πρόσωπον as less appropriate, too close to Sabellianism. Hypostasis indicates a reality of existence that he feels πρόσωπον may not.” (Ayres, p. 210)

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[1] "Prosopon". Lexico UK English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20.

[2] "Prosopon". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)

[3] "prosopon". Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

[FOOTNOTEGonzález2005142-5] González 2005, p. 142.

[FOOTNOTEDaley2009342–345-6] Daley 2009, p. 342–345.

[FOOTNOTEGrillmeier1975501-519-7] Grillmeier 1975, p. 501-519.

[FOOTNOTEMeyendorff1989173,_190-192,_198,_287,_338-8] Meyendorff 1989, p. 173, 190-192, 198, 287, 338.

[9] Hanson, p. 649

[10] Basil of Caesarea “can readily use prosopon in the traditional exegetical sense of 'character' or 'part' (almost as in a play) which God or Christ or others were supposed to have assumed.” (Hanson, p. 692)

[11] “Basil treats hypostasis and πρόσωπον (prosopon, the face) as synonymous, but he also sees πρόσωπον as less appropriate, too close to Sabellianism. Hypostasis indicates a reality of existence that he feels πρόσωπον may not.” (Ayres, p. 210)

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