📖 Biblical Definition
Homoousios is the Greek term inserted into the Nicene Creed (325) to affirm the Son's essential unity with the Father: of one essence with the Father. The term was non-biblical (controversial at the time) but theologically necessary against Arius's claim that the Son was created and of like essence (homoiousios, with an extra iota). The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) ratified homoousios as orthodox.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Greek.) Of the same essence; Nicene term affirming the Son's essential unity with the Father.
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The famous one-iota difference: homoousios (same essence) vs homoiousios (similar essence). Athanasius and the Nicene party defended homoousios; Arius and his followers preferred homoiousios. The smaller word was the larger heresy.
📖 Key Scripture
John 10:30 — "I and my Father are one."
John 1:1 — "And the Word was God."
Colossians 2:9 — "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often uses Trinity-language without grasping the precision Nicaea fought for; one Greek iota separated orthodoxy from Arianism.
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The Nicene battle was over what Christ is. Same essence with the Father (homoousios) makes Him fully God; similar essence (homoiousios) makes Him a creature, however exalted. The household's confession is Nicene homoousios.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek homo (same) plus ousia (essence, being).
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Greek homos — same.
Greek ousia — being, essence; from einai, to be.
Usage
"Of one essence with the Father."
"One Greek iota separated orthodoxy from Arianism."
"The household's confession is Nicene homoousios."