What does hypostases mean?
Hypostases is the plural of hypostasis, a specialized term most often encountered in Christian theology. In discussions of the Trinity, it names the three distinct persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who are traditionally understood as sharing one divine essence. The word can also refer more generally to a personal manifestation, especially of a divine presence, and in some philosophical contexts to an underlying substance or reality. Its plural form is used when the three persons of the Trinity are discussed together: for example, “one God in three hypostases.” Outside theology and metaphysics, the word is uncommon and usually has a deliberately technical tone. It is useful to know because it expresses a distinction between person or manifestation on one hand and shared underlying substance on the other.
plural nounThe plural of hypostasis. In Christian theology, the term refers to the three distinct persons of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. More generally, it can denote an underlying substance or a personal manifestation.
- The three distinct persons of the Trinity in Christian theology.
- A personal manifestation or appearance, especially of a deity or divine presence.
- An underlying substance or reality, particularly in philosophical or theological usage.
"The doctrine of the Trinity affirms one God in three hypostases."
"Traditional Trinitarian theology describes God as existing in three hypostases."
"The philosopher treated the apparent world as a hypostasis hiding a deeper reality."
Plural of hypostasis; the form is especially common in references to the three persons of the Trinity.
"Creeds traditionally affirm one God in three hypostases."
In Trinitarian theology, “hypostases” names the three distinct persons who together constitute one God.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hypostases come from?
The word comes through Latin from Greek hypostasis, meaning a setting under, support, foundation, or underlying reality. In Greek philosophical and theological use, it came to denote substance or essence and later a particular person or manifestation. Its best-known English use is in Trinitarian theology, where the three hypostases distinguish the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Related word forms
How hypostases is actually used
This is a specialized theological and philosophical term rather than ordinary vocabulary. In its best-known sense, it belongs to formal discussions of the Trinity, where the Greek-derived word distinguishes the persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.