On the Divine Names

Dionysius the Areopagite

On the Divine Names

Dionysius the Areopagite

Περὶ θείων ὀνομάτων

On the Divine Names (De divinis nominibus) is the chief theological treatise of the Christian Neoplatonist writing under the name Dionysius the Areopagite, probably in the late fifth or early sixth century. Addressed to Timothy, it unfolds the names predicated of God — Good, Light, Beauty, Love, Being, Life, Wisdom, Power, Justice, and the rest — through thirteen chapters, grounding each name in Scripture and in the tradition of Hierotheus. Its account of divine procession, participation, and the beautiful-and-good became foundational for Byzantine and medieval Latin theology, and it is among the authorities Aquinas cites most. Schola presents the Greek text with the Latin translation of Balthasar Corderius and the English translation of John Parker (1897).


CAPUT I. Quis libri finis, et quae e divinis nominibus prodita tandem esse, et ex rebus sensibilibus non posse cognosci

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The theologians, having knowledge of this, celebrate It, both without Name and from every Name. Without name, as when they say that the Godhead Itself, in one of those mystical apparitions of the symbolical Divine manifestation, rebuked him who said, “What is thy name?” and as leading him away from all knowledge of the Divine Name, said this, “and why dost thou ask my Name?” and this (Name) “is wonderful.” And is not this in reality the wonderful Name, that which is above every Name — the Nameless— that fixed above every name which is named, whether in this age or in that which is to come? Also, as “many named,” as when they again introduce It as saying, “I am He, Who is— the Life — the Light— the God — the Truth.” And when the wise of God themselves celebrate Him, as Author of all things, under many Names, from all created things — as Good — as Beautiful — as Wise — as Beloved — as God of gods — as Lord of lords — as Holy of Holies— as Eternal — as Being — as Author of Ages — as Provider of Life — as Wisdom — as Mind — as Word — as Knowing— as preeminently possessing all the treasures of all knowledge — as Power — as Powerful — as King of kings — as Ancient of days — as never growing old — and Unchangeable — as Preservation — as Righteousness — as Sanctification — as Redemption — as surpassing all things in greatness — and as in a gentle breeze. — Yea, they also say that He is in minds, and in souls, and in bodies, and in heaven and in earth, and at once, the same in the same — in the world — around the world — above the world — supercelestial, superessential, sun, star — fire — water — spirit — dew — cloud— self-hewn stone and rock— all things existing — and not one of things existing.

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CAPUT II. unio et distinctio.

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CAPUT III. Quae sit vis orationis, et de beato Hierotheo, de religione et conscriptione theologica.

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CAPUT IV. De bono, luce, pulchro, amore, exstasi, zelo; et quod malum neque ens sit, neque ex entibus, neque in entibus.

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CAPUT V. De ente, in quo etiam de exemplaribus.

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CAPUT VI. De vita.

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CAPUT VII. De sapientia, mente, ratione, veritate, fide.

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CAPUT VIII. De potentia, justitia, salute, redemptione; ubi etiam de inaequalitate.

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CAPUT IX. De magno, parvo, eodem, alio, simili, dissimili, statu, motu, aequalitate.

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CAPUT X. De omnitenente, antiquo dierum; in quo etiam de aevo seu aeternitate et tempore.

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CAPUT XI. De pace, quidque sibi velit ipsum per se esse, quae sit per se vita, quae vis ipsa per se, et quae illa coordinat atque conciliat, et quinam sint ejus effectus.

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CAPUT XII. De Sancto sanctorum, Rege regum, Domino dominantium, Deo deorum.

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CAPUT XIII. De perfecto et uno.

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