Euthymius Zigabenus, Panoplia Dogmatica; Theodoretus, Historia Religiosa

...being; volitional; self-moving; active; always choosing the good; and for every purpose, having power running alongside its will. Consequently, the one who accurately investigates the depths of the mystery remains in the soul through an inexpressible internal contemplationThe author suggests that the true nature of God is felt or experienced within the soul rather than fully grasped by the mind., receiving a moderate understanding of the teaching regarding the knowledge of God. Yet, one is not able to clarify in speech the unutterable depth of the mystery of life: how the same thing is both countable and yet escapes enumeration; how it is seen dividedly and yet is perceived in unity; and how it is distinguished by personoriginal: "hypostasis" — the distinct existence of the Father, Son, or Spirit. and yet is not divided by natureoriginal: "physis" — the shared essence or "God-ness" that all three persons possess.. For again, by person, there is the Spirit; and another, the Word; and another again is That One [the Father], from whom both the Word and the Spirit come. But whenever you contemplate the distinction in these, the unity of nature once again does not admit division. Thus, the power of the monarchyoriginal: "monarchia" — literally "the rule of one," referring here to the single divine source or sovereignty of God. is not split or cut into different deities, nor does the argument coincide with the Jewish dogma. Instead, the truth proceeds through the middle of these two conceptions, destroying each of the heresies and receiving from each what is useful. For it destroys the Jewish dogma by the acceptance of the Word and faith in the Spirit, while the polytheistic error of the Greeks disappears, as the unity of nature cancels out the pluralistic imagination. But again, from the Jewish conception, let the unity of nature remain; and from Hellenism Greek pagan philosophy and polytheism., let only the distinction according to the persons be accepted. In this way, the impious suspicion from each side is appropriately healed. For it is like a remedy: for the one wandering about the "one" Referring to the strict Unitarianism of the Jews which denies the Trinity., the number of the Trinity is applied; and for the one scattered into the many Referring to Pagan polytheism., the doctrine of unity is given.

Large decorative initial letter Pi in red ink with swirling flourishes.
Everything that exists is either created or uncreated. If it is created, it was certainly created by another. But if it is uncreated, this [uncreated thing] would be the one who created the created things. For the highest creator original: "demiurge" — a term used for the architect or maker of the universe. must be uncreated; and this, above all else...