Exegesis Supporting Metaphysics Eusebius of Caesarea's Use of Prosopon and Its Hypostatic Associations

The Greek word prosopon, or "person", is often associated with ancient modalist theologies that minimize the distinction between Father, Son, and Spirit. Eusebius of Caesarea, in his Ecclesiastical Theology, is arguing against modalism but also using prosopon freely to designate Father and Son as subsistently distinct. The explanation of this is rooted in agent-identification exegesis, defined for the first time in this article. Prosopon expands its range, from designating only distinct speakers (in prosopological exegesis) to designating distinct agents. Distinct agency, for Eusebius, gives an exegetical grounding for claiming the Father and Son as distinct hypostases. Eusebius offers a method of understanding "person" that shows how it might give an exegetical grounding for a description of reciprocal activity in the Trinity.