a term in theology used to denote that figure whereby words derived from human objects are employed to express something which relates to the Deity. As a finite being can have no intuitive knowledge of an infinite, so no language of rational creatures can fully express the nature of God and render it comprehensible. All further knowledge of God must be communicated by words used to express ourselves intelligibly concerning human and other terrestrial objects. Such words and phrases have their foundation in a resemblance, which, according to our conceptions, exists between the Deity and mankind.

Anthropomorphic phrases, generally considered, are such as ascribe to the Deity mixed perfections and human imperfections. These phrases may be divided into three classes, according to which we ascribe to God:—1. Human actions (ἀνθρωπομορφικά). 2. Human affections, passions, and sufferings (ἀνθρωπομορφικά). 3. Human form, human organs, human members (ἀνθρωπομορφικά).

A rational being, who receives impressions through the senses, can form conceptions of the Deity only by a consideration of his own powers and properties. Anthropomorphic modes of thought are therefore unavoidable in the religion of mankind; and although they can furnish no other than corporeal or sensible representations of the Deity, they are nevertheless true and just when we guard against transferring to God qualities pertaining to the human senses. It is, for instance, a proper expression to assert that God knows all things; it is improper, that is, tropical or anthropomorphic, to say that He sees all things. Anthropomorphism is thus a species of accommodation, inasmuch as by these representations the Deity, as it were, lowers himself to the comprehension of men. And it is altogether consonant to his wisdom and benevolence in communicating divine revelations to address mankind in language adapted to their inferior capacities. Therefore it is that this figure is called by the Fathers Divine Economy (Theodore, Dialog.2.) and Condescension (Gregory of Nazianzus, Orat. 1).