[mod. f. Gr. αὐτόθεος very God (f. αὐτο- self + θεός God) + -ISM.]
1. The doctrine of God’s self-subsistence. spec. The ascription of this attribute to the Second Person of the Trinity, as being ‘God of himself,’ and not merely ‘God of God.’
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), John x. 29, note. Caluins Autotheisme, holding that Christ took his person of the Father, but not his substance.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., s.v. Calvin’s autotheism signifies that point of Doctrine which Calvin held, which is, That God the Son is not Deus de Deo, God from God.
1742. in Bailey.
2. Self-deification.
a. 1619. Fotherby, Atheom., I. viii. § 3. He fell into Autotheisme: professing himselfe a God.
1874. Watson & Evans, trans. Van Oosterzee’s Chr. Dogm., I. xlv. 248. Pantheism becomes auto-theism, and leads to self-adoration.
