And on either supposition, it follows that neither possesses power. For if one can will and do only what the other wills and does, and the same holds for the other, while there is no one above them to endow them with power and will, then neither could possess power and will unless the other did.

If each made the other possess power and will, this would constitute a circle of prior dependence—a circular dependence among agents and causes.

It would be like saying:

“This one cannot exist until that one brings him into existence, and that one cannot exist until the other brings him into existence.”

This is impossible according to plain reason, and rational people have never disputed its impossibility. This is called a circle of prior dependence.

This differs from saying:

“This cannot exist except together with that, nor can that exist except together with this,” as with mutually inseparable things. This is called a circle of simultaneous, concomitant dependence, and it is possible.

For example, one may say:

“The Lord’s essence cannot exist without its inseparable attributes, nor can those inseparable attributes exist without His essence.”

Or one may say:

“His life cannot exist without His knowledge, nor can His knowledge and life exist without His power,” and so forth.

Thus, it becomes clear that the power of each cannot be derived from the power of the other.

If it is said:

“Rather, each possesses power and will without either deriving them from the other; this is a circle of simultaneous rather than prior dependence,”

this too would be false. For in that case, the power of each must be inseparable from his essence. It therefore follows that the Maker of the world must possess power for which He has no need of another, but which is inseparable from His essence. And this is true.