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Nestorius and Cyril

Nestorius and Cyril. Background. Nicea Arius condemned Son is of the same substance (homo-ousios) as the Father Does not end the debate Arian bishops, emperors continue Objections to Nicea “homoousios” not biblical Sounds Sabellian; better to say Son is of like substance (homoi-ousios)

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Nestorius and Cyril

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  1. Nestorius and Cyril

  2. Background • Nicea • Arius condemned • Son is of the same substance (homo-ousios) as the Father • Does not end the debate • Arian bishops, emperors continue • Objections to Nicea • “homoousios” not biblical • Sounds Sabellian; better to say Son is of like substance (homoi-ousios) • Is divine Logos the soul of Christ?

  3. Nestorius (ca. 381-451) • Agrees with Nicea • Chidester, 143: all agreed on divinity of Christ, but differed in views of Christ’s humanity • Bishop of Constantinople, 428-431 • eastern capital of the Roman empire and one of the five major churches • Provokes a major controversy by objecting to a popular liturgical practice: why?

  4. Terms • Nature (Greek: Physis): what all beings of a species share. Can only exist as instantiated in a person. • Example: Human nature, dog nature, divine nature • Person (Greek: Hypostasis): individual instantiation of a nature. • A person must also have a nature; nature only exists as instantiated in persons. • Example: Paul and Mattea; Rover and Fluffy

  5. Theotokos controversy • Liturgy: people called Mary “the God-bearer” (Grk. Theotokos) • Lex orandi, lex credendi: The law of prayer shapes the law of belief • Nestorius objects to theotokos: why? • God was not born at a point in time • Need to distinguish human and divine natures of Christ • Like Athanasius, just as Logos suffered “in the flesh”, so Christ, not God, was born of Mary • Must be careful with language to avoid heresies (God suffers)

  6. Cyril of Alexandria (ca. 375-444) • Bishop of Alexandria • Ambitious • Wanted to assert Alexandria’s authority over Constantinople • Cyril defends theotokos. Issue: who is the subject/person in Jesus, the Word Incarnate? • CC 27: While remaining God, , the Logos took on, became subject of, human life • Once human and divine have been united, cannot be separated, because there is one subject • Hypostatic union: two natures united in one person • Union is essential to salvation—why? • Cyril misrepresents Nestorius

  7. Results • Ephesus, 431 • Affirms Theotokos • Nestorius resigns as bishop • 431-451: debate continues, Pope Leo I steps in • 451: Council of Chalcedon settles problem • Provides conceptual and terminological precision • Yet, plenty of room for thought and debate remain • But, Nestorian churches still exist

  8. For next time • Pope Leo I • What ideas (of Eutyches) does Leo reject, and why? • How does he define person and natures? • Council of Chalcedon (451) • In what ways does the council strike a middleground between Cyril and Nestorius? • How does the council try to balance discussion of human and divine natures?

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