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Antiochenes and Alexandrians

Antiochenes and Alexandrians . The Battle over Christian Ideologies. Background. Between 100 AD and 300 AD, various Christian groups ( i.e. Montanists , Gnostics, etc.) begin to modify Christian tenets and include beliefs not sanctioned by the Pentarchy of bishops.

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Antiochenes and Alexandrians

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  1. Antiochenes and Alexandrians The Battle over Christian Ideologies

  2. Background • Between 100 AD and 300 AD, various Christian groups (i.e. Montanists, Gnostics, etc.) begin to modify Christian tenets and include beliefs not sanctioned by the Pentarchy of bishops. • Thus Christian leaders had to respond to these heretics, and in the process ended up creating what became the accepted doctrine of Christianity. • The resolution of conflict between the Alexandrians and Antiochenes is a prime example of such a case.

  3. Alexandrians (Egypt)and Antiochenes (Syria): The Christological Controversy • Christology is the branch of theology concerned with the nature of Christ and his role in Salvation. • Most important focus of Christology: human and divine nature in Christ. • Antiochene Theologians emphasized divine and human natures of Christ, stressing the importance of his salvation for humanity and his divinity. • Alexandrian Theologians emphasized only Christ’s divinity and downplayed his human side. • Both sides greatly exaggerated their point.

  4. Theories of the divine and human duality of Christ • Origen: Jesus’ human and divine nature were interwoven, and in that union, human nature could become divine. • Gregory of Nyssa: God tricks Satan into releasing his hold on humanity. When Satan saw the humanity in Jesus, he attacked, and the assault was an offence against one who was both human and divine. God retaliates by destroying Satan’s hold over humanity. • Apollinaris (310-390) Alexandrian: humans have 2 parts of soul: base urges and intellect. Jesus has half base urges of human, and divine Logos is his intellect. Works with the 2 natures in one God theory. Problem: says Jesus didn’t have a human mind, so didn’t have a human self. • Problem with Apollinaris’ theory: implies that Christianity was not fully saved because Jesus was not fully human. Jesus takes on human nature to give us a shot at becoming divine.

  5. More theories and fallout • Theodore of Mopsuestia: one Christ, two complete natures. T makes sure to distinguish each, saying Jesus hungered like a human, but performed miracles like a God. Attacks Apollonaris like a douche. • Debate goes out of hand. Nestorius (Antiochene) attacks Mary, saying that she was the bearer of Jesus the man (Christotokos) and not bearer of Jesus the Divine (Theotokos). She gives Jesus humanity, not humanity. • People get mad. • Debates grow more heated. Reach climax with Council of Ephesus (monophysite “one nature” definition is created).

  6. Council of Chalcedon X Council of chalcedon(451): jesus is both divine and human at the same time because we say so now. The council produces the definition of chalcedon….rebukes monophysitism. Overall, antiochenes can call this a win, but it’s like 50.1% to 49.9%.

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