Brian M. SandiferBrian M. Sandifer 11

The Council of Chalcedon The Council of Chalcedon (451)(451)

Turning Point 3Turning Point 3Decisive Moments in the History of ChristianityDecisive Moments in the History of Christianity

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Turning PointsTurning Pointsin Christian Historyin Christian History

1.1. Fall of Jerusalem (70)Fall of Jerusalem (70)

2.2. Council of Nicaea (325)Council of Nicaea (325)

3.3. Council of Chalcedon Council of Chalcedon (451)(451)

4.4. Benedict’s Rule (530)Benedict’s Rule (530)

5.5. Coronation of Coronation of Charlemagne (800)Charlemagne (800)

6.6. Great Schism (1054)Great Schism (1054)

6.6. Diet of Worms (1521)Diet of Worms (1521)

7.7. English Act of English Act of Supremacy (1534)Supremacy (1534)

8.8. Founding of Jesuits Founding of Jesuits (1540)(1540)

9.9. Conversion of Wesleys Conversion of Wesleys (1738)(1738)

10.10. French Revolution (1789)French Revolution (1789)

11.11. Edinburgh Missionary Edinburgh Missionary Conference (1910)Conference (1910)

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““Behold, the man!”Behold, the man!”

Who is Jesus Christ?Who is Jesus Christ? He is divine and He is divine and

humanhuman If he is fully divine, If he is fully divine,

how is he human?how is he human? If he is both human If he is both human

and divine, how does and divine, how does that humanity and that humanity and that divinity coexist?that divinity coexist?

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Alexandria and AntiochAlexandria and Antioch

Bishops of Antioch contended with the bishops of Alexandria (and Constantinople) for primacy in the Eastern Roman Empire

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Nicaea: Athanasius vs. AriusNicaea: Athanasius vs. Arius

Is Jesus fully God?Is Jesus fully God? Athanasius: Yes!Athanasius: Yes! Arius: No, highest Arius: No, highest

creature!creature! Council of Nicaea Council of Nicaea

agreed with agreed with AthanasiusAthanasius

New question: How is New question: How is Jesus fully God & Jesus fully God & human?human?

Athanasius

(orthodox)

Arius (heretic)

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How is Jesus Both Divine & How is Jesus Both Divine & Human?Human?

Word-Flesh Christology Word-Flesh Christology (Alexandria)(Alexandria)

Christ is a fully Christ is a fully integrated personintegrated person

ProblemsProblems Incompleteness of Incompleteness of

the humanitythe humanity Changeableness of Changeableness of

the deitythe deity

Word-Man Christology Word-Man Christology (Antioch)(Antioch)

Christ has a full Christ has a full divine and full divine and full human naturehuman nature

Problem is division Problem is division of the personof the person

See page 69 in Turning Points for “A Scorecard for Chalcedon”

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Apollinaris: Word-Flesh Apollinaris: Word-Flesh ChristologyChristology

Alexandrian view Alexandrian view propounded by Apollinarispropounded by Apollinaris

Jesus is divineJesus is divine Jesus is a combination of Jesus is a combination of

divine soul & human bodydivine soul & human body Jesus does not have a Jesus does not have a

human center of life and human center of life and consciousnessconsciousness

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Theodore: Word-Man Theodore: Word-Man ChristologyChristology

Antiochene view Antiochene view propounded by propounded by

Theodore of MopsuestiaTheodore of Mopsuestia Jesus: fully human and Jesus: fully human and

GodGod Jesus has a fully human Jesus has a fully human

naturenature Jesus has a fully divine Jesus has a fully divine

naturenature

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Nestorius and the Nestorius and the TheotokosTheotokos ControversyControversy

Nestorius, an influential Nestorius, an influential monk from Antiochmonk from Antioch

Denied that Mary was Denied that Mary was theotokostheotokos (the bearer of (the bearer of God)God)

Argued that Mary gave Argued that Mary gave birth to the birth to the humanhuman Jesus, whose humanity Jesus, whose humanity is separate & distinct is separate & distinct from his divinityfrom his divinity

Mary: mother of God?

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Cyril and the Cyril and the TheotokosTheotokos ControversyControversy

Cyril, bishop of AlexandriaCyril, bishop of Alexandria Rebuked Nestorius for Rebuked Nestorius for

denying that Jesus is the denying that Jesus is the “one incarnate nature of “one incarnate nature of the divine Logos”the divine Logos”

Argued that Nestorius’s Argued that Nestorius’s Jesus was schizophrenic Jesus was schizophrenic (two (two personspersons having no having no relation at all)relation at all)

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Formulas and CriticismsFormulas and Criticisms

Word-Flesh Word-Flesh (Alexandrian)(Alexandrian)

FormulaFormula 1 human body + 1 1 human body + 1

divine soul = 1 Jesusdivine soul = 1 Jesus CriticismCriticism

Neither fully human Neither fully human or divineor divine

½ human body + ½ ½ human body + ½ divine soul = 1 Jesusdivine soul = 1 Jesus

Word-Man (Antiochene)Word-Man (Antiochene) FormulaFormula

1 human nature + 1 1 human nature + 1 divine nature =1 Jesusdivine nature =1 Jesus

CriticismCriticism Singularity/Unity of Singularity/Unity of

Jesus compromisedJesus compromised 1 human nature + 1 1 human nature + 1

divine nature = 2 divine nature = 2 JesusesJesuses

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Council of Ephesus (431)Council of Ephesus (431)

Ruins of St. Mary’s Basilica, location of Council of Ephesus

Christological dispute between bishops from Alexandria and Antioch led to the Council of Ephesus

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Council of Ephesus: Council of Ephesus: StalemateStalemate

Tempers flared between Tempers flared between Alexandrian (Word-Flesh) Alexandrian (Word-Flesh) and Antiochene (Word-Man) and Antiochene (Word-Man) supporterssupporters

Each group Each group excommunicated the otherexcommunicated the other

Eastern Roman Emperor Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II sided with Theodosius II sided with Cyril of Alexandria and Cyril of Alexandria and banished Nestorius of banished Nestorius of AntiochAntioch

Emperor Theodosius IIEmperor Theodosius II

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Fallout:Fallout:Ecclesiastical Ecclesiastical

ChaosChaos

Eutyches, monk in Constantinople, defended Word-Eutyches, monk in Constantinople, defended Word-Flesh position, then…Flesh position, then…

Flavian, archbishop of Constantinople, banished Flavian, archbishop of Constantinople, banished Eutyches, then…Eutyches, then…

Eutyches appealed to Alexandria (and Rome in the Eutyches appealed to Alexandria (and Rome in the West), then…West), then…

Dioscorus, Cyril’s nephew and bishop of Alexandria, Dioscorus, Cyril’s nephew and bishop of Alexandria, organized a council to support Eutyches, then…organized a council to support Eutyches, then…

At the council, Dioscorus deposed Flavian from At the council, Dioscorus deposed Flavian from bishopric of Constantinople, then…bishopric of Constantinople, then…

Flavian appealed to bishop of Rome, Leo IFlavian appealed to bishop of Rome, Leo I

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Pope Leo I & His Pope Leo I & His TomeTome

Leo I, Bishop of RomeLeo I, Bishop of Rome Jesus is a single Jesus is a single personperson Jesus has two Jesus has two naturesnatures Salvation depends on Jesus Salvation depends on Jesus

as human/divine personas human/divine person Human/divine interchange Human/divine interchange

of attributes in the person of attributes in the person of Jesusof Jesus

Maintain distinctive Maintain distinctive naturesnatures and unity of and unity of personperson

Leo known as “the Great” for his superior leadership and theological understanding

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Council of ChalcedonCouncil of Chalcedon

Marcian, the new Marcian, the new Eastern Roman emperor, Eastern Roman emperor, called for a council to called for a council to end chaos in the empireend chaos in the empire

Leo’s Leo’s TomeTome greatly greatly influenced the council’s influenced the council’s discussionsdiscussions

Result of the council was Result of the council was the definition of the definition of ChalcedonChalcedon

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Chalcedon “in a Box”Chalcedon “in a Box”

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Definition of Chalcedon (1 of Definition of Chalcedon (1 of 3)3)

Following the holy fathers, we confess with Following the holy fathers, we confess with one voice that the one and only Son, our one voice that the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is Lord Jesus Christ, is perfect in Godhead perfect in Godhead and perfect in manhood, truly God and and perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, and that he has a rational soul truly man, and that he has a rational soul and a bodyand a body. . He is of one substance He is of one substance [[homoousioshomoousios] with the Father as God, he ] with the Father as God, he is also of one substance [is also of one substance [homoousioshomoousios] ] with us as manwith us as man. He is like us in all things . He is like us in all things except sin.except sin.

AlexandriaAlexandria + + Antioch Antioch + + NicaeaNicaea

2020

Definition of Chalcedon (2 of Definition of Chalcedon (2 of 3)3)

He was begotten of his Father before the ages He was begotten of his Father before the ages as God, but in these last days and for our as God, but in these last days and for our salvation he was born of Mary the virgin, the salvation he was born of Mary the virgin, the theotokostheotokos, as man. This , as man. This one and the same one and the same ChristChrist, Son, Lord, Only-begotten is made , Son, Lord, Only-begotten is made known in known in two natures [which exist] without two natures [which exist] without confusion, without change, without division, confusion, without change, without division, without separationwithout separation. The distinction of the . The distinction of the natures is in no way taken away by their natures is in no way taken away by their union, but rather the distinctive properties of union, but rather the distinctive properties of each nature are preserved.each nature are preserved.

AlexandriaAlexandria + + Antioch Antioch + + NicaeaNicaea

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Definition of Chalcedon (3 of Definition of Chalcedon (3 of 3)3)

[Both natures] [Both natures] unite into one person and one unite into one person and one hypostasishypostasis [that is, substance] [that is, substance]. They are . They are not separated or divided into two persons not separated or divided into two persons but [they form] but [they form] one and the same Sonone and the same Son, , Only-begotten, God, Word, Lord Jesus Only-begotten, God, Word, Lord Jesus Christ, just as the prophets of old [have Christ, just as the prophets of old [have spoken] concerning him and as the Lord spoken] concerning him and as the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us and as Jesus Christ himself has taught us and as the creed of the fathers has delivered to us.the creed of the fathers has delivered to us.

AlexandriaAlexandria + + Antioch Antioch + + NicaeaNicaea

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The Triumphs of ChalcedonThe Triumphs of Chalcedon

1.1. Sound doctrine over error in the Sound doctrine over error in the ChurchChurch

2.2. Christian catholicity over cultural Christian catholicity over cultural fragmentationfragmentation

3.3. Discriminating theological reasoning Discriminating theological reasoning over…over…

a)a) ……the anti-intellectual dismissal of philosophythe anti-intellectual dismissal of philosophy

b)b) ……theological capitulation to philosophytheological capitulation to philosophy

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Theological Importance of Theological Importance of ChalcedonChalcedon

Articulation of fundamental Christian doctrineArticulation of fundamental Christian doctrine Confined the problem of the Christological Confined the problem of the Christological

mystery for further orthodox reflectionmystery for further orthodox reflection First successful translation of Christianity from First successful translation of Christianity from

Semitic to Hellenistic thought formsSemitic to Hellenistic thought forms Completion of work to carry the gospel to the Completion of work to carry the gospel to the

Hellenistic world (“Jesus is Messiah/Christ” Hellenistic world (“Jesus is Messiah/Christ” communicated as “Jesus is Lord”)communicated as “Jesus is Lord”)

Heart of the gospel preserved using new Heart of the gospel preserved using new conceptual language (synthesis + translation)conceptual language (synthesis + translation)

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Intellectual & Cultural Intellectual & Cultural Importance of ChalcedonImportance of Chalcedon

Avoid extremes of Word-Flesh Christology that Avoid extremes of Word-Flesh Christology that tend to devalue Christ’s humanitytend to devalue Christ’s humanity Devalue body, flesh, nature, the natural, mundane Devalue body, flesh, nature, the natural, mundane

life, regular human activity, suffering, painlife, regular human activity, suffering, pain Avoid extremes of Word-Man Christology that Avoid extremes of Word-Man Christology that

tend to subvert organic divine-human tend to subvert organic divine-human connectionconnection Divide life into sacred/secular bits, things of God Divide life into sacred/secular bits, things of God

and the world not integratedand the world not integrated Secularizing effect on life in this world separated Secularizing effect on life in this world separated

from life in God in this worldfrom life in God in this world Worldly existence (Antioch) and spiritual Worldly existence (Antioch) and spiritual

matters (Alexandria) held together in balancematters (Alexandria) held together in balance

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Is Chalcedon Still Relevant?Is Chalcedon Still Relevant?

Examples of World-Flesh or Word-Man extreme?

2626

Is Chalcedon Still Relevant?Is Chalcedon Still Relevant?

Examples of World-Flesh or Word-Man extreme?

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Chalcedon: Application for Chalcedon: Application for ChristiansChristians

Christian can live in the world and Christian can live in the world and also for the glory of God…also for the glory of God…

……since Jesus was one person (like since Jesus was one person (like us) who coexisted in the world with us) who coexisted in the world with the fact of two naturesthe fact of two natures

Those who have the spirit of Christ Those who have the spirit of Christ indwelling them can live the indwelling them can live the balanced, organic life of balanced, organic life of spiritualspiritual life life in this in this worldworld..