Christological Controversy

Question 1

Apollinaris - What will no one deny is “knit together?”

Answer 1

The Earthly body is knit together with the Godhead

Question 2

Apollinaris - What are the 2 things that are commingled in the person of Christ and what is constituted as a result of this according to “the confession” that Apollinaris states?

Answer 2

The creature is in unity with the uncreated, while the uncreated is commingling with the creature. One nature is constituted out of the parts severally.

Question 3

Apollinaris - What does the flesh receive that it does not possess?

Answer 3

Impassibility instead of affliction with passions, a heavenly instead of an earthly way of life, royal authority instead of slavery in subjection to men, being worshipped by the whole creation instead of giving worship to another.

Question 4

How is Jesus one according to Apollinaris?

Answer 4

He exists in the singleness of an incarnate divine nature which is commingled with flesh. God and flesh completed one in the same nature.

Apollonaris emphasizes Jesus as a MIXTURE of God and human therefore one
Jesus is LIKE a human

Question 5

Is Jesus a human being or is he like a human being according to Apollinaris and why?

Answer 5

He is like a human being since he is not coessential with humanity in his highest part.

Question 5

What are the 3 parts that make up a human being?

Answer 5

Spirit, Soul and Body

Question 6

What makes him “like a human being” according to Apollinaris?

Answer 6

He was in fact an incarnate intellect.

Question 8

Apollinaris explains that the human race is saved by the assumption of flesh (by the Logos). Exactly what was needed according to Apollinaris?

Answer 8

Unchangeable intellect which did not fall under the domination of the flesh.

Question 9

Indwelling is Theodore’s way of describing how the divine nature (person) is united to the human nature (person) in the person of Jesus – the divine nature indwells the human nature. How should indwelling “fittingly be described as taking
place”? And what does this mean?

Answer 9

“It seems evident, we shall say that the indwelling should fittingly be described as taking place by good pleasure

good pleasure means that best and noblest will of God which he exercises when he is pleased with those who are zealous to be dedicated to him because of their excellent standing in his sight.

Question 10

Theodore - If this indwelling is not a union of essence or active operation, then what type of union is indicated by the notion of indwelling?

Answer 10

Remaining present to all by his essence and separate from those who are unworthy by the
disposition of his grace.

Question 11

Theodore - How does God indwell Christ?

Answer 11

As in a son – having indwelt him, he united the one assumed as a whole to himself and equipped him to share with himself in all the honor in which he, being Son by nature, participates, so as to be counted one person in virtue of the union with him and to share with him all his dominion

Question 12

How does the indwelling of the Spirit in Christ differ from the indwelling of the Spirit in
other human beings according to Theodore?

Answer 12

In a degree surpassing the rest of humanity. He received the whole grace of the Spirit whereas it is partial for others.
The Spirit in its Wholeness worked within him.

Question 13

According to Theodore, what notion isn’t appropriate to explain the union that exists in Christ and what notion is appropriate? Who is he opposing?

Answer 13

Mixture is not appropriate and Union is - explicit attack on Appolinarious.

Question 14

According to Theodore, Do the natures remain distinct when they are united to each other and what are the two natures that may be distinguished in the person of Christ?

Answer 14

Yes, because they are in one person NOT Hod or Guman

Nature of God the word
Nature of the man

Question 15

What type of union does Theodore use as an example to explain his concept of the union in Christ, this personal union of two natures?

Answer 15

Union of man and women

Question 16

Theodore summarizes his understanding of the diversity and unity in the person of Christ. What is distinct and what is one?

Answer 16

Natures are distinct, but the person effected by the union is one

Question 17

What does Nestorius of Constantinople say about Mary?

Answer 17

Mary is not theotokos/God bearer ( a creature cannot produce the creator)
Mary is: Theodochos: the one who received God.
Christotokos: the mother (lit.bearer) of Christ.
Christ = signifies both natures, human & divine

Question 18

Cyril’s logic similar to Apollinaris’, except:

Answer 18

1. He denied Jesus had one composite nature.

2. He affirmed Jesus was fully human

Question 19

What does Cyril of Alexandria say about Mary and Jesus?

Answer 19

Mary is theotokos
Hypostatic union between his humanity and divinity 
Cyril says if you have 2 people in Jesus then you do not have one person.
One hypostasis (hypostatic union)

Question 20

What does theotokos mean?

Answer 20

The bearer or mother of God

Question 21

What does anthropotokos mean?

Answer 21

The bearer of a human being

Question 22

Did Mary “give birth to the Godhead” according to Nestorius’ Sermon”? Explain Nestorius’ answer. Why is it appropriate or inappropriate to say that Mary gave birth to the Logos?

Answer 22

• No
• For what is born of the flesh is flesh”; a creature did not produce him who is uncreatable; she gave birth to the human being, the instrument of the Godhead. The Holy Spirit formed out of the Virgin a temple for God the Logos, a temple in which he dwelt.

Question 23

What did the holy fathers boldly call the holy Virgin according to Cyril’s Second Letter? 1And why is it appropriate to call Mary this?

Answer 23

• “God’s Mother” [theotokos]
• Because the holy body which was born of her, possessed as it was of a rational soul, and to which the Logos was hypostatically united, is said to have had a fleshly birth.

Question 24

According to Nestorius, the term “Christ” is “an expression which signifies” or “is common to” what?

Answer 24

• The deity and the humanity- “Lord” and “Jesus” and “Christ” and “Only Begotten” and “Son”

Question 25

Nestorius - What is the “more exact manner of speech” that should be used of the “holy Virgin”?

Answer 25

• Mother of Christ NOT MOTHER OF GOD

Question 26

What is Jesus’ body in relation to the Son’s deity according to Nestorius? The body is the what “of the Son’s deity”?

Answer 26

• The temple

Question 27

Calcedon results from what? What is the outcome?

Answer 27

Split over disagreements over Christology but decide at Calcedon to adopt their own language based on Cyril
Calcedonians in West
Non-Calcedonians in Middle
Nestorians in East

Question 28

Calcedon says 2 natures

Against formula reunion that says ——–

Answer 28

X

Question 29

Alexandrian Thought

Answer 29

Focus on Divinity
Mary mother of God
Logos became enfleshed

Question 30

Antiochian Thought

Answer 30

Emphasis on humanity
Unconfused union
Temple