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Theodoret of Cyrrhus and the Book of Joshua - Theodoret's Quaestiones Revisited

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Theodoret of Cyrrhus and the Book of Joshua - Theodoret's Quaestiones Revisited THEODORET OF CYRRHUS AND THE BOOK OF JOSHUA - THEODORET'S QUAESTIONES REVISITED Seppo Sipila Theodoret, his life and works The city of Cyrrhus (in Greek Kupprn;) lies approx. 90 km north-east of Antioch.1 This is the town after which Theodoret of Cyrrhus was named. He was bishop of the town, holding the see for over 30 years (423-458). Theodoret was born in Antioch around 393. 2 In his youth he acted as a lector in Antioch but later on joined a monas­ tery in Apamea, 3 being nominated to the see of Cyrrhus in 423. 4 He was, as we know now, the last famous theologian of the Antiochian school. Downey, for instance, de­ scribes Theodoret as "the greatest theologian" of his day.5 The beginning of the fifth century was a time of heated theological discussion entailing a serious debate about Christology. In its essentials the question was about the true nature of Christ, discussion of which continues to exercise influence on mod­ ern Christian theology. The conflict arose between the Antiochian and the Alexandrian theology and culminated at the great Council of Chalcedon in its famous formula which defined the two natures of Christ, the divine and the human, as being present in Christ without confusion, change, division, or separation.6 The leading figure on 1For a short description of the city see R. Janin "Cyrrhus," Dictionnaire d'histoire et geographie ecclesiastique (Paris: Letouzey et Ane, 1924) 13.1186-1187. For the location see e.g. the map "Roman Roads in Northern Syria" in G. Downey, A History of Antioch in Syria: from Seleucus to the Arab Conquest (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1961) Plate 4. 2B. Altaner-A. Stuiber, Patrologia (Freiburg-Basel-Wien: Herder, 1993) 339. 3P. Canivet, "Theodoret of Cyr," NCE 14.20-22, esp. p. 20. For a short history of the city of Apamea see R. Janin, "4. Apamee," Dictionnaire d'histoire, 3. 918-920. The city lies along the River Orantes nearly 200 km south of Antioch. 4Theodoret made a generous donation of money for construction work in the city. An aqueduct was built, baths were repaired etc; see J. Quasten, Patrology (Utrech: Spectrum, 1950) 3.536. 5Downey, A History of Antioch, 467. [Textus 19 (1998) 157-170] 158 Seppa Sipila the Alexandrian side was Cyril, and his opponent was Nestorius. After these men stepped aside from the conflict by signing a document drawn up by Theodoret, the so-called Formulary of Union, the opposite parties soon became polarized. The Alexandrian side was labeled as Monophysitism and the Antiochian side as Nestorianism. Monophysite theology took the position that there was only one true nature in Christ, namely the divine one, and Nestorian theology was said to claim the opposite, that the human nature had dominance in Christ. The most important written documents of the conflict were Cyril's Twelve Anathemas/ written as a refuta­ tion of the Antiochian theology, and Theodoret's work entitled Eras tines. 8 In this docu­ ment Theodoret argued that Monophysite theology is a patchwork of already aban­ doned heresies.9 The next stage of the conflict was the Council of Ephesus in 449, the Robber Synod, that deposed many Nestorian theologians including Theodoret. He was exiled to Apamea.10 Finally, after the emperor Theodosius II died in 450, the Council of Chalcedon was summoned in 451. At this council the Monophysite and Nestorian theologies were condemned, but many leading Nestorian theologians were restored to office. The council even proclaimed Theodoret an "orthodox father."11 Theodoret died about 466, but his activities after 451 and the Council of Chalcedon are almost unknown.12 Little is know about Theodoret's background and family. He was a member of an upper-class family and quite probably his mother tongue was Syriac; at least we are told that he spoke it. 13 Nevertheless, his extant works are all in Greek and his literary style received praise in modern times as well as in antiquity.14 Theodoret himself estimated that he had written some thirty-five works prior to 450 (Epist. 145). His writings can be divided into four groups: dogmatic works, apologetic works, ex­ egetical works, and letters. He has been described as the most important exegetical writer of antiquity alongside Theodore of Mopsuestia.15 His commentaries on the Octateuch and the Book of Kingdoms are said to represent the best part of the quaes- 9For a detailed analysis of Theodoret's argumentation see A. Grillmeier, Jesus der Chris/us in der Glaube der Kirche I. Von der Apostolischen Zeit bis zum Konzil van Chalcedon (451) (3. Aufl.; Freiburg-Basel-Wien: Herder, 1990) 693-700. 10Downey, A History of Antioch, 470, 473; Quasten, Patrology, 537. 11 Canivet, NCE, 20; Quasten, Patrology, 537. 12Altaner-Stuiber, Patrologia, 339 and Canivet, NCE, 20. 13Quasten, Patrology, 538. 14See Canivet, NCE, 21. 15Altaner-Stuiber, Patrologia, 341. .
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