Durham E-Theses A theological aim historical assessment of the Christology of Nestorius in the context of his times Hendy, G. A. How to cite: Hendy, G. A. (1975) A theological aim historical assessment of the Christology of Nestorius in the context of his times, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/10423/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 A THEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT OP THE CHRISTOLOGY OP NESTORIUS IN THE CONTEXT OP HIS TIMES The Reverend Graham Hendy, B.A. The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. No quotation from it should be published without his prior written consent and information derived from it should be acknowledged. A Thesis for the Degree of 11.A A THEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CHRISTOLO&Y OP NESTQRIUS IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS TIMES The Reverend Graham Hendy B.A. Abstract of Thesis of M.A. The Patriarch Nestorius was condemned as an heretic at the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon. ~ During the last century, following the rediscovery of many of his writings, several important scholars have examined his case* Their conclusions have varied considerably; on the whole they have been too kind to him. This thesis begins by examining the life of N-storius to put the controversies in context* In particular, the question of whether he was still alive at the time of Chalcedon is examined; also the length of time he spent in exile. Certainly he was alive until shortly before the Council met, but that is all we can say with certainly* Following this discussion, the historical reasons for the condemnation of Nestorius are treated. The political and sociological controversies between Alexandria, Constantinople, Rome, Antioch and Jerusalem are examined, together with the differences between the Antiochene and Alexandrian schools of theology. Personality and group conflicts no doubt played their part, but could not have led to Nestorius* condemnation on their own. A major section of the thesis is concerned with the Christology of the main theological schools. Their concepts are examined and the variations among individual representatives of the Antiochene school particularly are examined. All this helps to set Nestorius* work in context. After a short critical chapter on the literary history of Nestorius' writings, including references to Abramowski's recent work on a dual-authorship hypothesis of the Book of Heracleides, we turn to Nestorius' own thought and vocabulary* The conclusion reached suggests that although Nestorius' intentions were good, and that he rendered good service by safeguarding the humanity of Christ, he ended up in a cul-de-sac, when it cams to establishing the unity of Christ's person in the Prosopon* We also conclude that the Book of Heracleides did little or nothing to help his case* A THEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT OP THE CHRISTOLOGY OF NESTORIUS IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS TIMES. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. CONTROVERSY AND TRAGEDY: A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF NESTORIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE 1 Notes 55 II. WHAT ARE THE HISTORICAL REASONS FOR THE CONDEMNATION OF_N£STORIUS? 40 Rons: Old and New 40 Chrysostom and Nestorius 44 Imperial Pressure 47 Notes 50 III. THE CHRISTOLOGICAL CONCEPTS AND VOCABULARY OF THE ANTIOCHENE TRADITION AND OF ITS, OPPONENTS TO THE TIME OF THE NESTORIAN CONTROVERSY 52 Christologioal Vocabulary 55 The Alexandrian School of Christology 57 1. One-Person - the Logos 58 ii. Redemption and Christology 60 iii. Anthropology: some 'Logos-sarx' attempts 61 a* Arianism 61 b. Athanasius 62 c. Apollinarius 65 d. Later developments before Cyril 65 «. Cyril of Alexandria 64 f. Conclusion 66 The Antiochen? School of Christology 67 i. Biblical exegesis 67 ii. God the Creator 68 iii. The Person of Christ and redemption 68 iv. No..confusion of the tiro natures in Christ 72 v.. 'Recognising* the two natures 75 vi. Reciprocity of the Two Natures and the Bond of Union 77 Page Paul of Samcsata 80 Eustatnius of Antioch 81 Diodore-of Tarsus. 85 Theodora of Mopsusstia 86 Th«odoret of Cyrus 90 Andrew of Samosata 91 Conclusion 91 Not»s 92 IV. THE LITERARY HISTORY OP THE BOOK OF HERACLEIDES AND OTHER WORKS OP NESTORIUS 96 The Discovery 96 The Syriac Text 96 The Dat« of the Syriac Translation of the Treatise 98 N-storius' Works: The Tunnel Period 99 The Authorship and Date of the Liber Heraclidis 103 L.Abramowski's Thesis 104 Notes 110 V. TH*7 CHRISTOLOGY OP NESTORIUS ESPECIALLY IN THE BOOK OP HERACLSIDES 112 The Diagnosis of the Two Natures - Distinction or Separation- - 114 1* - in exegesis and theology 114 2. - in vocabulary 121 The Bond of Union 126 1. - conjunction preferred to union 126 2. - unity of glory, honour & worship: unity of 128 will S. - unity in prosopon 129 Conclusion 141 Notes 144 APPENDIX - Christology and the Eucharist ^ BIBLIOGRAPHY 151 INDEX OP GREEK WORDS 158 GENERAL INDEX 160 TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS A.CO. Acta Conciliorum Oecumenioorum, ed. E.Schwartz C.S.C.O. Corpus Scriptorum Christianorum Orientalium (Paris - Louvain) C.S.E.L. Corpus Scriptorum Ecolesiasticorum Latinorum (Wien) C. Q.Ro Church Quarterly Review Dr. H. &.R.Driver & L.Hodgson, The Bazaar of Heracleides D. O.P. Dumbarton Oaks Papers, ed. Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.) D.T.C. Dictionnaire de Theologie Catholique, ed. A.Vacant - E.Mangenot - E.Amann (Paris 1909 ff ) Greg. Gregorianum. Rivista di studi teolagici e filosofici (Rome) J.T.S. Journal of Theological Studies (old series numbered in Roman numerals; new series in arabic numerals) Mansi. Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima Collectio (Florence 1759ff - Venice 1769ff; Paris - Arnhem- Leipzig 1901 - 1927) M.S.R. Melanges de Science Religieuse (Lille) Or.Chr. Oriens Christianus (Leipzig 1901-41; Wiesbaden 195Sff) P.&. Patrologiae cursus completus, ed J.P.Migne: Ser. graeca (Paris 1857 - 66) P.L» Patrologiae curs s completus, ed J.P.Migne: Ser. lattaa (Paris 1944-55) P.W^K. Pauly - Wissowa - Kr.oll, Realencyk-lopadie der klassischeu Alterum-swissensohaft (Stuttgart) Rev. Thorn. Revue Thomiste (Paris) R.H.E. Revue d'Histoire Ecclesiastique (Lou^ain) R.S.P.T. Revue des Sciences Philosophiques et Theologiques (paris) R.S.R. Recberches de Science Religieuse (Paris) S.C. Source Chretiennes (^aris) Schol. Scholastik (Freiburg im Breisgau) T.D. Textus et Documenta, series theologica (Rome) T.U. Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchr. Literatur, ed O.V. Gebhardt - A.v. Harnack, etc (Leipzig) « — Z.N.T.W. Zeitschrift fur Neutestament liche Wissensohaft und die Kunde der alteren Kirche (Berlin) Chapter.One CONTROVERSY AND TRA&BDY: A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE LIES OF NESTORIUS. BISHOP OF CONSTANTIMOPIiE 'There are few more interesting figures on the great canvass of the history of Christian Doctrine than that of the learned, eloquent, and austerely religious abbot of the monastery of Euprepius outside the city of Antioch, called un• expectedly to the see of Constantinople, like a second Chrysostom; eagerly setting to work to make the Christian faith a reality in the life of the capital of the Empire; suddenly charged with heretical teaching and involved in a merciless doctrinal controversy;, deposed from his bishop rick, excommunicated, deserted by friends who really shared his beliefs, banished to a remote spot in the deserts of Egypt, dying in exile.' This is how J.F.Bethune-Baker opened a work1 published over sixty years ago marking an important change in the history of Nestorian research and criticism* The literary discoveries which made such an impact at that time will be reviewed in a later chapter. For the moment it is necessary to note in passing the biographical context of the Book of Heracleides and the correspondence between the Patriarch and other important figures of his time, omitting for the moment their literary-critical and textual importance. Very little is known of Nestorius' early life, but it is thought that he 2 was born and reared in Germanicia which is in the district of the Euphrates. He remained under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch when he was - ordained priest and entered the monastery of Euprepius. It appears that he was extremely fervent and might be accused of obduracy or even fanaticism. He was a great extempore preacher at the Cathedral of Antioch and may have been as 'golden-mouthed' as S.John, whose see of Constantinople he was to hold briefly . at a later date. In many ways the lives of the two men have their parallels. His enemies accused him in similar vein of pride in eloquence and hasty remarks, but this was no doubt a cover for their criticism of the content. Indeed they used the same rhetorical methods as Nestorius did when they so desired - though perhaps not so effectively. A collection of the sermons of Nestorius was published over a period and 4 must have spread further, afield than the confines of Antioch. .. It may have been the reading of these which won him the fav:ouir of the Emperor, for like the young Chrysostom, at first he enjoyed the patronage of the Court, though with 5 both, this was short lived.