The Doctrine of the Person of Christ in the Early ChurchThe Eutychian Controversy
Eutyches (ca. 378-454 A.D.), a monk of Constantinople, taught that after the incarnation Christ had only one nature. This final heresy that faced the church was known as Eutychianism. He postulated the human and divine natures were mixed and utterly impossible to distinguish. Thus both Christ’s humanity and deity were deprecated in this view, although he had made an attempt at explaining the unity. His view, while difficult to exactly ascertain, was probably that the human body of Jesus had been deified in such a way that it no longer had any resemblance to humanity. Eutyches was condemned at a local synod in Constantinople in 448.
Dioscurus, Cyril’s successor as the bishop of Alexandria, sought to have the condemnation of Eutyches overturned, for doing so would elevate Alexandria to the dominant church in the East. Dioscurus’ Christology had a distinct Apollinarian bias, greatly emphasizing the unity of Christ’s natures, and thus he was a supporter of Eutyches. Once Eutyches was condemned by Flavian, a patriarch in Constantinople, Dioscurus was confident that Rome would overturn the condemnation. Dioscurus’ hope rested on the historical precedent of the support of Rome against Constantinople. However, with Constantinople and Antioch already discredited, only Alexandria and Rome had unblemished theological histories. Rome had merely to side with Constantinople against Alexandria to firmly establish its supremacy among the major theological centers.
Dioscurus appears to have sealed his fate at the Council of Ephesus in 449, which he chaired. The council declared Eutyches’ view as orthodox, silencing Flavian’s objections. Flavian died a few days later, most likely do to his violent treatment at the Council. Leo, Bishop of Rome, had sent a letter in support of Flavian and dual nature Christology, but it was left unread. Leo thus branded this council a “robber’s synod.”
| . | Hannah, John, “HT200 Class Notes,”, 11.12. | | . | Ibid., 11.13. | | . | Ibid., 11.14. |
|
About Us
Started by two college roommates with a few hand-me-down theology books.
Now a fun site to find out whether you're orthodox or heretical.
|