difference between alexandrian and antiochene christology pdf

Against this backdrop, it would be tempting to claim that Origen himself must have imbibed too much of Platonic thought. However, church historians have long since recognized that this distinction is neither wholly accurate nor helpful in exegetical studies. Thus, like his predecessors Philo and Clement, Origen believed that the essence of Mosaic Law is also found in natural law. M. F. Wiles and E. J. Yarnold (Peeters: Leuven, 2001), 306. Developing a conducive digital environment where students can pursue their 10/12 level, degree and post graduate programs from the comfort of their homes even if they are attending a regular course at college/school or working. 0000008544 00000 n By answering that question in the negative, the church acknowledged some degree of discontinuity with Mosaic Law. In Nestorius letter to Cyril, he argues that Cyril was right to teach the two natures were united in one person, and right to say that the divinity cannot suffer in itself, but that when he goes on to speak of the deity participating in suffering he undoes all his good work. 1 (2008), 95-110, The Lynching of Nestorius: Cyril, The Strongman of Alexandria, Created or uncreated: The influence of philosophy and cultural normatives on the development of opposing interpretations of Christ as Logos leading up to Nicaea, The Christology of Eutyches at the Council of Constantinople 448. I will show how the distinction between law and gospel in his Commentary on Galatians favors the discontinuity of Mosaic Law. Origens doctrine of the body seems to directly parallel his doctrine of biblical interpretation. 0000005651 00000 n All the courses are of global standards and recognized by competent authorities, thus For himself, he says, he has chosen to be on the. WebFrom 3rd to 4th century, Tertullian and Origen give a more complete doctrine of Christology. This was seen in Clements belief in the eternity of matter and thought, and in cosmic cycles predating the creation of the world. If Jesus was only human, Cyril argues, and God was elsewhere, the Incarnation, the Word become flesh, would be meaningless. 0000007102 00000 n 0000008998 00000 n Whether or not one is persuaded of Edwardss argument here, it is true that Origen sees bodily existence as basically good. In Cyrils letters against to Nestorius, Cyril not only defends the title Theotokos against accusations that it was reviving the heresy of Apollinariusm, but he denies the very legitimacy of using alternative Christological schemes a such as the association of personas the Antiochian thinkers had spoken of. However, it is not the final step. This was the charge of the early church, and many modern scholars have followed suit. 0000003186 00000 n [1] The Alexandrian tradition thus placed a heavier emphasis on the trans-historical, spiritual meaning of Scripture, while the Antiochene tradition stressed the primacy of the literal, historically situated meaning of Scripture. 0000008977 00000 n It would be a mistake to say that the literal sense of a text was irrelevant for Origen; rather, discerning the literal sense was the necessary means by which one could attain the spiritual sense. 85-160), whose name has become synonymous with an excessively lowview of the Old Testament. One of his favorite phrases is: The Logos suffered impassibly. Philo affirmed its authority, but unlike the rabbis of his day, he believed that this authority was found in the realm of ideas which transcended the wording of the text itself. Had a great experience here. The goal of this paper will be to evaluate the life and work of one representative of the Alexandrian tradition, Origen of Alexandria. WebThe Antiochenes looked at Scripture for moral improvement; the Alexandrians sought theosis through contemplative reading. Cyril insists that while of itself human nature is not powerful but passible, in its union with the godhead, as in the dynamic act of Incarnation, the human nature of the Logos thereby becomes an instrument of omnipotent power and thus, in a real thought paradoxical sense, an omnipotent instrument. WebANTIOCHENE THEOLOGY The dominant theology of the early Church in Antioch. [2] Henning Graf Reventlow, History of Biblical Interpretation, trans. Angels were bound to natural law,[16] Gentiles to natural and civil laws, Jews to natural and ceremonial laws, and Christians to the law of Christ. Alexandria had it's own form of Christology, that defined the Human Nature in the Hypostatic Union to be a generic human nature, and this was in contrast (although not incompatible) with the Antiochene Christology that define's Christ's Human nature as a specific human being. WebThe Alexandrian and Antiochian Christological Thoughts1 Many scholars attribute the problem of the Christological formula concerning the nature of Christ "Mia-physis and Dyophyses" to the controversy between the Alexandrian and the Antiochian theology. For Origen, fixation on the literal sense is precisely what led both Jews and Gnostics astray. graduation. At the same time, Origens eschatology suggests that the body is a mere stepping stone to a higher reality, one in which we enjoy immediate communion with God unencumbered by carnal habits like eating and drinking.[10]. [5] His anthropology followed the Greek notion of the inferiority of the physical to the rational, but he still affirmed the Jewish notion of God as Creator. Origen, Contra Celsum, 1.4-5; 5.37. MBA is a two year master degree program for students who want to gain the confidence to lead boldly and challenge conventional thinking in the global marketplace. WebAlexandrian and Antiochene theologians were expedient hermeneuts, meaning they utilized whichever exegetical practice (allegory, typology, literal, historical) that would supply them with their desired theology or interpretive conclusion. Thanks to Moses and the ceremonial laws, a certain part of humankind began to be liberated from the kingdom of sin and death, and cleansing of sins began to be ushered in.[26] Origen even goes so far as to say that the Mosaic Law is a life-giving Spirit for those who understand it spiritually.[27] He argues that it is precisely on this point that both Jews and Marcionites fall into error. In other words, The goal of this paper will be to evaluate the life and work of one representative of the Alexandrian tradition, Origen of Alexandria. Rather, the destruction of the Jewish temple in AD 70 nullified literal observance of the law. Such blending of Greek and Jewish categories is also seen in his handling of Mosaic Law. [25], Third, Origen does not argue that the letters proper function is to kill. Given the various theological controversies that existed in Origens day, it is no surprise that his commentary evinces a somewhat polemical character. [7] Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski, Clement of Alexandria on Trial: The Evidence of Heresy from Photius Bibliotheca (Boston: Brill, 2010), 40-43, 75. HVr6j.qR q}|HHOil$!R3Bok2'?ad #BHQ"Z7+:sGi iU`cVAwy2ZDOKu*&4Yd? 0000009389 00000 n (LogOut/ In their Christology they stressed the divinity of Christ. In these works, Origen describes a threefold distinction in the meanings of Scripture, which correspond to body, soul, and spirit. Although Philo was Jewish, his impact would prove to be far greater on later Christian interpreters, such as Clement. [22], Second, Origen believes that the letter of the law is unattainable. Hovorun, Serhiy. This makes it an invaluable resource on early Christian understanding of Mosaic Law. Para l, el Logos de Dios resucit a Lzaro de la muerte, mientras que el hombre Jess llor ante su tumba. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. For Nestorius, the language of the exchange of properties was generally suspect, and often odious. WebFrom 3rd to 4th century, Tertullian and Origen give a more complete doctrine of Christology. In fact, Philo goes so far as to say that Greek philosophers must have appropriated their thought from Moses himself. The letter brings death when it is separated from the spirit, and when it is turned into an end in itself rather than a means to the end of spiritual obedience. MIRABILIA 17, Home Eletronic Journal of Antiquity & Middle Ages Journal of the Institut d' Estudis Medievals (UAB), Journal of Early Christian Studies 17.3 (2009): 381-419, Vigiliae Christianae 65.4 (2011): 376-407. I was in search of an online course; Perfect e Learn Cyril plunges into the debate with sharp invective, addressing one document To Nestorius, the new Judas. Resumen: Cirilo de Alejandra no slo fue uno de los mejores telogos cristianos de su poca, sino que tambin se destaca en las filas de los ms grandes escritores patrsticos de todas las generaciones, como quiz el ms poderoso exponente de la cristologa que la Iglesia haya conocido. As mentioned above, Origen does not dismiss the literal meaning of Scripture. [2] Even during his own lifetime, he would prove to be a controversial figure. Jesus Christ was both fully human and fully divine. Nestorio fue entronizado como arzobispo el 10 de abril 428. The Alexandrian Christology is usually referred to as Christology from above, orLogos SarxChristology. have discontinued my MBA as I got a sudden job opportunity after Digital Forensics. WebCyril of Alexandria was not only one of the finest Christian theologians of his day, he also stands out in the ranks of the greatest patristic writers of all generations as perhaps the most powerful exponent of Christology the church has known. WebAlexandria as they had his teacher Origen, but Arius almost single-handedly ushered in an era in which the church was well-nigh intoxicated with Christology, though he did so from a Trinitarian perspective and did not waste much time on the articulation between Christs disparate natures. James O. Duke (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009), 1:174-78. According to Edwards, the most that can be inferred from Origens extant writings is that the human soul is created in the hand of God immediately before embodiment, but this does not entail any supposed punitive fall from heaven, as Platonists contend. Edwards also questions the common assumption that Origen held to a doctrine of the pre-existence of the soul. There is no record of a formal school such as apparently existed at alexandria, although lucian of antioch directed his didascalion and Diodore of Tarsus his Clement (d. ca. It was generally in contrast with and sometimes opposed to the theology of Alexandria. Educational programs for all ages are offered through e learning, beginning from the online According to Marcion, the material world was created by an inferior deity known as a Demiurge, who revealed himself to the Hebrews and gave them a law of strict retributive justice. Online tuition for regular school students and home schooling children with clear options for high school completion certification from recognized boards is provided with quality content and coaching. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. En sus cartas contra Nestorio, Cirilo no slo defiende el ttulo de Theotokos contra acusaciones de que estaba reviviendo la hereja del Apolinarianismo, pero l niega la genuina legitimidad del uso de esquemas cristolgicos alternativos, tales como la asociacin de personas, de la que haban hablado los pensadores antioqueos. Origens Hermeneutic in Historical Context. Palabras clave: Theotokos, Anthropotokos, Cristologa, Mariologa, Cirilo de Alejandra. Towards the aim, Perfect E learn has already carved out a niche for itself in India and GCC countries as an online class provider at reasonable cost, serving hundreds of students. Nestorius argued that Theotokos did not do justice to the fact that, strictly speaking, Mary was not the mother of God but rather the mother of the man whom Christian faith recognizes as divine and thus calls God. [9] Mark Edwards, Origen against Plato (Hampshire, England: Ashgate, 2002), 160-1. This method is set forth most explicitly in his work De Principiis (On First Principles), and is also evident in his numerous commentaries. While the Alexandrian school adopted the "hypostasis union" or the "nature union" of the [6] Karlfried Froehlich, Biblical Interpretation in the Early Church (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984), 15-16. It is indeed a good and necessary step in the hermeneutical process. "Abstract. For instance, Wai-Shing Chau writes that Origen was operating on a Middle-platonic scheme, as is evident in his notions concerning the Father as the supreme mind, the existence of intermediaries between mind and the material world, and the pre-existence of the soul. Para Nestorio, el lenguaje del intercambio de propiedades era en general sospechoso, y con frecuencia odioso. Una de sus frases favoritas es: El Logos sufri impasiblemente. Externally, the schools are not as distinct as they have been made out to be: the Alexandrians do not allegorize away the OT as much as has been thought, and the Antiochenes are not necessarily more literal in their methods than the Alexandrians. [4] Elizabeth Lauro, Reconsidering Origens Two Higher Senses of Scriptural Meaning: Identifying the Psychic and Pneumatic Senses, in Studia Patristica 34, ed. The literal sense is thus reduced to a mere receptacle, playing only an instrumental or subordinate role. El historiador contemporneo Scrates Scholasticus calific a Nestorio de hombre orgulloso e ignorante, cuyo innato e indiscutible poder de oratoria ocult una debilidad de pensamiento incisivo. [3] According to Elizabeth Lauro, the somatic sense can be understood as literal, whereas the psychic and pneumatic senses are non-literal. "The Council of Chalcedon 451: In Search of a Balanced and Nuanced Christology," in Seven Icons of Christ: Introduction to the Oecumenical Councils. [7], Such was the heritage of Origens forbears. But the nature and extent of this discontinuity would continue to be debated. In response to these teachings of Marcion, Origen defended the positive value and continuing relevance of Mosaic Law for Christians. The goal of this paper will be to evaluate the life and work of one representative of the Alexandrian tradition, Origen of Alexandria. exams to Degree and Post graduation level. [13] It is also Christianitys oldest surviving commentary on Romans, predating by about 150 years the second oldest commentary, written by John Chrysostom. WebAlexandrian and Antiochene theologians were expedient hermeneuts, meaning they utilized whichever exegetical practice (allegory, typology, literal, historical) that would supply them with their desired theology or interpretive conclusion. Finally, I will conclude by arguing that the Reformed traditions approach to Mosaic Law contains both Alexandrian and Antiochene elements. Therefore, Origen understands the contrast between law and gospel not as one of judgment versus mercy, but rather imperfect religion versus perfect religion. Por otro lado, el trmino Anthropotokos reconoce que Mara es la madre de este hombre, pero dicho trmino puede en s mismo dar a entender que l no es ms que un hombre, lo cual de nuevo es ofensivo a la fe cristiana ortodoxa en la deidad de Cristo. The Christology of the Fourth Letter of Pseudo-Dionysius Areopagite: Chalcedonian or Monophysite? 42 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 44 /H [ 940 297 ] /L 26946 /E 10052 /N 4 /T 25988 >> endobj xref 42 26 0000000016 00000 n 0000008565 00000 n [], [] Alexandrians vs. Antiochenes on Mosaic Law (Part 1) []. Ontological and dynamic aspects of deification through participation ( ) to the divine life, [Mitropolia Olteniei Journal 2014, Special Issue pp. 0000004287 00000 n Where Presbyterian faith meets postmodern culture. [24] Without a temple, there no longer existed the possibility of a priesthood or a sacrificial system. Alexandria and Antioch had developed very different views on the matter: The Alexandrian school leaned towards Christs humanity and divinity being absorbed into each other while Antioch leaned towards maintaining the human and divine in Christ as two separate beings. For him, God the Logos raised the dead Lazarus, while the man Jesus wept at the tomb. In scriptural exegesis it placed more emphasis on the But rather than undermining the doctrine of biblical inspiration, Origen saw these inconsistencies as divinely intended pointers to the deeper, spiritual meaning. %PDF-1.3 % Note: this paper was previously written for a class on the History of Biblical Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. i.e, word became flesh. 0000007720 00000 n Make note of their respective leaders and methodologies, The Christology of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Conditioning Christology in the Early Church, Church History Lesson 17 -Christological Controversies to Chalcedon (451, The Result of the Christological Debate in the Council of Chalcedon, Christological Heresies Related to the Person and Natures of Jesus -Hammons.docx, Appealing to Creed: Theodore of Mopsuestia and Cyril of Alexandria, LOGOS-SARX CHRISTOLOGY AND THE SIXTH-CENTURY MIAENERGISM, The Mystery of the Incarnation: Towards a Reconciliation of Cyril and Nestorius, Divine Suffering & the Christological Vocabularies of St Cyril. WebCyril of Alexandria was not only one of the finest Christian theologians of his day, he also stands out in the ranks of the greatest patristic writers of all generations as perhaps the most powerful exponent of Christology the church has known. [11] Jews insisted on the total application of Mosaic Law, while Gnostics repudiated Mosaic Law altogether, but both camps were guilty of carnal exegesis. [17] All of these laws, however, were in some sense an expression of Gods unchanging moral will. WebThe notion that there existed a distinction between so-called Alexandrian and Antiochene exegesis in the ancient church has become a common assumption among theologians. Ever since its inception, the church has struggled to understand the proper place of Mosaic Law in Christian ethics. Quite the contrary, Origen believes that the letter of the Mosaic Law brought the beginnings of life to humanity. This sets up another important distinction in Origens conception of Mosaic Lawnamely, that between the ceremonial law and the moral law. 120-146], The Mystery of the Impossible Union of Divinity and Humanity in Jesus Christ, "The Bishop of Rome and the Ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, AD 451: Why Pope Leo Is Doctrinal and Disciplinary Demands were Met," MA Thesis (2011), Duo filii and the homo assumptus in the Christology of Theodore of Mopsuestia: The Greek fragments of the Commentary on John., Is There Room for Two? Theological Controversy in the Seventh Century Concerning Activities and Wills in Christ. Supervised by Andrew Louth, (University of Durham, 2004). Theodore of Mopsuestia prefers to speak of the perfect union of Christs natures rather than synthesis. This article questions the value of the categories the school of Antioch and Antiochene christology on the basis of the significant theological differences between the two central figures in the school: John Chrysostom and Theodore of Mopsuestia, both of whom studied together at the school of Diodore of Tarsus in the late fourth century. My childs preference to complete Grade 12 from Perfect E Learn was almost similar to other children. For example, his refutation of Gnostic ideas like the permanent, intrinsic goodness or wickedness of souls led him to infer the possibility of final salvation for all people, even perhaps the devil. 0000000867 00000 n The contemporary historian Socrates called Nestorius a proud and ignorant man whose innate and undisputed oratorical power masked a weakness of incisive thought. Origen identifies the content of natural law with what is known as the second table of the law, encompassing such prohibitions as murder, adultery, and false testimony. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. On the one hand, Jewish interpreters insisted on the total and literal application of Mosaic Law, compelling Christians to defend the supremacy of the revelation of Christ. [25] Thomas Scheck, Law, in The Westminster Handbook to Origen, ed. 0000005673 00000 n 0000009443 00000 n As Chau observes, The New Testament differs from the Old only in being a clearer, but not a fuller, manifestation of the spirit.[28], (See the conclusion of the paper in Part 2.). WebThe notion that there existed a distinction between so-called Alexandrian and Antiochene exegesis in the ancient church has become a common assumption among theologians. Such aberrations in theology persuaded his own bishop Demetrius to denounce him as a heretic, and many of Origens views would be condemned in AD 553 at the Fifth Ecumenical Council in Constantinople. [20] In this respect, one sees a clear overlap with the content of Mosaic Law, and especially the Ten Commandments. The New Testament describes the early controversy over the question of whether to circumcise Gentile believers (Acts 15). Change). 0000000940 00000 n WebThe theology of the Alexandrian school was influenced by the Platonic traditions of Philosophy. These and works of a similar nature are the works by which he says no one can be saved[21], Three observations ought to be noted here. [18] Cf. ", Popular Controversies in World History: Investigating History's Intriguing Questions, Anglican Theological Review 94:3 (Summer), De Medio Aevo 2 (2012 / 2) ISSN-e 2255-5889. However, church historians have long since recognized that this distinction is neither wholly accurate nor helpful in exegetical studies. John Anthony McGuckin (Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004), 140-41. This is why Origen can speak of Christian baptism as the spiritual equivalent of circumcision (Calvinists were not the first to make this connection!). 0000007081 00000 n [12] This is the only commentary of Origens to have survived from beginning to end, even though it has been significantly truncated in the Latin translation of Rufinus of Aquileia (only a few scattered fragments of the original Greek still exist). Such a categorization would overlook the dual aspect of every text of Scripture. In spite of some of his more idiosyncratic conclusions, Origen developed an exegetical method that would have a profound impact on subsequent theologians. Cyril of Alexandria was not only one of the finest Christian theologians of his day, he also stands out in the ranks of the greatest patristic writers of all generations as perhaps the most powerful exponent of Christology the church has known. This article questions the value of the categories the school of Antioch and Antiochene christology on the basis of the significant theological differences between the two central figures in the school: John Chrysostom and Theodore of Mopsuestia, both of whom studied together at the school of Diodore of Tarsus in the late fourth century. But the relationship between these two senses is like that between an earthenware vessel and a treasure hidden inside. 0000001508 00000 n As a result, the Alexandrians tended to see Mosaic Law in terms of continuity, and the Antiochenes tended to see it in terms of discontinuity. [4] The difference between the two non-literal senses is that the psychic concerns day-to-day ethical living, while the pneumatic concerns higher theological and christological truths. Origens defense of Mosaic Law in his Commentary on Romans is rather complex, and it may be helpful to analyze his argument topically, in terms of various distinctions that he makes. Antiochene theology Quick Reference A modern designation for a style of theology associated with the Church at Antioch, contrasted with Alexandrine theology. Theological History of Two Natures/One Person, The rejection of the term Theotokos by Nestorius Constantinople, Nestorius did not intend to argue that Christ had a dual nature, but that view became labeled Nestorianism (PRO), The Two Is of Christ: Revisiting the Christological Controversy, El rechazo del trmino Theotokos por Nestorio de Constantinopla y la refutacin de su enseanza por Cirilo de Alejan, La Virgen Mara, Theotokos, y Cristo, verdadero Dios y verdadero Hombre. Alexandria had it's own form of Christology, that defined the Human Nature in the Hypostatic Union to be a generic human nature, and this was in contrast (although not incompatible) with the Antiochene Christology that define's Christ's Human nature as a specific human being. Dr. Pittenger's Criticism of the Alexandrine Christology.-In one place Dr. Pittenger admits that the Alexandrine and the Antiochene are two legitimate ways of thinking on the Person of our Lord, and that each of them will have adherents and admirers all the time. Grace is the essence of Sinai, but it is veiled until Calvary. WebAntiochene exegetes tended to insist more than their Alexandrian counterparts on the importance of seeing each biblical passage in its context within the longer narrative of Israels history, and to search for practical, moral applications, while Alexandrian interpreters tended to be more interested in the theological and spiritual meaning. Part 1can be readhere. 0000008123 00000 n One important distinction is that between Mosaic Law and natural law. In particular, I will focus on his Commentary on Romans and show how his hermeneutical distinction between letter and spirit favors the continuity of Mosaic Law in Christian ethics. Alexandria and Antioch had developed very different views on the matter: The Alexandrian school leaned towards Christs humanity and divinity being absorbed into each other while Antioch leaned towards maintaining the human and divine in Christ as two separate beings. Antiochene side. WebCompatibility of Antiochene and Alexandrian Christology - Read online for free. 0000001237 00000 n The Alexandrian Christology is usually referred to as Christology from above, orLogos SarxChristology. WebAlexandria as they had his teacher Origen, but Arius almost single-handedly ushered in an era in which the church was well-nigh intoxicated with Christology, though he did so from a Trinitarian perspective and did not waste much time on the articulation between Christs disparate natures. I in KSA, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. Jesucristo era plenamente humano y plenamente divino. 215 AD) was committed to the idea that all truth, whether in pagan or biblical sources, found its fulfillment in the reality of Christ. Nestorius was enthroned as archbishop on April 10th 428. test, which makes it an ideal choice for Indians residing Two interpretive traditions emerged: the Alexandrian and the Antiochene. WebThe theology of the Alexandrian school was influenced by the Platonic traditions of Philosophy. 845 (2012) 153-177. THE TRIAL OF EUTYCHES: A NEW INTERPRETATION, Catholicity and Heresy in the Early Church - Mark J. Edwards, Compare and contrast the theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch. [14] Riemer Roukema, Law of Nature, in The Westminster Handbook of Origen, ed.

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