Grace Thompson
The Council of Ephesus, convened in 431 CE, was one of the first seven ecumenical councils of the Christian Church. It was convened to address the teachings of Nestorius, who asserted that Christ's divinity and humanity were two distinct persons in one body, which was seen as a denial of the Incarnation. The council denounced Nestorius' teachings and decreed that Jesus was one person with both a human and divine nature. The council also issued canons, including one that prohibited the writing of new creeds and another that condemned interference by the Bishop of Antioch in the affairs of the Church in Cyprus. The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches accept the Council of Ephesus as a legitimate ecumenical council, and its canons have had a significant impact on Christian theology and ecclesiastical discipline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 431 AD |
| Purpose | To address the teachings of Nestorius, specifically his assertion that Christ's divinity and humanity were two separate persons in one body, denying the reality of the Incarnation. |
| Outcome | Nestorius was condemned as a heretic and exiled. The council affirmed that Jesus was one person (hypostasis) with both a human and divine nature. The Virgin Mary was declared Theotokos, meaning "God-bearer." |
| Participants | Bishops from the East and West, including Cyril of Alexandria, John of Antioch, and Roman legates (bishops Arcadius and Projectus, and priest Philip). |
| Impact on Catholic Church | The Catholic Church accepts the Council of Ephesus as one of the first seven ecumenical councils. The council's decisions influenced Christological doctrines and the structure of the church. |
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What You'll Learn
The Council of Ephesus and the Catholic Church
The Council of Ephesus, convened in 431 AD, was one of the first seven ecumenical councils of the Christian Church. The council addressed several issues, including the teachings of Nestorius, the nature of Christ, and the role of the Bishop of Antioch. The decisions made at the council had a significant impact on the Catholic Church, and continue to be relevant today.
One of the main issues addressed by the Council of Ephesus was the teaching of Nestorius, a bishop in Constantinople. Nestorius taught that Christ had two distinct natures, divine and human, and that these existed in one body. This doctrine, known as Nestorianism, was seen as heretical by some, including Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria. Cyril argued that Nestorius' formula necessarily led to two Sons, which contradicted the concept of the Incarnation. Cyril appealed to Pope Celestine I, who agreed and gave Cyril the authority to serve Nestorius with a notice of excommunication unless he recanted within ten days.
The Council of Ephesus was convened by Emperor Theodosius II at the request of Nestorius, who sought to defend his teachings. Despite being summoned three times, Nestorius did not attend the council. His teachings were examined and judgment was passed, with 197 bishops subscribing immediately and others accepting later. The council denounced Nestorius' teachings as erroneous and decreed that Jesus was one person (hypostasis), possessing both a human and divine nature. The council also declared it ""unlawful for any man to bring forward, or to write, or to compose a different Faith as a rival to that established by the holy Fathers assembled with the Holy Ghost in Nicæa".
The Council of Ephesus also addressed the role of the Bishop of Antioch, decreeing that no bishop was to "assume control of any province which has not heretofore been under his own hand or that of his predecessors [...] lest the Canons of the Fathers be transgressed". This decision had implications for the ordination of bishops in Cyprus, which had previously been under the authority of the Bishop of Antioch. The council affirmed the right of the prelates of the holy churches of Cyprus to perform ordinations according to the canons of the holy fathers and ancient custom.
The decisions made at the Council of Ephesus continue to be relevant today, particularly in ecumenical discussions between different Christian denominations. In 1994, the Common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East marked the resolution of a dispute that had existed since the Council of Ephesus. The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches accept the Council of Ephesus as a legitimate ecumenical council, while other churches have varying levels of acceptance.
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The Council's stance on Nestorianism
The Council of Ephesus, convened in 431, was the third of seven ecumenical councils. The council was convened by the Roman Emperor Theodosius II and confirmed the original Nicene Creed. It also condemned Nestorius' teachings, which emphasised the distinction between Christ's human and divine natures. Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, preferred that the Virgin Mary be called "Christotokos" ("Christ-bearer") over "Theotokos" ("God-bearer"). This brought him into conflict with other church leaders, particularly Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria.
Nestorius' opponents charged him with separating Christ's divinity and humanity into two persons existing in one body, thereby denying the reality of the Incarnation. They argued that his views undermined the unity of Christ's divine and human natures and implied a fracture in the singularity of Christ, creating two Christ figures. Nestorius himself insisted that his views were orthodox, but they were deemed heretical by the council, leading to the Nestorian Schism. Churches supportive of Nestorius, especially in the Persian Empire, were severed from the rest of Christendom and became known as Nestorian Christianity or the Church of the East.
The Council of Ephesus sent a letter to Theodosius II, indicating that the condemnation of Nestorius had been agreed upon by the bishops of the East and West. The bishops asked to be allowed to return home, as many of them had suffered during their presence at Ephesus. The council also denounced Nestorius' teaching as erroneous and decreed that Jesus was one person (hypostasis) with both a human and divine nature. They affirmed that the Virgin Mary should be called "Theotokos" ("God-bearer"), emphasising that she gave birth to God.
The stance of the Council of Ephesus on Nestorianism was clear: they condemned it as heretical and reaffirmed the unity of Christ's divine and human natures. This condemnation had significant consequences, leading to the schism between churches supportive of Nestorius and the rest of the Christian Church. The Persian Church became increasingly Nestorian in the following decades, further widening the divide between Christianity in Persia and the Roman Empire.
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The role of Pope Celestine I
Pope Celestine I, born c. 359 and died on 27 July 432, was the bishop of Rome from 10 September 422 until his death. He is recognised by the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholic Churches as a saint. He is often portrayed in art as a pope with a dove, dragon, and flame.
Pope Celestine I played a significant role in combating various teachings deemed heretical during his pontificate. He is known for his involvement in the condemnation of Nestorius, a controversial figure in the history of Christianity. Nestorius was accused of separating Christ's divinity and humanity into two distinct persons within one body, which was seen as a denial of the Incarnation. Eusebius, a layman who later became the bishop of Dorylaeum, was the first to accuse Nestorius of heresy. However, his most prominent opponent was Patriarch Cyril of Alexandria.
Cyril of Alexandria appealed to Pope Celestine I, requesting him to make a decision regarding Nestorius's teachings. In response, Celestine delegated the authority to Cyril to condemn Nestorius, giving him the power to excommunicate Nestorius if he did not recant his teachings within ten days. This decision was instrumental in the Council of Ephesus, where Nestorius's teachings were addressed and condemned.
Pope Celestine I also supported the mission of the Gallic bishops, which included sending Germanus of Auxerre to Britain in 429 to address Pelagianism. Additionally, he commissioned Palladius as the bishop to the Scots of Ireland and northern Britain. Celestine was known for his strong opposition to the Novatians in Rome, and he argued for reconciliation and absolution for dying sinners who sincerely sought it.
Furthermore, Pope Celestine I is associated with the First Council of Ephesus, which took place in 431. He sent delegates to this council, and his letters to various bishops, such as those in Africa, Illyria, Thessalonica, and Narbonne, are important sources of information from that time. The Council of Ephesus was one of the first seven ecumenical councils recognised by the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches as legitimate.
Overall, Pope Celestine I was a significant figure in the history of the Catholic Church, particularly for his role in addressing and condemning heretical teachings, his support for ecclesiastical missions, and his involvement in important ecclesiastical councils.
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The dispute between Cyril and Nestorius
Nestorius advocated for a clear distinction between Christ’s divine and human natures, emphasizing that Mary was the mother of Christ’s human nature, not his divine essence. He held that Christ was two separate persons with two separate natures, one human and one divine. Nestorius did not intend to deny the deity of Christ, but he argued that Christ's divinity and humanity were separate to preserve the wholeness of each person of Christ. He believed that he was preaching one indivisible Christ.
On the other hand, Cyril championed the belief in the unity of Christ’s nature, asserting that Christ was one person, fully divine and fully human. He wrote extensively in his letters to Nestorius, calling for him to recant his position and explaining that Christ is one person in whom are perfectly united two natures. Cyril insisted on the title "theotokos" for Mary, the mother of Jesus, not because he was trying to say something about Mary, but to speak primarily about Jesus and who He is.
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The outcome of the Council
The Council of Ephesus, convened in 431, was the third of seven ecumenical councils. The council was convened by Roman Emperor Theodosius II, following a request by Nestorius, who had been condemned by Pope Celestine I for heresy. The council was an attempt to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.
The council confirmed the original Nicene Creed, and condemned the teachings of Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople. Nestorius had argued that the Virgin Mary should be called Christotokos, or "Christ-bearer", rather than Theotokos, or "God-bearer". This brought him into conflict with other church leaders, most notably Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, who deemed Theotokos to be sufficient on its own. The council decreed that Jesus was one person (hypostasis), and not two separate persons, yet possessing both a human and divine nature.
The council also issued a summons for John of Antioch, who had convened a separate conciliabulum, but he refused to receive the envoys sent to serve him. The council issued a formal protest against him, which was counted as the third canonical summons.
The council's outcome was a source of division between Christian churches in Persia and the Roman Empire. The Persian Church became increasingly Nestorian in doctrine, furthering the divide. This dispute was eventually resolved in 1994, with the Common Christological Declaration between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East.
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Frequently asked questions
The Council of Ephesus was a meeting of Church leaders in 431 AD that attempted to reach an orthodox consensus, restore peace, and develop a unified Christendom.
The Council of Ephesus decreed that Jesus was one person (hypostasis), not two separate persons, and that the Virgin Mary was to be called Theotokos, or "God-bearer". It also condemned Nestorius' teaching as erroneous and affirmed that Christ possesses both a human and divine nature.
The Council of Ephesus had a significant impact on the development of Christian theology and orthodoxy. It also contributed to the division between the Persian Church and Christianity in the Roman Empire, as the Persian Church adopted Nestorianism, which was condemned by the Council.
Yes, the Catholic Church accepts the Council of Ephesus as one of the first seven ecumenical councils. However, there are some debates about the interpretation of the canons, specifically regarding the addition of the "Filioque" to the Nicene Creed.
The Council of Ephesus is still significant today as it represents an important milestone in the development of Christian theology and the unification of Christendom. It also continues to be a source of debate and discussion among theologians and historians.
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