· Christology ·

Lecture Thirty Eight:  The Hypostatic Union II

The Christology of Chalcedon

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. Early Attempts to Describe the Person of Christ

A. Arius

Denies Deity

B. Apollinarius

Denies humanity

II. Early Attempts to Relate the Natures of Christ

A. Nestorius

B. Eutyches

III. The Council of Chalcedon

449 AD – 2nd council of Ephesus.

Eutyches brought his own hired muscle to the council. One person was murdered.

451 AD Council of chalcedon.

Was called after 2 years to overturn that decision.

“The Robbers Senate” – it was a gathering of the Bishops from one region.

This council not only to stop Eutyches, but set forth a careful definition to stop the Christological bickering.

“Perfect in Godhead”, consubstantiential with the Father in Godhead.

“Perfect in manhood”

IV. The Definition of Chalcedon

In agreement, therefore, with the holy fathers, we all unanimously teach that we should confess that our Lord Jesus Christ is one and the same Son, the same perfect in Godhead and the same perfect in manhood, truly God and truly man, the same of a rational soul and body, consubstantial [or, of one nature] with the Father in Godhead, and the same consubstantial [or, of one nature] with us in manhood, like us in all things except sin; begotten from the Father before the ages as regards His Godhead, and in these last days, the same, because of us and because of our salvation begotten from the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos [or “God-bearer”], as regards His manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, made known in two natures without confusion, without change, without division, without separation, the difference of the natures being by no means removed because of the union, but the property of each nature being preserved and coalescing in one prosopon and one hypostasis [or one person and one essence] – not parted or divided into two prosopa, but one and the same Son, only-begotten, divine Word, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophets of old and Jesus Christ Himself have taught us about Him and the creed of our fathers has handed down.

A. Affirmations Regarding Two Natures of Christ (italics)

B. Affirmations Regarding the One Person of Christ (boldface)

C. Affirmations Regarding the Relationship Between Christ’s Humanity and Divinity

1. Two Complete Natures

a. Without Confusion, Without Change

b. Without Division, Without Separation

2. One Person

V. The Results of Chalcedon

VI. The Unsettled Questions of Chalcedon

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