Nestorius
Nestorius was a prominent theological figure in the early Christian church, serving as the bishop of Constantinople starting in 428 CE. He is best known for his theological disputes with Saint Cyril of Alexandria, particularly regarding the nature of Christ and the appropriate title for the Virgin Mary. While Cyril championed the term "Theotokos" or "God-bearer," suggesting that Mary gave birth to the divine Jesus, Nestorius advocated for the term "Christ-bearer," which implied that only Christ's human nature was born of Mary. This disagreement contributed to significant theological controversy between the Alexandrian and Antiochene schools of thought.
In 431 CE, the Council of Ephesus ultimately deposed Nestorius, leading to his exile for the final two decades of his life. During this time, he authored the "Liber Heraclidis," in which he defended his theological intentions. Despite his teachings being later misunderstood as suggesting that Christ had two distinct persons, Nestorius viewed the Council of Chalcedon's declaration in 451 CE—asserting that Christ was "one person in two natures"—as a confirmation of his own views. Modern historians have begun to reassess Nestorius's legacy, questioning the motivations behind his condemnation as a heretic and exploring the complexities of his theological claims.
Nestorius
Related civilization: Byzantine Empire
Major role/position: Religious figure
Life
In 428 c.e., Nestorius (neh-STOHR-ee-uhs) became bishop of Constantinople, a post from which he stirred theological controversy with Cyril, his counterpart in Alexandria. Saint Cyril of Alexandria advocated the term Theotokos, or “God-bearer,” in reference to the Virgin Mary. The term meant that Jesus Christ’s divine nature underwent the human act of birth; hence, Mary was “mother of God.” In response, Nestorius advocated the term “Christ-bearer” for Mary, implying that only Christ’s human nature underwent birth, not the divine.
The controversy was exacerbated by hot tempers, misunderstandings, and rivalries between Alexandrian and Antiochene schools of theology. The 431 c.e. Council of Ephesus deposed Nestorius, and his writings were later destroyed. Nestorius was driven into exile for his remaining twenty years. While banished, he wrote the Liber Heraclidis (fifth century c.e.; Bazaar of Heracleides, 1925), a defense of his orthodox intentions. However, belief that Christ’s human and divine natures constituted two people under the appearance of one became associated with Nestorius, though this is an exaggeration of his teaching. Nestorius hailed the Council of Chalcedon’s declaration in 451 c.e. that Christ was “one person in two natures” as confirmation of his doctrine.
Influence
Nestorius taught that Christ’s divinity was shielded from human suffering. Biblical statements about Christ referred distinctly to his divinity or to his humanity. Some twentieth century historians have reevaluated Nestorius’s teachings, suspicious of the politics involved in condemning him as a heretic.
Bibliography
Driver, G. R., and L. Hodgson. Nestorius: The Bazaar of Heracleides. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1925.
Ferguson, Everett. Doctrinal Diversity. New York: Garland, 1999.
Gonzalez, Justo L. A History of Christian Thought. Vol 1. Nashville, Tenn.: Abingdon, 1970.