Nestorianism

Palm Sunday (probably), Khocho, Nestorian Temple, 683-770 AD, wall painting - Ethnological Museum, Berlin - DSC01741

Christological spectrum-o2p

nestorianism

Yuan stone Nestorian inscription (rep)

An epitaph of a Nestorian Christian

Nestorianism is a theological doctrine that originated in the early 5th century within the Church of the East. It is named after Nestorius, who was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 428 to 431. Nestorianism emphasizes the disjunction between the human and divine natures of Jesus Christ. This doctrine is often summarized by the rejection of the title Theotokos ("God-bearer" or "Mother of God") for the Virgin Mary, proposing instead the title Christotokos ("Christ-bearer" or "Mother of Christ") to emphasize that Mary was the mother of Jesus' human aspect, not his divine aspect.

Origins and Development

Nestorianism developed as a reaction against what its proponents saw as the potential for monophysitism in the Alexandrian emphasis on the unity of Christ's nature. Nestorius, trained in the Antiochene school of theology, sought to preserve the distinction between Christ's human and divine natures, arguing that without this distinction, the integrity of the human experience of Jesus, including his ability to suffer and die, would be compromised.

The controversy reached its peak at the Council of Ephesus in 431, where Nestorius' teachings were condemned as heretical, leading to his deposition and exile. The council affirmed the title Theotokos for Mary and upheld the unity of Christ's nature as both fully divine and fully human in one person.

Beliefs

Nestorianism holds that in Jesus Christ, the divine and human natures are joined in a union that is moral or concomitant, rather than a hypostatic union as affirmed by orthodox Christianity. This means that while Jesus is both divine and human, these two natures exist alongside each other without mixing, leading to a distinction between the "Son of God" and the "Son of Man" in Jesus Christ.

Spread and Influence

Despite its condemnation, Nestorianism found followers in various parts of the Roman Empire and beyond, particularly in the Sassanian Empire, where the Church of the East became a stronghold of Nestorian thought. From there, it spread along trade routes into Central Asia, India, and even China, where Nestorian Christianity was known as the Jingjiao.

Legacy

Nestorianism's legacy is complex. While it was largely marginalized within the Roman Empire, it played a significant role in the development of Christian thought and practice in Asia. The Church of the East, often identified with Nestorianism, contributed significantly to the cultural and intellectual exchanges along the Silk Road during the Middle Ages.

In modern times, the term "Nestorian" is not preferred by the Church of the East, which argues that it inaccurately represents their doctrine and the teachings of Nestorius. Theological dialogues between the Church of the East and other Christian traditions have clarified that many of the historical differences were due to misunderstandings or political conflicts rather than fundamental theological disagreements.

See Also

• Council of Chalcedon
• Dyophysitism
• Monophysitism
• Christology

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