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III. SYMBOLUM CHALCEDONENSE.
THE SYMBOL OF CHALCEDON.
Oct. 22d, 451.
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Ἑπόμενοι
τοίνυν τοῖς ἁγίοις
πατράσιν
ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν
ὁμολογεῖν
υἱὸν τὸν κύριον
ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν
συμφώνως ἅπαντες ἐκδιδάσκομεν, τέλειον
τὸν αὐτὸν ἐν θεότητι καὶ τέλειον τὸν αὐτὸν ἐν ἀνθρωπότητι, θεὸν ἀληθῶς καὶ ἄνθρωπον
ἀληθῶς τὸν αὐτὸν,
ἐκ ψυχῆς
λογικῆς
6565
Against
Apollinaris, who denied that Christ had a
ψυχὴ
λογική
,
anima
rationalis
, or
νοῦς,
πνεῦμα
, and who reduced the Incarnation to the assumption
of a human body (
σῶμα
) with
an animal soul (
ψυχὴ
ἄλογος
), inhabited by the Divine Logos. But the rational
spirit of man requires salvation as much as the body.
καὶ
σώματος,
ὁμοούσιον
6666
Ὁμοούσιος
,
consubstantialis
(al.
coessentialis
), is used in both
clauses, though with a shade of difference. Christ's homoousia with the Father implies numerical unity, or identity of
essence (God being one in being, or monoousios); Christ's homoousia with men means only generic unity, or
equality of nature.
τῷ πατρὶ κατὰ
τὴν θεότητα, καὶ
ὁμοούσιον
6767
Ὁμοούσιος
,
consubstantialis
(al.
coessentialis
), is used in both
clauses, though with a shade of difference. Christ's homoousia with the Father implies numerical unity, or identity of
essence (God being one in being, or monoousios); Christ's homoousia with men means only generic unity, or
equality of nature.
τὸν
αὐτὸν ἡμῖν κατὰ τὴν ἀνθρωπότητα,
κατὰ πάντα ὅμοιον ἡμῖν χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας·
πρὸ αἰώνων μὲν ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς
γεννηθέντα κατὰ τὴν θεότητα, ἐπ᾽
ἐσχάτων δὲ τῶν ἡμερῶν τὸν αὐτὸν
δἰ ἡμᾶς καὶ διὰ τὴν ἡμετέραν σωτηρίαν
ἐκ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου τῆς
θεοτόκου κατὰ τὴν
ἀνθρωπότητα
,6868
The predicate
θεοτόκος
,
the Bringer-forth of God,
Dei genitrix
(al.
quæ
Deum peperit
, or even
divini numinis creatrix
), is directed against Nestorius, and was meant
originally not so much to exalt the Virgin Mary, as to assert the true divinity of Christ and the realness of
the Incarnation. Basil of Seleucia:
Θεὸν
σαρκωθέντα τεκοῦσα
θεοτόκος
ὀνομάζεται.
It is immediately after
qualified by the phrase
κατὰ τὴν
ἀνθρωπότητα
(
secundum humanitatem
), in distinction from
κατὰ τὴν
θεότητα
(
secundum deitatem
). This is a very important limitation, and necessary
to guard against Mariolatry, and the heathenish, blasphemous, and contradictory notion that the uncreated,
eternal God can be born in time. Mary was the mother not merely of the human nature of Jesus of
Nazareth, but of the theanthropic person of Jesus Christ; yet not of his eternal Godhead (the
λόγος
ἄσαρκος
), but of his incarnate person, or the Logos
united to humanity (the
λόγος
ἔνσαρκος
). In like manner, the subject of the
Passion was the theanthropic person; yet not according to his divine nature, which in itself is
incapable of suffering, but according to his human nature, which was the organ of suffering. There is no
doubt, however, that the unscriptural terms
θεοτόκος
,
Dei genitrix
,
Deipara
,
mater Dei
, which remind one
of the heathen mothers of gods, have greatly promoted Mariolatry, which aided in the defeat of Nestorius at
the Council of Ephesus, 431. It is safer to adhere to the New Testament designation of Mary as
μήτηρ
Ἰησοῦ
, or
μήτηρ τοῦ Κυρίου
(Luke i. 43).
ἕνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν Χριστόν, υἱόν, κύριον, μονογενῆ, ἐκ δύο
φύσεων [ἐν δύο
φύσεσιν]
,6969
Ἐν
δύο φύσεσιν
, and all the Latin
translations,
in duabus naturis
(only the Roman editors in the margin
read ex d. n.), are directed against Eutyches. The present Greek text reads, it is true,
ἐκ δύο
φύσεων
, from two natures; but this signifies, and,
according to the connection, can only signify, essentially the same thing; though, separately taken, it
admits also of an Eutychian and Monophysite interpretation, namely, that Christ has arisen from the
confluence of two natures, and since the act of the Incarnation, or unition of both, has only one
nature. Understood in that sense, Dioscurus at the Council was very willing to accept the formula
ἐκ δύο
φύσεων
. But for this very reason the Orientals, and
also the Roman delegates, protested with one voice against
ἐκ
, and insisted upon another formula
with
ἐν
, which was adopted. Baur
(Gesch. der Lehre v. d. Dreieinigkeit, I. p. 820 sq.) and Dorner (Gesch. d. Lehre v. d. Person
Christi, II. p. 129) assert that
ἐκ
is the accurate and original expression, and is a concession to Monophysitism; that it also agrees better (?)
with the verb
γνωρίζειν
(to recognize by certain tokens); but that it was from the very beginning changed by the Occidentals into
ἐν
. But, with Gieseler, Neander
(iv. 988), Hefele (Conciliengesch. II. 451 sq.), Beck (Dogmengeschichte, p. 251), and Hahn
(l.c. p. 118, note 6), we prefer the view that
ἐν
δύο φύσεσιν
was the original reading
of the symbol, and that it was afterwards altered in the interest of Monophysitism. This is proved by the
whole course of the proceedings at the fifth session of the Council of Chalcedon, where the expression
ἐκ δύο
φύσεσιν
was protested against, and is confirmed by the
testimony of the Abbot Euthymius, a contemporary, and by that of Severus, Evagrius, and Leontius of Byzantium,
as well as by the Latin translations. Severus, the Monophysite Patriarch of Antioch since 513, charges the
Fathers of Chalcedon with the inexcusable crime of having taught
ἐν δύο
φύσεσιν
ἀδιαιρέτοις
γνωρίζεσθαι τὸν
χριστόν
(see Mansi, Conc. VII. p. 839).
Evagrius (H. E. II. c. 5) maintains that both formulas amount to essentially the same thing, and
reciprocally condition each other. Dorner also affirms the same. His words are: 'The Latin formula has
"to acknowledge Christ as Son in two natures;" the Greek has "to recognize Christ as
Son from two natures," which is plainly
the same thought. The Latin formula is only
a free but essentially faithful translation, only that its coloring expresses somewhat more definitely still
Christ's subsisting in two natures, and is therefore more literally conformable to the Roman type of
doctrine' (l.c. II. 129). From my Church History, Vol. III. p. 745 sq.
ἀσυγχύτως,
ἀτρέπτως
,7070
ἀσυγχύτως
,
inconfuse
, and
ἀτρέπτως
,
immutabiliter
(without confusion, without conversion or
change), are directed against Eutychianism, which mixes and confounds the human and the divine natures
in Christ (
σύγχυσις
), and teaches an absorption of the
former into the latter; hence the phrases 'God is born; God suffered; God was crucified; God died.'
The Monophysites (so called after the Council of Chalcedon) rejected the Eutychian theory of an absorption,
but nevertheless taught only one composite nature of Christ
(
μία φύσις
σύνθετος
), making his humanity a mere accident of
the immutable divine substance, and using the liturgical shibboleth 'God has been crucified' (without
a qualifying 'according to the human nature,' or 'the flesh,' as the
(
θεοτόκος
is qualified in the Symbol of Chalcedon).
Hence they were also called Theopaschites. They divided into several sects and parties on subtle and
idle questions, especially the question whether Christ's body before the resurrection was
corruptible or incorruptible (hence the Phthartolaters, from
φθαρτός
and
λάτρης
, and
Aphthartodocetæ).
ἀδιαιρέτως,
ἀχωρίστως
7171
ἀδιαιρέτως
,
indivise
,
ἀχωρίστως
,
inseparabiliter
(without division, without separation), both in
opposition to Nestorianism, which so emphasized the duality of natures, and the continued distinction between
the human and the divine in Christ, as to lose sight of the unity of person, and to substitute for a real
Incarnation a mere conjunction
(
συνάφεια
), a moral union or intimate friendship
between the Divine Logos and the man Jesus. Hence, also, the opposition to the term
θεοτόκος
,
with which the Nestorian controversy began.
|
We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational]
soul7272
Against Apollinaris, who denied that Christ had a
ψυχὴ
λογική
,
anima rationalis
, or
νοῦς, πνεῦμα
,
and who reduced the Incarnation to the assumption of a human body (
σῶμα
)
with an animal soul (
ψυχὴ ἄλογος
), inhabited by the Divine Logos. But the
rational spirit of man requires salvation as much as the body.
and body; consubstantial
[coessential]7373
Ὁμοούσιος
,
consubstantialis
(al.
coessentialis
), is used in both
clauses, though with a shade of difference. Christ's homoousia with the Father implies numerical unity, or identity of
essence (God being one in being, or monoousios); Christ's homoousia with men means only generic unity, or
equality of nature.
with the Father according to the Godhead, and
consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the
Father
according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God,
according to the Manhood;7474
The predicate
θεοτόκος
,
the Bringer-forth of God,
Dei genitrix
(al.
quæ
Deum peperit
, or even
divini numinis creatrix
), is directed against Nestorius, and was meant
originally not so much to exalt the Virgin Mary, as to assert the true divinity of Christ and the realness of
the Incarnation. Basil of Seleucia:
Θεὸν
σαρκωθέντα τεκοῦσα
θεοτόκος
ὀνομάζεται.
It is immediately after
qualified by the phrase
κατὰ τὴν
ἀνθρωπότητα
(
secundum humanitatem
), in distinction from
κατὰ τὴν
θεότητα
(
secundum deitatem
). This is a very important limitation, and necessary
to guard against Mariolatry, and the heathenish, blasphemous, and contradictory notion that the uncreated,
eternal God can be born in time. Mary was the mother not merely of the human nature of Jesus of
Nazareth, but of the theanthropic person of Jesus Christ; yet not of his eternal Godhead (the
λόγος
ἄσαρκος
), but of his incarnate person, or the Logos
united to humanity (the
λόγος
ἔνσαρκος
). In like manner, the subject of the
Passion was the theanthropic person; yet not according to his divine nature, which in itself is
incapable of suffering, but according to his human nature, which was the organ of suffering. There is no
doubt, however, that the unscriptural terms
θεοτόκος
,
Dei genitrix
,
Deipara
,
mater Dei
, which remind one
of the heathen mothers of gods, have greatly promoted Mariolatry, which aided in the defeat of Nestorius at
the Council of Ephesus, 431. It is safer to adhere to the New Testament designation of Mary as
μήτηρ
Ἰησοῦ
, or
μήτηρ τοῦ Κυρίου
(Luke i. 43).
one and the same Christ, Son, Lord,
Only-begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures,7575
Ἐν
δύο φύσεσιν
, and all the Latin
translations,
in duabus naturis
(only the Roman editors in the margin
read ex d. n.), are directed against Eutyches. The present Greek text reads, it is true,
ἐκ δύο
φύσεων
, from two natures; but this signifies, and,
according to the connection, can only signify, essentially the same thing; though, separately taken, it
admits also of an Eutychian and Monophysite interpretation, namely, that Christ has arisen from the
confluence of two natures, and since the act of the Incarnation, or unition of both, has only one
nature. Understood in that sense, Dioscurus at the Council was very willing to accept the formula
ἐκ δύο
φύσεων
. But for this very reason the Orientals, and
also the Roman delegates, protested with one voice against
ἐκ
, and insisted upon another formula
with
ἐν
, which was adopted. Baur
(Gesch. der Lehre v. d. Dreieinigkeit, I. p. 820 sq.) and Dorner (Gesch. d. Lehre v. d. Person
Christi, II. p. 129) assert that
ἐκ
is the accurate and original expression, and is a concession to Monophysitism; that it also agrees better (?)
with the verb
γνωρίζειν
(to recognize by certain tokens); but that it was from the very beginning changed by the Occidentals into
ἐν
. But, with Gieseler, Neander
(iv. 988), Hefele (Conciliengesch. II. 451 sq.), Beck (Dogmengeschichte, p. 251), and Hahn
(l.c. p. 118, note 6), we prefer the view that
ἐν
δύο φύσεσιν
was the original reading
of the symbol, and that it was afterwards altered in the interest of Monophysitism. This is proved by the
whole course of the proceedings at the fifth session of the Council of Chalcedon, where the expression
ἐκ δύο
φύσεσιν
was protested against, and is confirmed by the
testimony of the Abbot Euthymius, a contemporary, and by that of Severus, Evagrius, and Leontius of Byzantium,
as well as by the Latin translations. Severus, the Monophysite Patriarch of Antioch since 513, charges the
Fathers of Chalcedon with the inexcusable crime of having taught
ἐν δύο
φύσεσιν
ἀδιαιρέτοις
γνωρίζεσθαι τὸν
χριστόν
(see Mansi, Conc. VII. p. 839).
Evagrius (H. E. II. c. 5) maintains that both formulas amount to essentially the same thing, and
reciprocally condition each other. Dorner also affirms the same. His words are: 'The Latin formula has
"to acknowledge Christ as Son in two natures;" the Greek has "to recognize Christ as
Son from two natures," which is plainly
the same thought. The Latin formula is only
a free but essentially faithful translation, only that its coloring expresses somewhat more definitely still
Christ's subsisting in two natures, and is therefore more literally conformable to the Roman type of
doctrine' (l.c. II. 129). From my Church History, Vol. III. p. 745 sq.
inconfusedly, unchangeably,7676
ἀσυγχύτως
,
inconfuse
, and
ἀτρέπτως
,
immutabiliter
(without confusion, without conversion or
change), are directed against Eutychianism, which mixes and confounds the human and the divine natures
in Christ (
σύγχυσις
), and teaches an absorption of the
former into the latter; hence the phrases 'God is born; God suffered; God was crucified; God died.'
The Monophysites (so called after the Council of Chalcedon) rejected the Eutychian theory of an absorption,
but nevertheless taught only one composite nature of Christ
(
μία φύσις
σύνθετος
), making his humanity a mere accident of
the immutable divine substance, and using the liturgical shibboleth 'God has been crucified' (without
a qualifying 'according to the human nature,' or 'the flesh,' as the
(
θεοτόκος
is qualified in the Symbol of Chalcedon).
Hence they were also called Theopaschites. They divided into several sects and parties on subtle and
idle questions, especially the question whether Christ's body before the resurrection was
corruptible or incorruptible (hence the Phthartolaters, from
φθαρτός
and
λάτρης
, and Aphthartodocetæ).
indivisibly,
inseparably;7777
ἀδιαιρέτως
,
indivise
,
ἀχωρίστως
,
inseparabiliter
(without division, without separation), both in
opposition to Nestorianism, which so emphasized the duality of natures, and the continued distinction between
the human and the divine in Christ, as to lose sight of the unity of person, and to substitute for a real
Incarnation a mere conjunction
(
συνάφεια
), a moral union or intimate friendship
between the Divine Logos and the man Jesus. Hence, also, the opposition to the term
θεοτόκος
,
with which the Nestorian controversy began.
|
| Χριστόν· καθάπερ ἄνωθεν οἱ προφῆται περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς ἡμᾶς ὁ κύριος Ιησοῦς Χριστὸς ἐξεπαίδευσε καὶ τὸ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῖν καραδέδωκε σύμβολον. | the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us. |
SYMBOLUM CHALCEDONENSE. VERSIO LATINA.
Sequentes igitur sanctos patres, unum eundemque confiteri Filium et Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum consonanter omnes docemus, eundem perfectum in deitate et eundem perfectum in humanitate; Deum verum et hominem verum eundem ex anima rationali et corpore; consubstantialem Patri secundum deitatem, consubstantialem nobis eundem secundum humanitatem; 'per omnia nobis similem, absque peccato' (Heb. iv.): ante secula quidem de Patre genitum secundum deitatem; in novissimis autem diebus eundem propter nos et propter nostram salutem ex Maria virgine, Dei genitrice secundum humanitatem; unum eundemque Christum, filium, Dominum, unigenitum, in duabus naturis inconfuse, immutabiliter, indivise, inseperabiliter agnoscendum: nusquam sublata differentia naturarum propter unitionem, magisque salva proprietate utriusque naturæ, et in unam personam atque subsistentiam concurrente: non in duos personas partitum aut divisum, sed unum eundemque Filium et unigenitum, Deum verbum, Dominum Jesum Christum; sicut ante prophetæ de eo et ipse nos Jesus Christus erudivit et patrum nobis symbolum tradidit.
NOTES.
The Greek text, together with the Latin version, is taken from the ὅρος τῆς ἐν Χαλκηδόνι τετάρτης Συνόδου , Act. V. in Mansi, Conc. Tom. VII. p. 115. We have inserted ἐν δύο φύσεσιν (see note 4). There are several other Latin versions which Mansi gives, Tom. VII. pp. 115 and 751–758, with the various readings. See also Hahn, l.c. pp. 117 sqq.
The Creed is preceded in the acts of the Council by an express confirmation of the Nicene Creed in both forms, 'the Creed of the three hundred and eighteen holy Fathers of Nicæa,' and 'the Creed of the hundred and fifty holy Fathers who were assembled at Constantinople.' The Fathers of Chalcedon declare that 'this wise and saving Creed [of Nicæa] would be sufficient for the full acknowledgment and confirmation of the true religion; for it teaches completely the perfect doctrine concerning the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and fully explains the Incarnation of the Lord to those who receive it faithfully.' The addition of a new Creed is justified by the subsequent Christological heresies (Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and Eutychianism). After stating it, the Synod solemnly prohibits, on pain of deposisition 64and excommunication, the setting forth of any other Creed for those 'who are desirous of turning to the acknowledgment of the truth from Heathenism and Judaism.'
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