The Christological Debate, I: To the First Council of Ephesus (431)

Abstract

Discusses the debate about the nature of Christ and its repercussions from its origins to the Council of Ephesus in 431. Divisions on the question were by no means clear‐cut in their relation to Nicene orthodoxy. The major division became defined around the figures of Nestorius of Constantinople and Cyril of Alexandria. At the Council of Ephesus, Cyril's ‘Twelve Anathemas’ condemned Nestorius and in the long run they were to gain the backing of Rome.