Council of Ephesus
- This 431 council is distinguished from the "Second Council of Ephesus" in AD 449.
The Council of Ephesus was held in Ephesus, Asia Minor in 431 under Emperor Theodosius II, grandson of Theodosius the Great; Ephesus was the city of Artemis, see also Acts 19:28. Approximately 200 Bishops were present. The proceedings were conducted in a heated atmosphere of confrontation and recriminations. It was the Third Ecumenical Council. It was chiefly concerned with Nestorianism.
Nestorianism emphasized the dual natures of Christ. Patriarch Nestorius taught that Mary, the mother of Jesus gave birth to the incarnate Christ, not the divine Logos who existed before Mary and indeed before time itself. Consequently, Mary should be called Christotokos, Greek for the "Mother of Christ" and not Theotokos, Greek for the "Mother of God." This was essentially a Christological controversy.
At the urging of its president Cyril of Alexandria, the Council denounced Nestorius' teaching as erroneous and decreed that Jesus was one person, not two separate people: complete God and complete man, with a rational soul and body. The Virgin Mary was to be called Theotokos because she bore and gave birth to God as a man. This did not resolve the debate over the union of the two natures of Christ, and related issues were debated at the Council of Chalcedon.
The Council of Ephesus also declared the text of the Nicene Creed of 381 to be complete and forbade any additional change (addition or deletion) to it. In addition, it condemned Pelagianism.
Eight canons[1] were passed:
Canon 1 decreed a heretic named Celestius (so Scholion), anathema.
Canon 2-5 decreed Nestorianism anathema.
Canon 6 decreed those who do not abide by the canons of Ephesus are excommunicated.
Canon 7 decreed those who do not abide by Nicaea are anathema.
Canon 8: "Let the rights of each province be preserved pure and inviolate. No attempt to introduce any form contrary to these shall be of any avail." Mention is made of the Canons of the Apostles.
External links
- Eight canons promulgated by the Council of Ephesus
- Medieval Sourcebook: Documents and letters concerning the Council of Ephesus
- Extracts from the Acts of the council
- Catholic Encyclopedia: Ephesus, Council of; report of proceeding from the Catholic POV
- Michael J. Svigel, "The Phantom Heresy:Did the Council of Ephesus (431) Condemn Chiliasm?"
- Council of Ephesus
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