Christological teaching of the Church of Alexandria (CT9700A)

Content

Students undertaking this unit will learn about the two schools of Christological teaching (Alexandria & Antioch) in the early church and the Christological controversies of the 5th century that arose as a result. Students will study the Christological teaching, canons and documents of the two Ecumenical councils Ephesus (431) and Chalcedon (451), focusing on the Christological debate. The Christological stand of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, particularly the position of the Coptic Church, will be explored, compared and contrasted to the definition adopted at the Council of Chalcedon. The unit will cover the efforts to reconcile the two views of the relationship of the Divinity and Humanity of the incarnated Christ from the 5th century till the modern dialogue in the 20th and 21ST centuries.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

One unit of New Testament or Church History Prohibited combinations: Only one of CT9700A or CT9709A may be taken

Pedagogy

Weekly lectures and class discussions

Indicative Bibliography

• Abramowski, Luise & Goodman, Alan E. (Eds.). Nestorian Collection of Christological Texts, Volume 2: Introduction, Translations and Indexes. University of Cambridge Oriental Publications, 1972.
• Davis, Stephen. Coptic Christology in practice: incarnation and divine participation in late antique and medieval Egypt. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
• Donald, Leo Davis. The first seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): their history and theology. Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 1990.
• Hardy, Edward R. (Ed). Christology of the Later Fathers. Westminster: John Knox press, 1995.
• Ishak, Shenouda M. Christology and the council of Chalcedon. Outskirts Press, 2013. (recommended for purchase)
• McGuckin, John. Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy. Crestwood, New York: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2004.
• Price, Richard and Whitby, Mary (Eds.). Chalcedon in Context Church Councils 400–700: Translated Texts for Historians. Liverpool University Press, 2009.
• _____ & Gaddis Michael. *The Acts of the Council of Chalcedon, Translated with introduction and notes by Richard Price and Michael Gaddis. Liverpool University Press, 2005.
• Samuel, V.C. The council of Chalcedon, Re-Examined. Oriental Orthodox Library, 2005. (recommended for purchase)
• Sellers, D.D. Two Ancient Christologies: A Study in the Christological Thoughts of the School of Alexandria and Antioch in the Early History of the Christian Doctrine. London: Billing and Sons Ltd., Guilford and Esher, 1954.
• ______. The Council of Chalcedon a Historical and Doctrinal Survey. S.P.C.K., 1953. * Welch, Lawrence J. Christology and Eucharist in the early thought of Cyril of Alexandria . San Francisco, CA: Catholic Scholars Press, 1994.
• Wessel, Susan. Cyril of Alexandria and the Nestorian Controversy: The Making of a Saint and of a Heretic, Oxford Early Christian Studies. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004.
  

Also, handouts, and articles from various texts will be available online.

Assessment