Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions

In this paper some parallelisms and differences are presented between two ancient theological traditions concerning their model of Christ by comparing two representative figures of both schools, namely Theodoret of Cyrus and Cyril of Alexandria. Since the Christology of the two authors could not be...

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Main Author: Kupán István Pásztori
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sciendo 2022-12-01
Series:Perichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0023
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author Kupán István Pásztori
author_facet Kupán István Pásztori
author_sort Kupán István Pásztori
collection DOAJ
description In this paper some parallelisms and differences are presented between two ancient theological traditions concerning their model of Christ by comparing two representative figures of both schools, namely Theodoret of Cyrus and Cyril of Alexandria. Since the Christology of the two authors could not be compared in detail within such a paper, the investigation resumes itself to the mode how they interpret the Lord’s Temptation by the devil in the wilderness. The works involved in the analysis include Theodoret’s treatise On the incarnation written in 431 before the Council of Ephesus, the fragments of Cyril’s Commentary on Matthew as well as his Commentary on Luke. The doctrinal conclusion of this comparison is that the two traditions represented by these illustrious theologians—despite their conspicuous and undeniable differences— signify rather complementary than flatly opposing views and that the two ancient traditions have found their revival even in the sixteenth century, and continue to influence the theologians of our time. This is why the author considers Chalcedon as being a corridor (in which both traditions can walk side by side whilst respecting the limits set by ‘the columns’, i.e. the four famous expressions) rather than a narrow path or a tightrope-walking, where only one is able to go through.
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spelling doaj.art-232938e1b8b9448986dea8e8d6cd8ce12022-12-22T01:33:22ZengSciendoPerichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University2284-73082022-12-0120410312210.2478/perc-2022-0023Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological PositionsKupán István Pásztori0János Selye UniversityIn this paper some parallelisms and differences are presented between two ancient theological traditions concerning their model of Christ by comparing two representative figures of both schools, namely Theodoret of Cyrus and Cyril of Alexandria. Since the Christology of the two authors could not be compared in detail within such a paper, the investigation resumes itself to the mode how they interpret the Lord’s Temptation by the devil in the wilderness. The works involved in the analysis include Theodoret’s treatise On the incarnation written in 431 before the Council of Ephesus, the fragments of Cyril’s Commentary on Matthew as well as his Commentary on Luke. The doctrinal conclusion of this comparison is that the two traditions represented by these illustrious theologians—despite their conspicuous and undeniable differences— signify rather complementary than flatly opposing views and that the two ancient traditions have found their revival even in the sixteenth century, and continue to influence the theologians of our time. This is why the author considers Chalcedon as being a corridor (in which both traditions can walk side by side whilst respecting the limits set by ‘the columns’, i.e. the four famous expressions) rather than a narrow path or a tightrope-walking, where only one is able to go through.https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0023cyril of alexandriatheodoret of cyrustemptation-storychristologytheodicy
spellingShingle Kupán István Pásztori
Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions
Perichoresis: The Theological Journal of Emanuel University
cyril of alexandria
theodoret of cyrus
temptation-story
christology
theodicy
title Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions
title_full Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions
title_fullStr Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions
title_full_unstemmed Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions
title_short Cyril and Theodoret on the Temptation of Christ: An Imaginary Dialogue Between Alexandrian and Antiochene Christological Positions
title_sort cyril and theodoret on the temptation of christ an imaginary dialogue between alexandrian and antiochene christological positions
topic cyril of alexandria
theodoret of cyrus
temptation-story
christology
theodicy
url https://doi.org/10.2478/perc-2022-0023
work_keys_str_mv AT kupanistvanpasztori cyrilandtheodoretonthetemptationofchristanimaginarydialoguebetweenalexandrianandantiochenechristologicalpositions