Nestorius

More documents

Recommendations

Info

NESTORIUS : UNDERSTANDING INCARNATION PROF. M. M. NINAN Ecclesiastica 3.27.3) recognize some variation in the Christology of Ebionite groups; for example that while all Ebionites denied Christ's pre-existence there was a sub-group which did not deny the virgin birth. Theodoret, while dependent on earlier writers, draws the conclusion that the two sub-groups would have used different Gospels. Of the books of the New Testament, the Ebionites are said to have accepted only a Hebrew (or Aramaic) version of the Gospel of Matthew, referred to as the Gospel of the Hebrews, as additional scripture to the Hebrew Bible. This version of Matthew, Irenaeus reports, omitted the first two chapters (on the nativity of Jesus), and started with the baptism of Jesus by John. The Ebionites believed that all Jews and Gentiles must observe the commandments in the Law of Moses, in order to become righteous and seek communion with God. Arianism Arianism is a Christological concept which asserts the belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was begotten by God the Father at a point in tim. Hence Jesus Christ is indeed the Son of God. He is the first of God’s creation and is distinct from the Father and is therefore subordinate to the Father. Father is older than the Son and so Son has a beginning in time whereas God the Father has no beginning. Arian teachings were first attributed to Arius (c. AD 256–336), a Christian presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt. The teachings of Arius and his supporters were opposed to the theological views held by Homoousian Christians, regarding the nature of the Trinity and the nature of Christ. Doceticism Docetism taught that Jesus only appeared to have a body--that he was not really incarnate (Greek, "dokeo" = "to seem"). This error developed out of the dualistic philosophy which viewed matter as inherently evil--that God could not be associated with matter; and that God, being perfect and infinite, could not suffer. God certainly cannot die. The phenomenon of Christ, his historical and bodily existence, and above all the human form of Jesus, was mere semblance without any true reality. Broadly it is taken as the belief that Jesus only seemed to be human, and that his human form was an illusion. The word Δοκηταί Dokētaí (illusionists) referring to early groups who denied Jesus' humanity, first occurred in a letter by Bishop Serapion of Antioch (197–203), Apollinarism Apollinarism or Apollinarianism was a view proposed by Apollinaris of Laodicea (died 390) that Jesus could not have had a human mind; rather, Jesus had a human body and lower soul (the seat of the emotions) but a divine mind. This problem whether Jesus was human and/or Divine was formally decided in the Nicean Creed of the Councils of Nicea and that of Constantinople where God was defined in One God in Three 31
NESTORIUS : UNDERSTANDING INCARNATION PROF. M. M. NINAN Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the Son of God became Man in Jesus of Nazareth through whom alone the salvation of mankind can be achieved. Having done that the problem remained how this man Jesus could be both God and Man at the same time. This is what brought in the various teaching among which Nestorian teaching was the foremost. Teaching of <strong>Nestorius</strong>. His negation of the knowledge of his time of return can only be explained if both these knowledges are in seperate compartments and Jesus used his human knowledge compartment alone then. This actually supports the Nestorian hypotheses. He could play within these two opposing compartments as he liked? One thing can be noticed is that Jesus in his earthly life never used his Godly powers. All his miracles were performed by the powers that are available to man either within the powers of man, in his power of words with agreement with two or more or, through the power of the Holy Spirit. These teachings may appear Gnostic but were indeed taught by Jesus. Matthew 17:20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 18: 19"Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. Evidently human words have indeed power which is enhanced if several human are in agreemental resonance in the asking. This is because man is created in the image of God through breath of God. This is further enhanced by the power of the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to be God to do the miracles since God as the Spirit can be within you. Though you need to have faith, it does not specify faith in whom or what. The lowest level is faith in yourselves as individual. This will lead to the New Age philosophy where man is considered divine and can reach the ultimate realization and hence power though self realization. Buddhism is based on this self realization. If you add a monistic God or Judaism or Advaitic Hinduism it is the ultimate realization and in the case of HInduism, merging with the Supreme. Buddhism taught that long before Christianity. 32
Page 2 and 3: NESTORIUS UNDERSTANDING INCARNATION
Page 4 and 5: NESTORIUS : UNDERSTANDING INCARNATI
Page 20 and 21: o o NESTORIUS : UNDERSTANDING INCAR
Page 30 and 31: He was called Son of God (Mark 1:1)
Page 84 and 85:
NESTORIUS : UNDERSTANDING INCARNATI
Page 86 and 87:
Page 88 and 89:
Page 90 and 91:
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
Page 98 and 99:
Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
Page 104 and 105:
Page 106 and 107:
Page 108 and 109:
Page 110 and 111:
Page 112 and 113:
Page 114 and 115:
ARIANISM: WHO IS JESUS? PROF. M. M.
Page 116:
ARIANISM: WHO IS JESUS? PROF. M. M.
show all

Nestorius

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?