Words, Imagery, and the Mystery of Christ: A Reconstruction of Cyril of Alexandria's Christology (Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, V. 55)

258 Pages·2000·48.3 MB·English

by  Steven A. McKinion

WORDS, IMAGERY,
AND
THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST
A RECONSTRUCTION OFCYRIL
OFALEXA1\'DRIA'SCHRJSTOLOGY
BY
STEVEN A. McKlNION
BRILL
LEIDEN· BOSTON· KGLN
2000

Thisbookisprintedonacid-free paper.
LibraryofCongress Cataloging-in-PublicationData
McKinion,StcvcnA.(Slcvcn Alan)
Words, imagery,andthe mystcryofChrist:areconstructionofCyrilof
Alexandria'schrislology/ byStevenA. McKinion.
p. COl. (SupplernelllS toVigiliaeChristianac,ISSN0920-623X;v. 55)
Ilascdon the author'sthesis UniversityofAberdeen,Scotland.
Includesbibliogmphicalreferencesand index
ISBN9004119876
I. Jesus Christ Personandoflices Historyofdoctrines-Earlychurch,
ca,30-600. 2. Cyril,Saint, P,uriarchofAlexandria,ca. 370-444. I.Title.
II.Series.
8T198.M3997 2000
232'.092-dc21 (H)---060807
CIP
Die DeutscheBihliothek- CIP·Einheitsaufnahme
McKiniOQ. StevenA.:
Words, imagery, and the mysteryofChrist:a recollstructionofCyril
ofAle:o;andria'schristology / byStcvellA. MeKinion. Leiden; Boston
;Ktiln : Brill,2000
(SupplementstoVigiliaeChristianae;Vol.5.5)
ISBN90 04-11987-6
ISSN 0920-623X
ISBN 900·' 119876
o
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PRINrED IN11IENETHERJ..A.NOS
To Ginger, Lachlan, and Blakely

TABLE OF COi\'TENTS
AcknowledgemenlS . IX
List ofAbbreviations . XI
Introduction .
PART ONE: TI-IE CONTEXT OF CYRIL'S IMAGERY
Chapter One: Images in the Context ofCyril's Life and Work 7
Cyril ofAlexandria 7
The Council ofEphesus 12
Cyril's ''''riling Career 14
Influences on Cyril 16
Chapter Two: Images and Cyril's Use ofScripture 21
The Self-Revelation ofGod: Cyril's Understanding of
the Old ~reslamenl 23
The Harmony ofthe Scriptures: Cyril's Chrislological Use
of the Old Testament. 32
The Force ofScriptural Images 41
Chapter Three: Images and Cyril's Use ofPhilosophy..... 49
Concepts ofPlace 50
Concepts ofPhysical Union 59
Philosophical Innuences on Cyril's Christological Imagery.. 67
The Force of Physical Images 76
PART Two: CYRIL AND CURISTOLOGICAL HERESIES
Chapter Four: Adversus Nestorium 83
Cyril's Interpretation of Nestorius' OUvCUjl£la... 86
Cyril's Rejection ofNestorius' oUVCUP£Ul 91
Concluding Remarks 102
Chapter Five: Adversus Haercscm Aliunl . 107
The Coment of the Accusation 110
Images in the Context ofCyril's Denial................................ 119
Concluding Remarks 123
VIII TABLE Of' CONTENTS
PART THREE: A R.E:-CONSTRUCTION OF CYRIL'S CURISTOLOGY
Ch<lpter Six: The Inc~lrnaLC\Vord: Using Imagery lO
Illustrate that Christ is 9E6<; _ . 129
Cyril's Description ofChrisl as ge6<; _ .. 129
Analogies . 138
Concluding Remarks . 142
Excursus: The Divine Power ofChrist .. 146
Chapter Seven: The Presence ofa Human Soul: Using
Imagery to Illustrate that Christ is avOpwrrD<; 'tEAEICH; . 149
Cyril's Description of the Human <pwu; ofChrist .. 159
Analogies Concerning the Complete Humanity ofChrist . 172
Concluding Remarks . 175
Excursus: The Genuine Human Life ofChrisl . 178
Chapter Eight Cyril ofAlexandria's Picture ofChrist . 181
Various Interpretations ofCyril's Christology . 183
Analogies in which Cyril Illustrates the Union of the Word
and Humanity . 188
Analogies Concerning the Divine Actions ofJesus Christ.... 204
Analogies Concerning the Impassible Sufiering of'the
Word .. 212
Concluding Remarks .. 224
Conclusion . 227
Select Bibliography . 233
Index . 241
ACKNOIVLEDGEME Frs
This volume began life as a Doclor of Philosophy thesis in the Uni
versity of Aberdeen, Scotland. Appreciation is due especially to !.he
Rev Prof lain R. Torrance, my DoklorvaliT and dear friend, whose
insight into the mind of the Fathers is exemplary, and proved most
helpful in our discussions concerning Cyril. Without his encourage
ment this book would never have seen publication. I am grateful to
those many scholars, both past and present, whose hard work has
profiled patristic studies. I have been the beneficiary oftheir labours.
To Frank and Kristin McCorkle, Iwould like to give thanks for their
friendship and financial supporl.
My parents, Hany and Janice MeKinion, have supported me
emotionally, spiritually, and financially for so many years. Without
their continued support this work would not have been possible. To
them, and to my brother Randy, I am indebted,
To President Paige Patterson and my colleagues at the Southeast
ern Baptist Theolo&rical Seminary I express my gratitude for the prof
itable exchange ofideas at such a wonderlul institution, 'I'he dedica
tion to ongoingserious scholarship is a treasure, as are the friendships
I have here.
Thanks are due as well to all those at Brill Academic Publishers
who made publication possible, along with the board of the Vigiliat
Cilristiallat for publishing this volume.
No one has cOlltributed more to this volume besides the author
than my beloved wife, Ginger. She never complained about being a
'writer's widow', while cOllstant.ly encouraging me to press forward,
work hard, and complete the project which I had begun. My appre
ciation for her love and support is beyond measure, Second only to
my wife are our darling son Lachlan and precious daughter Blakely.
Though too young to understand it, they contributed more than they
will ever know, It is in love and appreciation that I dedicate this work
to these three most special loved ones.
Steven Alan McKinion
Wake Forest, North Carolina
27Juni 2000
Feast DayofSt Cyril ofAlexandria