Dyothelitism or dithelitism (from Greek δυοθελητισμός "doctrine of two wills") is the Christological doctrine that teaches the existence of two wills (divine and human) in the person of Jesus Christ. Specifically, dyothelitism correlates the distinctiveness of two wills with the existence of two specific natures (divine and human) in the person of Jesus Christ, in a dyophysite context.
Dyothelitism as a position stands in opposition to the view of monothelitism, the doctrine of Jesus having one will, in Christological thought. Dyothelitism was championed by Maximus the Confessor.[1] The conflict arose between varying views of the constitution of a 'person' and 'will': monothelites believe that a single person can only possess a single will without arising in conflict,[2] whereas dyothelites emphasize the perfect humanity in Christ's nature.[3]
The debate concerning the monothelite and dithelite churches came to a conclusion at the Third Council of Constantinople in 681. The Council declared that, in line with the declarations of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, just as there are two natures in the one person of Jesus Christ, there are equally two "wills" or "modes of operation" in the one person of Jesus as well:[4]
And we, most pious Lord, accepting the teaching of the suggestion sent to your most gentle Fortitude by the most holy and blessed Agatho, Pope of Old Rome, and of that other suggestion which was adopted by the council subject to him, and following the sense therein contained, so we are minded, so we profess, and so we believe that in our one Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, there are two natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, undividedly, and two natural wills and two natural operations; and all who have taught, and who now say, that there is but one will and one operation in the two natures of our one Lord Jesus Christ our true God, we anathematize.
"Similarly, at the Sixth ecumenical council, Constantinople III in 681, the Church confessed that Christ possesses two wills and two natural operations, divine and human. They are not opposed to each other, but co-operate in such a way that the Word made flesh willed humanly in obedience to his Father all that he had decided divinely with the Father and the Holy Spirit for our salvation. Christ's human will 'does not resist or oppose but rather submits to his divine and almighty will.'"
^"Maximus the Confessor". Ligonier Ministries. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
^Ter Ern Loke, Andrew (January 2016). "On Dyothelitism Versus Monothelitism: The Divine Preconscious Model". The Heythrop Journal. 57 (1): 135–141. doi:10.1111/heyj.12073. ISSN 0018-1196.
^"Philip Schaff: History of the Christian Church, Volume IV: Mediaeval Christianity. A.D. 590-1073 - Christian Classics Ethereal Library". ccel.org. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
^"Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText". www.vatican.va. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
Sourcesedit
Hovorun, Cyril (2008). Will, Action and Freedom: Christological Controversies in the Seventh Century. Leiden-Boston: BRILL. ISBN978-9004166660.
Andrew Loke, "On Dyothelitism Versus Monothelitism: The Divine Preconscious Model", The Heythrop Journal, vol. 57/1 (2016) 135–141.
Meyendorff, John (1983). Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes (Revised 2 ed.). New York: Fordham University Press. ISBN9780823209675.
Meyendorff, John (1989). Imperial unity and Christian divisions: The Church 450-680 A.D. The Church in history. Vol. 2. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. ISBN9780881410563.
Ostrogorsky, George (1956). History of the Byzantine State. Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
External linksedit
Classical Christianity (2016): St. Cyril on Dyoenergism and Dyotheletism
History of the Christian Church, Volume IV: Mediaeval Christianity. A.D. 590-1073
January 01, 1970
dyothelitism, dithelitism, from, greek, δυοθελητισμός, doctrine, wills, christological, doctrine, that, teaches, existence, wills, divine, human, person, jesus, christ, specifically, dyothelitism, correlates, distinctiveness, wills, with, existence, specific, . Dyothelitism or dithelitism from Greek dyo8elhtismos doctrine of two wills is the Christological doctrine that teaches the existence of two wills divine and human in the person of Jesus Christ Specifically dyothelitism correlates the distinctiveness of two wills with the existence of two specific natures divine and human in the person of Jesus Christ in a dyophysite context Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksHistory editDyothelitism as a position stands in opposition to the view of monothelitism the doctrine of Jesus having one will in Christological thought Dyothelitism was championed by Maximus the Confessor 1 The conflict arose between varying views of the constitution of a person and will monothelites believe that a single person can only possess a single will without arising in conflict 2 whereas dyothelites emphasize the perfect humanity in Christ s nature 3 The debate concerning the monothelite and dithelite churches came to a conclusion at the Third Council of Constantinople in 681 The Council declared that in line with the declarations of the Council of Chalcedon in 451 just as there are two natures in the one person of Jesus Christ there are equally two wills or modes of operation in the one person of Jesus as well 4 And we most pious Lord accepting the teaching of the suggestion sent to your most gentle Fortitude by the most holy and blessed Agatho Pope of Old Rome and of that other suggestion which was adopted by the council subject to him and following the sense therein contained so we are minded so we profess and so we believe that in our one Lord Jesus Christ our true God there are two natures unconfusedly unchangeably undividedly and two natural wills and two natural operations and all who have taught and who now say that there is but one will and one operation in the two natures of our one Lord Jesus Christ our true God we anathematize Chalcedonian Christianity accepts dyothelitism as theologically orthodox The Catechism of the Catholic Church states 5 Similarly at the Sixth ecumenical council Constantinople III in 681 the Church confessed that Christ possesses two wills and two natural operations divine and human They are not opposed to each other but co operate in such a way that the Word made flesh willed humanly in obedience to his Father all that he had decided divinely with the Father and the Holy Spirit for our salvation Christ s human will does not resist or oppose but rather submits to his divine and almighty will See also editMonothelitism Dyoenergism Council of Chalcedon ChristologyReferences edit Maximus the Confessor Ligonier Ministries Retrieved 2024 02 09 Ter Ern Loke Andrew January 2016 On Dyothelitism Versus Monothelitism The Divine Preconscious Model The Heythrop Journal 57 1 135 141 doi 10 1111 heyj 12073 ISSN 0018 1196 Philip Schaff History of the Christian Church Volume IV Mediaeval Christianity A D 590 1073 Christian Classics Ethereal Library ccel org Retrieved 2024 02 09 Medieval Sourcebook Sixth Ecumenical Council Constantinople III 680 681 Fordham edu Retrieved 2016 01 07 Catechism of the Catholic Church IntraText www vatican va Retrieved 2024 02 09 Sources editHovorun Cyril 2008 Will Action and Freedom Christological Controversies in the Seventh Century Leiden Boston BRILL ISBN 978 9004166660 Andrew Loke On Dyothelitism Versus Monothelitism The Divine Preconscious Model The Heythrop Journal vol 57 1 2016 135 141 Meyendorff John 1983 Byzantine Theology Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes Revised 2 ed New York Fordham University Press ISBN 9780823209675 Meyendorff John 1989 Imperial unity and Christian divisions The Church 450 680 A D The Church in history Vol 2 Crestwood NY St Vladimir s Seminary Press ISBN 9780881410563 Ostrogorsky George 1956 History of the Byzantine State Oxford Basil Blackwell External links editClassical Christianity 2016 St Cyril on Dyoenergism and Dyotheletism History of the Christian Church Volume IV Mediaeval Christianity A D 590 1073 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dyothelitism amp oldid 1208350138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
