Origen of Alexandria And St. Maximus the Confessor

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Origen of Alexandria and 81. Maximus the Confessor: An Analysis and Critical Evaluation of Their Eschatological Doctrines

by Edward Moore

ISBN: 1·5811 2·261.e D1SSERTAnON.COM

Boca Raton, FloOOa USA ' 2005

An

()ri~t'n A'Ijm nf \XIfllemfllalion for philosophy. also <Jo.-..'<JIed to ar-.: ienl though!, to the ex tent tml I s!rtJr\:ly n.1 um 10 the

h: An O" liM Jowntdl af0 ,.,lth" , ,,~. I. n. 3 ' ~"l! 1OI1ol) N~•••

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ed haloo as a oomplction of a process initiated by Gcd. in which lunan p.1icipoliorl makes no difference - for this

mL';OO

I

~

come to oonsider Maximus as an anti.

hlmlWlist IhcoIogian. one of the originalors of !he intellectual decline of QailioistCIIsolnc presence of God.4 In thi s, he dilK-red wi;: divine

itllclk:d.' Whi ~

Origl..',f s infllJl;'Tll,X'

mort. hilllWIr. saw fit 10 intlllCfllial

in

311

In:;Jli~.

the Ix

I\.,\,j,;c

t1 ~Jl ~

the

rr.o.;t

f'ri"d l'iis ("On

,he

histo!)' of fIUlrislic

thought was

probk.malical ooc1Ii nes contairo.'ci.~ h ' hcn. " h" "ill hc di",,,,<ed in • "'PM"' c choplcr. , l llc OriF" i"" "rh.~ri ... I">Olk ", " 'ill hc di "O«l in ( 'h oplcr 3. • Rcrc~ lh""",ho" 'l lhi' ""rl< I" hi"... ic~",.liO>lJ>/lih...'J'lIy.
no.-

ro"~._n Fat.rt..

Cony,!",,,,,,, ol'~' Hi"/trhn,,J: of the

~~ian IUJlUS,

""'ich

notably

emergaI surne lime d.-ing

the filth oeMw)'.

Th Hislo ry . Itd Imporlllnno of F.sclIal0!0gy in

Ch~ian

T1toutthl -

Som~

R.w(

Rema rks.

The earliest O1riSliao kerygma

Vracc be low . I. 71w ApoIi""!

Far more

~i5licaled.

and infl uential, are tIve i'I)'SleItlS of Gnostic Iheology

expounded by Ba5i1ides, VaJertillU'i. PIoIemaeu

Orislian 9.:lIIimcrn, buI held solidly together by his

schema.

In this. he was rU: far from the il1lelllion of

0"T1

Ori~

Ori,en. in 1"" ""'" fnpncotary l~at;" 0.. 1M R~.W'tYCt_, ~ k:do)- 19l17~ pp. 411-444, JJ

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8

"ho. as "'e "h,,11 sec. l'rill.:ipii" ,

U1ili~

1'"lh traditions in Ih.: """,in: o f lhe grand s)"'le1n of his Ik

Yl.'l Ori!,."", hall see. all. a)':> ,,"emploo 10 ground his speculalitn;

In

"

. scnplurc.

Ilgy.

(.lwisl~1Il

V.'h ik lrenal'US g'"O:$ far bock inlo hislory to

,. ' ......Iido... Ol 'cmpl< Ikfo,n,w «rip'''''''' S<e II. ( "had,, ;'- l. [aT/)' rh,;,U". 11to.lIh, < roN In f",m.. I.,~ I doo..".ill¢ o f ..,;, i",,1 . in, onJ I ",.i o f ..I,ati,.. no < " i i,il)' ur Ge... in ,""i. Ii• .,., in • I} ..... n"' .l onJ i ml'~,,,,,n .1 m.n"",. lbi. i. 'ho tbeoory " f~""' I " lat i..n l a""J~""""ahl.i' ~ in " hi"h . ll hu"'''' "'1 i,i,) ond ~,i.c~ ......, i. d""'ri -d ..,I~I~ in "''''' ' nf ,"" lUI;')' ;",,,,,,,,d " I"'" il lry ,I>< It.....'-""" k _ if"," ...,..,j or<JOO i. 001 • •p1icil Urip:c1l ;1 .. di Li'-'Y /It £"~,,h (1~: EJ. \lri U lm~ Tho rollow;na """'" indi"""""" r... wndonlandinl Iho hi>lory _ ;nl ,i"

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10

COl1llCCl~'\l

with Him onlologicJlly.

rN,.,;"w or fullness

(ll purely

They will net

refUl1

5(lirilual realm beyond the the Sl'1/'S and the llldiac ) - but

",ill M iler subsist, alkr lhe final conflagTlltio" of the belo.... the spiri"",] "",1m.

10 His presmce - called the

Finally, lhen:

lit\'

cosmos. in a plape, d
1'0 I h..c Ji.cn .I>riunl ufl"" bic >lruct"", .. fl"" G...... ic m) 'h. . ..... . di'Cu""i......r ""men.... , an>li,,,,. (ond I"" l"'-./Ilcnlalical 1cntl "G>.... ic..' n .••'c "lA. William.. R" him i"ll '"(;," W ile. then hislory will continue, drngging God along with it. Iowanl the goal of a fll"llll.

~

00trude

God.

~

~1w m.5: Ir, Willi_... p, 1110, • 1/"" « t1aorid'.:: 1I.... -.llln;,·ersilJ 1_ 1'II>6 ~ " W.. p~~ ;"u> . UuJ;n, hen: l i flh< anccd.>Ic: " lo b< b'ef'Ii!y ~ 1 966~ p. M;

f...",......u"r·Oricen· quoted by th< ....... ph iklo<Jrhen E...>pi.... lI icrooU>tl p, 10. n 1'roc:1.... " /auHri, ' ial""MOI «-/'UM""";" 129.31·32- 1 ~, 1-'9.16-1>1.9, 11>3.21.04.21.

'ft

< ..I< o r hi. ....."'. ..... lil ol) hit need fut

mMe)' Io ... pport him~lf. .. CrouzcL p, IJ.

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20

C\1lnf,,"'lbIy ;11S11,11ed in a position or inlelledual. as "ell as lin,n ::ial, 'il'Ctflty. (lrigen al k",,~'d

himself to ooce lIj!ain draw Up:oIl the fruilS of pagan ....isdom. Ill.' was to sp.:oo the I\.mair1dl:r of his life devnl oo to the e.'ible III great k.'!1!!.lh. often drn...ing lugether """"ingly di'JlW'lle pa....~ to make a profOlllld lhoo!<Jl!.ical point. Yet his \1>y his Gm..'"

l'Ialon ic tradition.

philo9:>phic.al edUC3lior\

In this he mo:lllbl..:s. tlrq:h Oflly portially,

t>y ",hom he " .... neverthele;,;, deeply innuenced.

makes \he follo,,;ng. quite 3l...::.....d1e,

stJIm1t.'l1l

J. Mansfdd

aI'ouI the character of Phik>'s OOlllrilui
La,.,

Dillm, A ,A.

10 A_i. Tripol~io . 1M O«"iM

P'uhli, .. Tr1'oolili> . P. 16, "llt 1«. l.R; oJ", T';p.~;lis .pp. IS-If>.

n,,,.,,hi..

" 0. J2. I I ~:P"$/. 11 .39;Dt plO~'''IiOM 9.36 ll"~ QIo. ill Gt~. 11.1. .. Triro/i"" . P. 16; 1'Iti1o. 0. _~ii. I .22J~_

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Origen look

lhis

ido.."

further. divesting it of its

rn)lhok~icaI untI
Ier¥h

in !he ne:JIP"~"'" M ' r",..ot,..,ti*~' l llcftin, W. idnl.... I "' l ~ ., P. ........... A.>;i",:hOhbd l. in J.M. ('oopo:r. llil\! Com. -y.lqlrin!), pp. )0.) 1, ~ .. PIMO, Stalr...a~ 2690:·274e. .. l'h..,.. i""". , f-"'Il""~'a /.off;"'" ~I f'~YS;CQ 6lS .I- 15 CSVF). .. A ri .. Oid)'III'" F""IC"'.~'a 37; lon' .... S;tio; astrok'b'Cl"S diso:us.se'se of the forgetfulocss is 10 prevenI MInI!y inferior being;

station beyood their rerure, and to avoid the suffering anendant stri vi~

m..n

~

strivillg for a

such improper

As J.W. Trigg has remarked; " Basilidcs' mdcrstnIing of the meaning of

" lrenocu.. Agui" . / I1. ....ir. 1.2~_7: D. l..oylon. TIw GIW"'k .,>
< ,-""

AI"'I~

1.........,(11:. i_If...

ll'\

they aid Ihe soul in it'! striving ftt divine

ne."

l "ho.-se altitudes an: .I.... to their shan.'t! Jlffiilion lha. \he incarnation of the soul in mancr is .. l'ati"ll . ...... 00 ill that p« Origen. C"""."" rlary "'" MQlllww I t l? .. Wbile

.i"

"" DiIm, p. l H . " Ori_ C""'''~'''Qry","Ja~.. 1.22.

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J4

It." midollc-grouroJ lflXulalion of Philo. as "'ell a< the mainstream Platonism (or Neopythag' ho, " rnni'm HIH: ,,," "'" i"'

\real""'" r"r; _~rl;MIl . 1;,.,.,.,11

in latin as

0 " First Pr;ndl'les.z This "Oft ) is ,he cleeres aOO

bo ldo;sl e:\alTlplc of his speculative genius, and lIS such il cont.1ins lheories ,hal have C3lN.'ll

c~l< Inn. l. ti"" "",>Iie thinkers

WR!' l""" '(ol unobMhedly odoptstlle ....."" o r o Hellenm i< p/lilosopbel-.

...rn

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""""C.

,n

·

"",pori of

("-"

" '~ ~

".......11

recognizinga S) ""'" in De "";,,
Christian faith ll"ing the concqJI5 of P1almi'im, " nile Tn'ising these wncqJl:'l aewnJ ing

elwis/ian dnctrine " as ",,' fiJr the sake of philosophical ex pos ition. bul VK:e- vt'l'S3: he

" II. l 1lach>id. ~ ...,..." "'mil' thai /Jr rrm.:, i. - .y>lcmlOlic in 1""

'" 'h.t t lri~.n 01'1'''''''0 b' ' he ' ,ie I'-~'l'l . ...""''''", ..... ..If..." ",;", " ", ,,( l ·h.. ....... doc tri , it_ e«¢ftt" l . .......... i • • ,pIo do.",molk 41:,," .'-( '/o, i.. ,i"" 11>o'''/{io/ ","" ,10, ('/a....k " / TrWili.",. p. 71~ , J. l lilk.... "l ... "' ;n~ ". II", 1 .i~" s...."" 11"",••1Jo .-Sla

ceese,

his

~

invitaion to aiticill: the

qJpJIleI~

sirrgled

oU;

in the

i.. Ph...,II.... Tl>t C-':~I nf iii. hJ While ... ho le in Pllis/>N II", paedeuli< tradition or ..."jo:h ......11.. mel other I..... Neopl..""i... ......, tM hei.. ond "pholden. W.l ~

f,,_..

at

..r

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Commentary on Jo'", . " "'la:1eon.2l In lh!: Ix /'rinci!,ii.• , hl;Mever, his goal was IlOl to simrl Y refute dopiritual mind. God, es Origen wri tes:

mOI, 2.l t ,Illl ll', ,. tk IJ ,6. tr. ll. tl"" ..,.,h.

1",,,,,.

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45

As A. Triro! iris ellplains. the Father -eoes noI panicipate in being. He is perticipsted in

ralOOr than panicipilles . . . Despite Origen' s abstra:tions in determining God' s essence.

God is oot for him the impeoonal and inactive fllSl-god of !he Middle Plalooists and !he

One of Pls. p. 369 . 11 it Ij~dy IhIIl f'l"""", iut is heR IOIIowing PIIi lo, Sec Dil~ ... l.P. G.._ ... ,~'n>pl"',,nic rltllo",,"'-," Inl.....htc'''''· R""""Iio (';Ol~~ io "",inN in .Ilt I.•,io ' n and pn.-formalion, eose Ihings " hieh afl"...."",h

ha~c

received

sub.ll..n ia l e~islencc.'"

Here, lIS elsewhere. OrigL'Il is dL"""> indcblcd to Philo Jud."ICllS. whose COOCL'P! of the lg'"

St.'M5

lIS the

~ ...Id

Ii,.. Origen's fonnulalioR; in the

[k

PrirK"ipii.• . Like I'l1ilo.

n im as me miOO or IhooglM of God. nisling in God from all d ...... fty.

Scu-ond. lhe

lhe malenal uni, ........ capable " fbeing conceived apIIfl from God as an tnCl\>C1n,"'1 of II>e

" ill,,,, " flli. idea\.• '

.., I'" 1";"'-. 1 ,4,4-~ .... ll"'kN""h. p, U . r... " ....... i...~;ng r.le 0.. ,..., I"' >blo:m of ,..., """'01;,.. of ....lIer io MKlJiaI WIl$ in them might become their own. since II was presen
"'c:rci'"

,.lillwat lIi.,_ i", 10.6. !.) . For ""'to on ,he ...... t"l'ilc ll"o:ol 00 .he ~ .k""",,"1 of I n.. "I,,~' a"d /'hilo roFo.'·' ,.,~. $, 00.

N,"'''

E. M(_~,

N,~i0 ""...onl, bod;'" who quiet ly reverted bod to God; 1bc... Ori,.n ..y.. ...., .....bjedeG l

God......., ,o~ than the took of illumiuhn, 1bc rollen """I.. .. d of oidin, 1:-1Iri" in 1bc to"" of educot"", onnu b iI" 1"1"". 1.1>.2, 1.1. 4, 2.9,6, 4 .2 . 7 ~ 1 _. C I'UWeI I fnI """i.,. M _ Simootlt i 1962' .... the idea of a ""i. ersality of 1bc f. 1I (excepting the "",I ofChri" I" . "'ronlrod ietioo.~ bo,ed upon lhe ' .f)' "",...,n I ""'• • Iled lwilh the inexpli1e indu,ioo of ..,_, : Crou~l p_ 211 ~ " ~ful lo"k 01 Ih.... P"''''Jn shoW!l Ihlll Ori,on ;. quit. oint "" hi. poinllhlll all .o~l. ""... fallm . ,",Iy """'" hove "'turned more quietly Ihon "' ond .... ""'" engqed in . iding the """. inin, """I, in 1bci. quest f", "PI'""'nlly, in hi. , 1 to ""der1tond Origa! by ruding '1Ii. ""'" as -hole.~ CIOOld h.. proroundly mi, undentood III I t ..... ~ of Ihi••i.,.le .. ork, t'" impononl and inn ",;.1 (" pri"", .. K t.t"","". ··Ori, ... of "bondri. and opotato" o, ;" Some NOln on lbe t~.I"""""'t of . Noble Notioo~; ..........qundlibet._...,,;l'C"..,Ilml: Ori""" I~ ok......;o'" 27.3: _ . 1... n.. pr i"". 3.1 21 t.

1'e5l""""""

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This ..... ;on of a

iJJlimacy bc1ween God and humani!)'. based 011

~rnmliaJ

ill1etk...11~1I UIkl.'r.ilaI1Uing. is al>ill lhe e1hica l bNs of Origen' s con':qJl o f sa lvatioo or restoration which is, in !he last analysis.

lUld man.

11m: is II

morl:

profICfly COl"i' I""'C. ~.a. l(l. lr. flu""....",,h. .. f:>' I"i"". 2.11.7. If. 1I..1I~"'uoth. k...... in t'p. pJ A.'il"'" 7. ,n lhi. pa.11, m ind and undc:r< 10 perf"",;""

''''''''ol ond "I'in'",,1 being. °r_

to

~ the

Earlier, highest

on
r..,.'M(If. 8 ~I: 1Itt /'I~~I""I.", of "- blt"h• • (lhI i _ , Pork: Pen...,....... i. StMe Un;"'OBily ""'"" 1995), -.t L Sionw>n ( 1 W6~

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ex god and humanity; \he;;c lerer thinkers reacted by so:cking "llYS 10 creme a

Sndly that by which it remai... therein, while it .... for the food on whictl it feed!; the rmt*ms

of the meaning of thin gs and the nallft of ....ir

_

~

CIWlIe:O.

lif~

For .. in this bodi ly

or

0I.ln

font of .1l bodily into lhaI",hich _ now are. the i"", case being supplied in c....

e. 1y yean ITIft'ely by • sufficiency or food, wt.erea. . fler the

rnched it. limit _ "'" food

nol in order 10 grow

but as a lrl(3Vl

pt'IX'e$$

of groWlll has

or ~;ng

life within

and su itable food in a ..........e which can neilher..mit ofwan. nor ofsuperl1uily. But in all respects lIIis food m.... be undoenlood to be the

con~lalioll and

underst.-.ding of

God, and it:< .........."" to be !bose thaI.-e Ilpplopliate lftI suitable to th is nature ", hich

has been made and crea ted. ' OJ

according to !he uniqueIlLS'; of each !lOl.lI; the diYel'5ity thai

1'4'\

the reoonl of a gradual

r (;""~Il< 1"' O< of I"".,ldi n~ an 0cau", w-onderfulty gJTal and fell a'l.o. ledge i. anainabl< by prnml """,. .ity. This will be ili""""...d in ok\ai\ bel"",.

Copynghled ma"lrIal

comprlS'ng it. aold in this he alk"'ed himself k, draw on ~on phik"""f'hy, pan icul'lf!y l'loti..... and Porphy ry.

In lhe f" lk,wing ~ Gn."gll l)' all~'fl1~ a bold c"l'lanmion

[MJonarc hy i. Ih.l .. hile for ...ity if III "ariancriril hoo:I e Jed ,,, the ",,,,,,,I nf I"" phj '';''i"" n. ..... (d 20) ....U. ~ .. 110 oc:sely Gregory's idea of the

l1"WlIU

in which both the Son and the Holy Spirit

relate to tile FaTtler and to each ocher. Alt.1ol ...i' or

'0 ".•

prr;,,,.

,h~

" .",.s d......., VOl il ;" """" tikely ' '"'' O... '>onl 17.1-1 IoSn Pl~). my u..... 'iun.

" 0.""",,,

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80

principle is described lIS lho: mOlhcrly .-nb 1M: is the

SlUl:C

anJ IltJItlft of all exisling

{hings (Frngmerw 30. dt,.." PIOCl:$~ Such ideas were wta :ceplal>le 10 G"l:O')' Nll7jarl1l:f\ f,.. whom the Son, Chri s!. is G ~'OI)" s

......JeNood as the an:he1} pe of all deifll.'d hlmani ly.

eschlllolot;)' is <Jrienlcd

Iowan! 111;: ed /M Oil - lhe c{>-;nherence of two distinct

nalle!i,

milOO in substanc.:e

Copynghled matenal

" but

Il(l(

act. \he

one infinite, the other {mite (yet subsisting eIemaIly with God).

AbsolUie

Being, es Grego!)' mairuim, is the pos:sessioo of God only; yet ee Iunan being, tI'mugh

within

lO The AIIwmian formula which stKes !hal God became man in order thai man

~

in which the higher, divine nlItI.n holds ascmdancy

maintailling the

~

0'\ICl'

the lower. while

mtln in il ~.

(Thto Son 's nallR]. the hurnanilJl, beI:arrM: God. because it was ... ited 10 God. and

became one (penon) because the higher naIUre fJm'B.iled ••• in order that I too might be made God

110

far .. he is made man.

Ill'

was born - but he had bc<en begonen: he .....

born o f. woman - bul """ w.. ' virgin. The lirK is human; the second, divine . In his hurmn ""'ure he had 00 bill«. bulako in his divirlc natu.... 00 mather."

That Christ's divine naIUre has no moIhcr is an important point for Gregory,

the sake of a col1nmt Trinitarian doctrine bul also for supporting his eschalological stale. If \here is an

a

hi~

lIS

e~

source. Le., MoIher, \hen we only

~

noI

only

~ion

r..

of Oil"

of nall-.:5 with a being woo is IbiYed liurn

~

in the natlft of the conceived being.

not

lherefon: Ihe6sl 1 is only pwtiaI. llIId we become demi-gods irNead of sharing

fully in Godhl:OO, which is precisely ""hal.

G~ 's

faith demrnded he maintain in his

phi105oJjJy•

.. n. jilio (Ora 30)

IU l-1 5, 19.1..15, Mol E.R. Il..t" ed.• Chris' !"KY 0/,1.< Lm., Fad",,,,, p.

1'10, ~"'~ 5'1. " Alhano.iu., f~ iIf~ ... , hi ~.J.l 02. " D< /ilia \ 0.... 29) 19.1>-10. .... Swolk>w.

nm...ne.

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aa

What. \hen. of

l~

those who speak of thi ng'! a~

l loly Spirit, in which. as Grego!)' states, tl1il}' finds di ~iro:.

Gn."gOI)' l:Oll-d ivisioo. lie .. so either by the Father or by the 500. And if

by ."" Father. the«: are two Son\. and they a", hrolhI'kl ·~",I ~ -.l i\ri.. ,~I. , I), p~",,'o~ "~i.. ,,Ii.... 7361>,21·281'''' I"" mind rh.. ent..,. the f..", from "itho" II, " I" ' pln,. "'''''M .11.1-1 IT. " Ik .pi'/'• •" ",.." 7.2-&. lr. ,1«", ,",, S".lk....

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8J

of his primordial triad as "C'Jf3l'dfalher, Son. Tk Cha/daeon ()rod..... contain doctrines likely

tmt these

two very similar soun;e;

Arian (or Eunomian) 0\1l01lClItS.

GI1II1dson ~

~

~

(Frngment 21.5-7, des Places).

derived from NtmenilB, 50 il is

being U'led in some fushion by

~'s

This is evidence of Origen' s influence at work

lItlOIlg

Gregory'sopponerts, for we know that Origcn SlUdiod Numcni lB, if not the Orad eJ. l6

Gregory' s opJnlition to the lll1ion of bioIogkaI relatior

the e ..ce n!

thi.: source of a spring) only fully becores a hthcr

(ll"I{:e

l lis act is compklc and the Spirit (ti l(' ri"",,") has i..wed f\lrth from the Soo (the spring). Hrw.ev«. til(' anal ogy.

"''''-'f1

taken Ihis far, fa ils to ilCCuralc1y n'J'fL'S th. Tl>eoolm """,plaj desf'oiri",ly of E""""'i...• 't«lIlM>Iogk al tMoIo.'flf (1ItNn" ica"''' fi>b . """.. ~,.,..Jtdj... &3.-'lO.l4-20); cf.. . Kolb'. fArly C~l'is l/Q" I.loct,j ~•• p. 249,

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86

onl)' knowable empirlcal ly tlToug.h lhe evidl:ru of his energies or llctivilics (e' '''1),' '';J, then The Son of God is not property uodcr.ei~

MIll'" than the Falhi..T.Jl

JDi.

a primordial

diff~'fI.'llt

This idea of Eunnmills b'OCS hack. of cocrse. 10 Origcn and

of first pr1ro::iple.., a

and the odlef indefi nite.

alld lho:n:l, l!'C must be said to possess a

~

and 11 D)ad, of opposi ng

m1tn'l,

one limiled

In Middle P1alOOisrn the idea prevailed thai: the D..milJll;e

ronlemplalcd the Mind of God. uoo..-r.;tood as the unity of

Ideal Numbrn or

-mmh.:malicals.~ and translated These Ideal Numbers imo the gcomc1riclIl exlellSion by " hio;h malll.T was given foon."

In this ~ the l>cm i~ is of II kM-I:T on.ie'r !han the

highe5t God. the One or the Good. ilIld is separmed from Him omologically. Following Origcn, Eunom ius oonsido."I1I til: Son as The OcmilJl'gC. or the helper of the Fad,,-... in cl\.minn, ) 1:1 not

onlok~lI y

""'lual to

IIi s ~.

As

("0"

the lIoly Spirit. it is simply

CtlllSioc'fl'" as the fiN alld most glorious of the Falhcr's crealiOlli. worthy of bei ng

inchd:d in Ihe fixlhcoo.J4 G"¥'-lI)' NazianJl:r\ COOIpk.1ioo

Of

l"i

we h,we seen, wanlc:d I..,

~

!he Trini!)' as a sort of

realir.llio.\ll of lI1c .... l'll1al prOOuctive moI:ioo of lhe Godhead. in the

I1llDler

" So; J. 1'~h l.Ml. C~'i'U~nil," 0 11. l in ' 0" I~lth...... ",rJ rIoo"llh'. 1'1'. 27·.U 11

r"'"...·•

""'IDi)..lh",.1.-"'/,'' ''''('Jr."" "", IJoe" ',, MiM I. rI""",i

1', H'J. Pl'. 1. 17. l'J. Ole.; oko 1::. M,~"" (2UO'h 1'1.1ei" " fGod .

' o1iSUJn1 inuity' ll..1Wl"Cl1 God and /li. cn:aliln

the _

TItis is rKlI a purely r...galiltC coru'f't. in

thal it sqJlII1Jles C,,-.l tium humanity: mlller. it serves

~

II mearrs of prcsI"~i~,,, J. I , S'.2~'t>. IO. lr, Rio;/I;It,j",n. ,.. f'rer in !heir entirety alway, pnenllO God - or 'in God' .""

his work suggests:

It is the mart. of Dei ty ro pervade lI'Verything and ro e~tend 10 ~ pw1 of ee nlllure of

exi:5ting thin gs. Nothing. indooed, could wnl;nue- in

e~iotence

did if not have itt being in

!he con:inlJllROl' of cxisting things compels US to believe d\aI iI ~ al1 lhat is."

Yet I feel it is

~

to interpfet this

passage by

~fening

to !he Platonic idnt of

panicipation (melll. xil), rather than to the Stoic: notion of a Iut\an.dMne (sumpnoia). l 4.1 ((

Ili.-,

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

"'" 01' an ~'1cmal '''''"klgical ,;talUS.

Em""",m:d by God' ,

b~ing.

l'ar1 ici ~ion

in the Godhead is ...,m na, ,,,,, ,,' ....11ange is for 1he bem:r, BUf if it i.

diYftted from the SIJ'lIighl paIh, there succeeds • movement in !he opposite d;m:tion

Ii.c~

back lOWard noo-bcingl.'"

.. ON,;o CQt«M l icd

_1/_

'.#-4Y.

tr.

RKt>.doon.

" T" DJ . byt in J.M.C"""",,, od, p. 124R. so o.a"o ...,,«/rf't icd ",OK_ I , 161_1t.a. If. Ridlanloon.

Copyrighted matenal

" On t1...~ grounds. GII:£OI)' conceives rulfi.l:03), as inYo/ving a mu. ,irion or ' hidden

discussed leter. For this reason. Gregofy of Nyssa is riglrtly

f,;ta....,j

lIS a 'mystic,' a

lnm

thai: does l10l apply. in its strictest sense, toOrigen. l~

One final lqlic of importance must be llddn:ssed. in relation 10 Origen and Gregory (for the

~

Cappadocian was also the one

Alexandrian prNecessor) - te , the oonc:epI of fR:e win .

chaptn, Origen face of the

wao;

mosI

deqlIy influerud by tis

A s dlSCUlMd in the previous

a champion of the concept of absolute freedom of will

divine ~.

Gregory is an equally fervmt l(lhoIder of this view.

rigon:o..os marner of Origen. lIJ'OO human freedom in rd8lion to God

soul's motion

0lJ.

of noo-being into existence.

stale" of the soul. be is

not. lIS

When

~

in tile

eatain

His denial of die

(~ ~

of an "original

is Origcn. speaking of an llCtUaI proximity of souls 10 the

Godhead. huI IlIIher to II>: -......cc of evil or sin in lhe ...... 1. "The ~

r.'aI

satiated. desire for God is. for

G~,

e\'Cr_ incmo!Jng.

!hough

l10l the gradual relum 10 a podagogical

relalicmhip with God. bul the ever-ina=ing ' Iheandric' nal\R of the soU flo borrow a · ' lhid.•p.U .. This if not li".t ,,,..,,,,. ond cnn..,...... d urin8 ' "''Y l"nsc pfflid.! phusiti) of the divine Logos and

the fle5h it took 011" implicitly denied, as !he CappaoodWl5 quickly realized. that the ~image

of God'" in which we were created is

OIl"

;male

l3liooality or iotelled (lagrl.J.

Rather, this doctrine S1 'W""'ed !hal OIJ deilicarion (thM i.1) il1YllMs m

now ).

fulfillment of OU" J..nan

rlllIltt

in its rrialioo to GOO, bla raIher a change of

0lI"

a

1I31ure,

The Cappadocian ~ 10

Apollinarian doctrine, heralded by Basil, COl"6isted of affirming "the definition of the

i,"¥ of God as ratiornlity,M and ..,._

ing !he Athanasian formula thai Chri5l could

nol heallhilt which l ie did root~ . As Gregory Nazianzen writes:

Afl)'Il"le who

~

in him as a

mal

wit"'-"" • human

m ind .. molly bneft of mind ond

unworthy of sa lvalion. f or thai which he has 001 lISSUIl'oIed he has not cured. but thal

which is ""ited to his deily is also saved."

As J. Pelikan remarks, OIl this of mind '

'WaS

JllISSllge,

'lbIy a coroIlaJy. therefore, jUSl. an '00 one bereA

capable of gra;ping the faith in the incamale

('Jf"Ie,

so the incarnate one could

.. r.....-.. K'rop/D _ i... ofI"",Mk h... C1t • • eop, P. 51. " lp. 101 CI'G J?=11 1~ •. ""'.." ('/Iri..k>ttlty " "J ("hii. k ,,1 (:""*-. 1'1'. l tl-l19.

"'Y'''''';"

Copyrighted matenal

100

r10l

1>0: bereft of mild....• T" po.~ ~ mm: ck31y. if the image of God is not itself present

in Ood r10l

i.e.• if hu rnVl reason is

r10l presenI in

the divine ltlgos - tIul hun:rl rea;on ",i ll

he raio;cd up to God in salvation C-OIN.'qllelllially, thaI " hich is most ro.1blc in '" and

nld

altem~

at a fOlYllal

By this Ballha>.ar likd y mcwll thuI. EvagrillS

sy J1l ~js.

",ao;

so much so Ihal It Uts VOIl

more ccoccrred than Origcn ",1111

cia/lnlllling a coh.:rel1l philosophical -.mid-.... iew. lWld desiTOll'l of crafting a logically

servce of tile escencer aro.l rnystid1lCSli, the otl..... of

ti,,,

'" 11.. G.. il............. A"irr ', Mh.~ri", Ponl icu, ..,.j ()";~ i",,' in O"I"n"'"" 1~,,;". p. 253.

So,""-,,,,,,,,,,

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

103

strict judgmeot and ordering. ' 2 The fall of souls (a'I described by Origen) is inl~'l'pJelod by EvagritI'i as a movemenl or motioo

Before the

ITIOVUf>efII

W..es;.•) away

from God (I concqJI thm would

[of sou'" . ....ay from God). God was good. !he creator of the

incorporeal (intelligences) ... after, he became the crealor of bodies, I judge aod

.0...._ - " Origen himself does

nol

separate or disl:inguistl between God', activities before and after

the fall; always is God under.;tood by Origen as a pedagogical fon:e -

tte only diff-.;e

in JllR contemplation of the Godhead, .-flile in the former (OU" prnenI existence) we are immersed in paedeutic hislU)', working ever back towards

()IJ

primordial state.

The

naIVe and simplislic noOOn of Evagril6 - thai God somehow changN His atlilude toward

His crealion aIler the fall of souls - leads 10 a conception of God as our j lldge, IlOl as our

Father, and ends with a view d" OU" relationship 10 Him I'd as one of children 10 parent, but of citizen to guvmrnent, a submlination of the per.;on 10 a

the penon becomes merely an individU81.

syssem

of law, wherein

N. 8erdylle'V m:ognized this view as

.. Th io _ ms l be • ""..... subtle .."i, ion .. r tho doctri... of "'.cion.. which "'~'" t hai there ore 1_ d;'I;....1 .1Id ....... . 1 (I"'...~ h f'H>l ~l) God., on< IIIC'I'Cly j ..... md lhe olho:r pcrf«:lly l ood. h qri ... seems lO have t:mhil'led I"" Iwo M."ion ite God> by intapreting tho differi tli oft"" on< n ..d .. 1_ m",,", or iii. ~ I Olion ... ip ...; Ill sinful h"",..ity. Allhou@ll Gno.>Otici ger I ,ill l inlelle<wal ..,..,. in hqri...•• "'"Y• ...,.,on, ",IOIi""ly .... lJnnomCIl1 of

lhcy rould say thal: human wcd.s had ....' pan in it ar>d 5lili lcave an importanl

pla.;c for human effill'\s.fief con~=j"n in ""ronse [0 God's gl'llU'. taslern theologians.

life,'

In the Eeacm lradilion.

(U"

salvalion (.Iul ,'cr the: di.'init) ' 0 hum..il) ) "" Ch,hl i.n ' ,",u¥h' tIIat led 10 ,he M"""""y. it. id

,I so emphasized the ~ of the deity that it

became im~bIe to speak of a ~ion of natures (divine md hmIan) withoul seeming kl degrade the Godhead.

In order

to ~

the problem. it mUSl be made clear \hal these two

"nalun:s~

(d;"';ne and human) -.-e 001 lald=tood as absolutely dislillCl fium one llIlOIher, but rather as ontologicaJly remote from each other at the highest or most complete level of

"""",,;nl '" ,he God""ad. This i. _

m_

In ..... mon ... ici.... o f ..... ..... or>d i• • m'" Ihtme in Iht

IheoJosy " fSC , ",..1m... the C""f~...fJidI _ will _ nlll1inc. • A . Sdlmnnon... 1M H;"orlcal ~ f Etu,~ .... o..ltotfo.od< MOI!OJ'hy.i,es were oppwenlly ",, k'l;ica1 signirlCllflCe by I'roclus in lIis positing uf a foculty of the sr.. ~. abo..: imdk.'Ct itself, "'by " hich it (the soul] can attain lhe One.... ~ This so-caned allainlllell1 of the On" is

oot to

befoee the Incomprehensible and Iroelfable.... 1

be uMer. ho

Conf~'iOI".

it is

the respon.p~" "" "

I/i.,/",.,· w DiooysiQCWl1. 10ng believed to have been St. Paul', Athenian convert (Acts 11;)4), is oow considered by all serious scholars 10 have been a theologian and phila50pher of the mid-fifth ~ early sixth CCIlIUy. l.

Indeed, the ",ork of the

Art:q>agile bears the 1,4IfIistakab!e stamp of the infl--.:e of Proclus , spociflClllly in

m;pm of

II

lri.adi .. "",. ritual;. clancnl. .. .. "'" • pra«;col "" ''''''"' f,... lomMich... .. hc oc'i
... - . at: Ib< ....

... '

_"~""'"

, _ oool

_

--"'ww.. _ • •_~,_. h "_ _' "

01 a.-

...,j ...... _

~

__ _ _ , . ' _.__. . . . _. -__l" . . . ,- .- _._"'----_.,,. ......... "cd1 ol~

...

ot:_"~"O~'_."'_"'''' '

_T_c-.', • '_ .... _

ol ...

i

_ '4

,.

,•.

_~_ ol

... . c,,' .... __ ••

~~_.,

-

...

. . _ _ ... _......- _ _ ol ... _ . _

...

. - D.

_

-.S ... _

ill .. __

_

. ..

.. _ _

....

.,. . _

_ of"'r _... ._.

_..

.. . . _ .. _

f_ .-.I __

bl

peeservc Ihe diff''fl111ialioo of divine I'mons

lit the

high::sl level. ll'o:n then: is 110 logical

,. '''IIilu"il;.oIl"_'i'ioIJl.._rom"' uniow!_"'........".. ,h' m .. '" I'.,'~.~e in ""'" do\·lJi,.. ~·.; ... • I...,,..df( lOne ) " hich >pll2·3J2. " ""re (i" i1I... ~ .. t ~ hI... <m ain " ith tIo.: "ri l i,,~ , "rtl.. M "ph ~ .i'" Shc:id , .. Sec c""I.""", A //i, 1Ory of r~,I",op/Iy. vol, 2, M.a/tNI'D1 I'hil1 ~ pp. 112-11 l . "here he II'J """ dw ud-Uiooy. iu. is ...... panl"' i tlievc we . . u....1e 10 eocapc (m I will preoenoly ohovr ) """"I...ion I lbc A....",..,.i'c. like M. , im all... him, ... "" i_ upon , Iori IYi", God . 1b

C('JlTlXl

Origtn of cour.Je, held the belief

lhaI judgment is for the purpose of recovay of the soul from wickedness, l:U Aeroea-;

here mislrderstands Origen's subtle maintenance of the theory of absol..e free While Origm knew Ihlll God's jOOgment is nor

"""r«d 10 the healing of the soul in

exteS.~ively ~ Of

will.

sevm. but pafeclly

question, he al", ~ thai free S(lI,lIs are capable of

rdlelling even in the face of j \rlgmart. Spirited defl3l1Ce is a1.....ays a possible reactiool of the soul. even in the face of the direct jOOgrnenl or irt~tioo of God in its existence. Unlike the better-known cmstian thinkers of this

Plato, ..-d their implications for Cmstian 1heoIog)'.

era.

A_

Wll"I

quite

The PIalonic doctrine of the

Inlnsfermce of virtuous souls to the Elysian fields, and of wicked sou ls to Hades, led Aenem 10

ol!ioct Ihlll "'is

world. leading ~UIlIly

idea suggests 8 gradual dimimJjoo of the num..... of souls in the to the

Ihal. souls, if llOl pre-exislffit.

wmplele absence of soul s in the oosmos.f1 If"" admit

in

III least of a finite mrnbel". when _

with I doctrine of an etemaI hc:a\.al (the Elysian fields) and (I 1ades), we end

lII1.

COJple this belief

equally etemaI l'ell

up with the deteriofalioo of the cosmos when all souls have anained

!heir rigl'tful pllUS."

Aeneao; solved this moo>cnl

of conccprion is,

~

~

by explai ning thai the soo1, ll'ough 'hom' aI the

vi""," o f it!< rarionIIl

~

(1ikenesll to God). immortal ..-.:I

the possessor of free will. The hlMl8ll penon, Ihm, lK:OOIlling

to

possesses an immortal part; yet the anaittment of immortal ity is

Aeneas, lhougIl mortal. nol

achieved on one's

.. '-lip
erJCOUnIge:S

his redI ...ith philooorh ioal """""t. of Ille . , A dlinker liu f· Maxim.... on Ille 01.... hmd . ..bo ..... ""'"' of. nih loch';.. mel Maxim'" wen> dnwm, "p"" !he .I~ori
F•• the 1:1erna1 callnot admit of

l he IrtIN imJlOrt'l'l! l;OfIlribulion of l'mcopiu;.. in my' opinion, is

his rcm iO. rM ." "'''' of C~li", ·nJ.J'" /rilNl-l7f/111. p. I S) n..enhel",. ron,.incd ",. i"", .. d ....."'ph .",• • """1 ,he Chri'rld.'6 M;nimus ....ill n:lo..m to this topic. dra"' ing l-f'OII Philoponus.. in his

A m hi~/I"'I/

10. lIS we shall discuss below. In addition.

the Coofc'SSOl' will elaborate upon the Dnd•.'Ill PIaIooic conceplion of the One aOO the D)'ad. agai n in a "4'C1ion of his wOO; in ","'ich he display5 dcpen&..-no: upon Philopoous.

as.-Jgn to lln activity oflhc MUlIaoJ it...,lf. n

"'hile juseJy esteemed for his

dcve ~

of

~

authenlic Chri5tian CONllOkJgy.

Phil(J!XII1US contributed Olher COI1CI.-'flIS to the (1Jrisl.ian ill1cllectual milieu. concepts /hal

would irltluence the irntrH.'l• • J,..... l'!Ii k,I'''''''' . nd Sl< o r.u ... ~ ioo , III..... Phil,,,,,",. , . ~ "I>I/k ' " "' •.,.}/ IOIU~ 1 6 . ......... he I",,'i" u.. M" nOII

... _ ... :Silk. in 1110 ..Jup!;"" ur ,hi> vcry ..me: M""ur/l) .i'e "' ~~ "' ~) Ma"i",", 1110 , -onf.

.IOl

This means thal Goo is not reducible

excllNvcly to eith:r raurc (phwiJ) or person (hupos/illiJ) lU COfCaiTl'l both within

lIimdf _ the bmer in II:rms of ...ivtnality. the Ianer of 1D1ic:u"-ily.1l16

As Tatlkis

e>logy o f a Coreh.

In .. hjch,

[TIlling. which a~ exchang."J

,,~h

so he says, 'iil'l' is made ..... oojen and 1" )00

each ocher and ."""fonned. being cooslit,,' le 10 ,M Mill"id.. 1305. in II""" , I'P' 37t>-377 _ tr. ....... if>td .. . n: ooa, r.... I hrid ro , detailed ....."'nl of M•• imus· """.....,i< ~..,.". . !iri...., en 1""'lmIuli J lllkJmi.• ~ which is constanlly being n:alin.:d and al>:JUndi-.g into its full""",,'

The I,:ll,., firds its Inoe value

",,,,-'11

it is givi"ll way 10 higher spiritual

This approach 10 l.lrldcNandiog Sq to """"", i"" o f the penon _"","lIy [i.• .. II • dynami•• unpmliOl.hl, fon:<e .. nlO1. ," ond hi5lofyI m. y 1>0. . ....... from !he d fun Ou think ·.~is1..-d o f the in"", d) . ..... ic o r ii, OW" 1"''1''""1.1,,,. ., f.". II>< .. ~c of.he 1(,,,«Io", o r .he l " '....>fI. d"",,-'fId. in" , I>< ~"'~ '0 . "",,,-;,,,,,,,1ln' Y' him: fn, I>< kno... ,h 'l l>< di ~. nd II< k..n .. . thottll< "ni••"" i. " rnn ~< uni, ...... k""..... ",.. h i n ~ o f il ~ fro347. J!nlmI'o ,I>< ~in or ,I>< O",,,, i,,, , M"im ron' b . " as ' l1""'plin, '0 d.... U(lOII . " _ o r tlloolon . I>< in 1!uI, ....... ""'....,"" f'lflh in .1>< r.rti" ....1o r .

IU lf

~

n..

hJmin

of (;00, '" ""

of _ _ -.II • .........tJlog.v ",hid.. undt.... lhe

infho.:n;:e of the

Arisl(~dianin:o.l

Nrr:ed, to descend

O....' e again into the C3"C of human ignorance in order 10 share its

k",,,,,Ied~

of this Guod

";111 its fellow C";SlCflls. This soul that """ seen the Gc.nl, accortling to PIa1o. is ",onhy of ruling as a "phikN-.pOer king." for as he

e~il1!;"

in order for the soulic aIIa;n a vision

of the Good. it mter tecore like unto that which it vie\\'S.l l

concei ve of this vision? Whal effect docs it have

~lrllhe

Hln how does Plato

soul?

'" I hi. phler,

,n

hi,

ir~L'lpl\'Illlion

of Ma."irnus'

conceplioll o f lite

= hatok'l;ical relat ionship ho.1""-11 (he vaeocs

/''K'';

and !he on I" '''''0'.

Copyrighted matenal

' 53

of an indetermiRale hisby chat is the result of fl'l'e acts of IuTw1 souls -

~foIdi ng

becomes, in MaximlB, simply a series of fumbles Md false SUftS, leadi!\! event\IIlIly to human de:spilir and the ronseq lll:!ll (and necessary) unquestion ing

ac~

of God' ,

[Tllle invent ;... power of man, whioch in the Ii..... p'*'" is due 10 hi. rational COIISlitution, engages itself lII>CCeSSi~cly in a false search for f""",, o f lB"" ion, irresistibly ending up in

• despair thai is at the ""'"" time the dead end of nillllld thus the necessary roodition

for an ~ ofthc $lI~ing ..ct of God in the Incarnation,'"

The SO\icreigl1ty and nobil ity of the htmal a:t, \Oohich Origen lDlderstood as the greeiest

gift of God to lIis ~

ceeco, in

the form of absoh.•t c !Tee will is absent in Maximus., who

Adam to have fallt:n into sin fiom the

Vl:I)'

nx.nenl of his era. M~~ ,,".:licvc thai il is now quire clear that "'taximus' view of

OClivily to divi"" wilt to th" " " ' e'l1l lhll:! h..nanity is In'nlIni ...

G.,..u-,c ad, "00 1.1.•••:. llis

Cn:al~ Wl

In his early ascc1ical

(or the

tn:aIr.:

""""'y a

C,lpila de e hum Ma.\ imus. I f.'lil to see how anyne could l'O"'ibly anrl the

quilc dcarl)", !hat !he ''T\a1uml fealures- of the soul are '1 mnsccndo.'d- and lhal (lilly God

is

~~11

in "OVClwhehn ing g kll)'.-

act
158

Th~

Sou L

GiVl"l1 this oh.1riml I" o" da" on of Maximus, ...hal is the ontological status " f the soul. as In hi'> lreali!le ('QllCem ing Ihe

ul1llt.'NOIlll in his Chrislian d1\:l.llogy?

Soul," Maximus

rejects OOlh !he PlalooK: and Ori l,.'eIli>tic idea that all souls pre-existed with die Godhead

before ~....~';ng imo malcrial exlsrc nce. as _II as AriSlOlIe 's theory thal die intclleclual focuky "fthe sou l ~"" ..) enters the f~1US alter cooct'JlI:ion.l l this

In:<Jtise.

si",ultm~y,

thirt

-ee

united

consI.it..-i""

~ltially

e lemenls

of

Rather, MaximllS

rn.nan

""'un:

come

from the fust loomcnt of con;:ep(ion.

are the body, made for sensing. and tile rational soul...•

3f'£.llCd.

into

in

h:ing

These ek.'ll1ClllS

It is clear d13l MaximllS sees

temporal existence as essentially d ichotomous; for if both soul and body suhsi st equiprimon.!ialty, then both ,lie limil31ion of die body, ",Ill tile soul ""ill be respcooed 10. equal ly, by GOO.

Clt.. ..13I

dyMm ic st ri... ing o f the

Vel ""hal occurs in tile developed thoughl o f

its SOI.IW, but mtht.' f a subsum pliun o f the trou blesome 'irregu larity' o f human I1IIturc by Ihe perfL'Ct f\.'guJarity ("'llulalioo) of die Godhead. Mvc.i1TlllS recogni=! tine ' modes' of ....1 i...ity in tile soul : the ralional (fogi," ike),

al"'f'll'1ilive (epilhumelikh arlll willful ( fh" mike).

1I0w~...cr,

unlike other philo'iopl'orn;

(1).1Ih pagan and C hriSl ian ) ,,110 held 11131 the soul is composed of throe disti","' parts,

.. T. ..io ha. ~bed Ihi, .",ati.... . he only ...0h,.. p. 54). I J i . B.'=,,~tin~ /'h,i",uph" ,. p, 57.

Copyrighted matenal

'" MMimus argued that M/ngru. epilhumia. and IhllmO$

qualilati~

make a

distinction between

sooI is the ooifled activity of

ineffable

lTWIIlel': .'

This

rea'iOI1

ru

~"khil

1ft

flll:tllties. or difTCRfIl activities

and mind tJow"), aplain~ that the

md !leJlSlllioo. ..nile mind is "the

sunm~ aI

which

oocetoe of !he sooI is the besis upon whidl Maximus

po....... to reality) prepares one for the acquisition of being.

" lbO!; Mipe, PG 90. 61(1(. " Ibid •• 1I>id.. p. 59. .. Mipc:, I"G 90. IJ9 JA; T... U . , pp. , ... "'.

Copyrighted matenal

_

..........

~

<Jl

~

_ _ .,,,_ _ • , • •

-- .. ._._-'-' - ... . - -- ... .,_-. ----_ . -.....--"---,-., _

...... . _

-.I< <Jl _

_

• ., ..... _ .. ............

1Idol* ........ _ _ ' i ,< ......... _

... GOO • ....-.. _

.......

~

.... . . . _

~

'" _

"'"

"",,",_ .1-.1 of

....

""" " ,

.,_ _. ._ ~_ -

01 _ _ -

_

....

'

_

. ........ _

.. _

.... _ _ . . . . _ _ .......... eng. dl3",ing tile whole = ted order into harmony ,,'jlh ;!self. and ""'0 union ...~h God "

I k.",

,, 0:

encou nter

It

s"r' of human-divine oo-op

d" "01 acq uire the whok: power of naru", naturally. and

cause its soundlle'5S 10 dt.1eorioralc. ood are I~fcmI1ioo hcyond all

'="Yl,

or death tim

to

II

human beings 10

lIS Maxim"" n:. wflcn grwon "ill rear yd

ITI. p, 1Il1 .. In 1)< lJi •. ,\',,,,,. 4. 2t 1,\.(·; llo llh...... p, 100. • , Ip;.l Il. 111 b 17( ·; lloltho._ . p, 1Y7. " U. llh_ . I'I' , Ieif iIIISIeIIlInCe

CJIIC(:

e~i.lmce

for all. Yet he is Iti ll at work, not ooly preserving

f o rim,,) but effCCling the f(O'1t\8lion.

of Ihe ind i~id "" patU \hal

lft

potmtial withi n !hem.

~

un
Even now in his

providence he is bringing abouIlhe _ imilalion of pIV1iculan to univenals until he might

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

16.

~t/ite I~ clru/ll,..,•

.''''",. wI/um"", i"",filttJ/;,m 10 l~ m"re "ni""I.luI 'W'ltlul rw;'.d pJe "f

ell "'nm). and ma le the." ham,..nious and ..,If-moving in relation to one lIOOIhcr and to the '"hok u"i~.

I" Ihi.• "'ay therr , /rail M "" ;",,,n/;OII of hul1lll1i!y's n.1lffl 10 union wilh God.

MaxilllU' ended up ("..grading 10 a mere fllllctioo of T13lun: and will. and in dlis he p;rtOO

~isi vdy

ue

Godhead human;1y's

frum the

humanisli~

Iflllp;:

philosophy of

.. Q-'"0..... "" ""'louiN'" 7:' I (n'S(; ~ ... P.M, 111
Origen Origelf~

We ..ill oow proceed with a discussion of Maximl,l';' so-caned revision of tInJght.

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

Chapter

Correcting

6:

the

MaxinrJls

Myth

th e

Confessor s Revision ol 0rige,,(ism}

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171

desire. in which freedom appears only as a

Sl~,

quickly passed. in the assent to tlw::

o;onlingent bC'ing', irresiSlibk need for pk:ni!ude.'

Indeed, this freedom (if or-.: can

eva!

call it thai) is men:1y lI-e response of an entity (the

Iunm !OJ) to its 0Wl1 oature, which has been pre-detennined by God to relinquish II.'; ~y

in Favor of a sOOjugarion of personal voIilioo kl the irresiSlibie power of divine

inIerOOnaIity. A. NicIDIs has aply SIlled !he impIicarioos of Maximus' puo;ition:

In trying 10 describe ho... freedool is stabilised by Ihe divine energy .... hich O\lCfCOOleS it,

Maximus was betI'ayed lnro

w~

~nl;ng

human action as a

lI>In

pa.. .ivity.

Such

for. chrisrological Monocnergism - on ..nich. of coune. Denys' notorious phrase.

' the M'W lhearldric mcrgy' could bestew the olftcial mollO.'

Maxanus lIIriYes at ltlis idea dI6ing the

CXllIl'Se

of his revisioo of a main theme of

Origen's thought: the idea that there IS a po'lSiblily of a 5eI.:OrId fall (lIIId, irdeed,

imulilelable falls) after the restonlIion As we beve 5CC1l above. in C1lap«:r 2. the idea of rep:aled falls of souls away fiom God is a corollary of Origen's firm position 00 the absolute fic:6h" of will of

d .. ogcable nalu'e of

Iunm will and inlcllccl, thus allowing (31 Ica!t theon:IicaIly) for

, A. I'li=~I;M Gtnprl: Maxi ,lot eMf.., ,,," j~ M<Xh'" Sd>/a,.. ip IEdinhorgh : Ta T , ........ h.l 19\lJ ~ " 21M; ...., _ u..rigua, M ;.. ~ I, c

~ng

toward God in a SIoic fatalism

ITIllIlIleI"

10 Chri~ian

eschatology,lU While he does - at IelN in this early work - maintain Clrigen's ( and

• A.. bilP.... 7. 1000A·B, lr.lJk>oMn, Wilk",,• Theme. o r Stophy .1.., came to pcnodo tb< (l "i" i.. ;"",lled..., milieu o f c. ly Ry. _i"",. to It.. • • Ialt lhOl. II. Tolak.. h.. ranarlcd oflh io period: " it iI,.onh notin,lh.olth< extenll ""'idl (1)ri0li ... of 1M f " .iled l hmJ",l _ o f tl>< ric h Stoic: .......1 to... no! h<en ... rr"" a ltly J'eOOfIIized. I'atl"l'" II k1 "'" ... ,,,., bold to ' 0"0" \hOI .... diupp'",_ o f Ihe Stoics ..u d... in I ...., to their boinS """"I..,cd by tbc OIri";'''''" (8. T kis, By>an'i", "~i1owphy, p . 4J). II mit>! be rem N . ""-"er. ltIOl til. 1"""01.." ,,, " r tolh SIt>i. II>< 011< 1.... """", ..""i... dmo UI"'" Ari.."d. ond lhe SI"k• • yel rvcly in dircc:l _ ition to l he r"und.. i""ol ......,..,.. " f 1'1014 ni""' l. l"f>en, "'=. of ......... =i. iom. yel h.,jly ever .. y dircc:l I>rcok, ,.ilh lhe ,.....,,1 PIOl,... io trodilion .... icll hed. from " wly ""r""nd 0 pi.... fur Ariol"'lo. 10 11 i. """'h ...... in~ hl:", IhOi Mo.im", mode "","""",to in some: or hi. "";linp in ..."""" of II>< pnctioeROhrn idl. Mllimmelobudl lIIId SI.mcnt! as "1111., nbridllpken of as 'bough ' hey .e . r""", ... _ in........' in . 11 beings. yel wi,h .. ;",,1;0' " '''' indepcndenl of "" will o f _ h i""i. idual l'"'""". " lombIidl lM ..","r/a IO.6lda F1oca~ oloo G. S...... 1MrtTffJ' .."" 1M So. I. P. 51. I. M "' C/o",..." on K_ I.J~ 2.U . 11'. Ilcrthold . p. 167.

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

176

Ma'\imus here q..... cd fully supports dial J1'J!iition, and is a re: subordimte 10 the emanati..... J'lI'l.'CC5S \If the Intelk."CI and Ihe Soul 1>il .

prioIJ - in

sllUlt, II-.')' will

While iI is tnoc that Maximus docs oppose the Neoplaloni.m of "melli'; ,

p:lrticuLvl) the COI1C1. " PI",inu', I 'n n, ,,d ~,2. " fnn.ad 4,~ " 1.'nn, oJd 3.4.

Copynghled matenal

179

n"laring specioo.Jly to the emanation and reversion of souls), provide us with lVtlpk reason 10 identitY him as Ouislian NeopIaIonist, contra the claims of Balthasar and Louth.

The most conspicuous reason for doing so is Baltha1llr's own claim lhal. Ma: Ti"", ..... tbe: C.1endor in 0nh000. Ulu'l!iool "Th«>lIlS'

.4mhiK"": '"11w sp irits are "" shilled a hoot and can ne ither 1I'lVe nor hope for

an "nshakeable b", is for remaining finn in the Good: I,'Ih;,t ooukl be greater reason fIT dl.".;f'llir?'.'·

BalltliNlr alk'l11p1S '" put a positive spin on Max imus' position by descril>ing

of Maxirrus, the val ue of human endeavor. desire. yeaming. and all the pn' fOUllll

a"ay and replacW by God AIooe, as Absolute Foundation of "" exisleoce. One wilt Tlole here a veoy urrExisljective contraims and

norms - as the ~ial folnlation of a creative life - or, a life already determined 10 be creative.

ITIOR'

llCCUI3lely, as the result of

Origell' . pre-existent souls are such being\:

free agenb. cap.IbIe of choooing the sort of life suitable 10 them at

llII)'

lMicular point in

time. Grwrted. _

find in Origcn the concept of an efemal pedagogic&l

~I at ionsh; p

between God and hlmM ily, 10 the exlenl !hal 00 human soul will ever. according 10 Ongen, be lost forever to the darlneM of s in (and in this be differs IilJm Pico ...too. in his

No.• n..

Foo1><s, in C~""' . KMOO ing all limilalion.

in a primonJiai rnationslip bctween the triu"", Godhead. ;nj

ctt.'l'tlally

~f'l;'.ndition. "

.. 1 hi, diff. """", "'. ....,n Ori ~ ... anJ Pi"" i' 10 "" un< RCflli....."". The ('I_ie,l ("m d. ideo tl>oc on ,-,"","1 ""iog l ",,,,in,,ly ""''''"" e- il " " ,.-.duolly ...pl""ed _ in 1'" We>l. ' I I.,,, _ hy , "'"" , pe~...... "" . , '""" _

"""'" C1w>oI .. on

.v-...... __ .. "'" """'''

/kllm. "here the

folk'"'i,¥ "unt.ll)-

~""

.., ;" -..110.'" _

"''P lJ'd"'W)

~

h"""Y

. """~

JooJ. onl

II> 00

~ CIrioiom ~

.,.j

oil

or

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I .... n """"'" .. ~ or

ox '"' ,....... """'"

I

.... _

_'' ' '0lo,0o... . to< _

.... .....11 of . ..... " .00\

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--... ........

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plI"' _ _ -.1 .. _

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..... - . noo""

- . . . . . " .. 11< ..... of

1.;. of all

kwe for phik:lse'->d: World Publishin. C"",,*,y

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

192

God·man Jesus 01rist. nor even thai o f the: Iunm suul bearing !he ilTlab'e of God.

RlIlh.,,.. Origen sees hNOI)' as

~ially

II human affair. albeil one in "'hich GOO works

...itllin ca1ain limits 10 elfcc1 a return 10 lhe primordial SUIte of pooagogicaJ Tdalionship I>cl...ccn tbe creatures Illld Iheir Creaioe.

Ma\imo..r;. on lhe Olher han,! sees history lIS !he unfolding of a divine: pl.n in ...IJidl ue Incamalion. death. and Resurrection o f Christ marks !he culmiroting poin!.

The only p6Ih op.'" 10 humanity

flOW,

as Ma,im ll$ sees it. is 10 confonn enlirely 10 !he

image and likeness of God, in order 10 prepare !he "1lY for ee linal union of GOO arol nO I in a\ lcss as

Copyrighted matenal

193

persons.

For history is lit once bolh an annoyaroce. IT

~inlafcrence, "

es PIotillUS put!< it,

and a "path to another wotId... as Berdyaev declares. Indeed, this statemenl of Berdyaev 5U!lI5

up quite lIdeqUll!dy Origen' , conceptioo ofhNoly:

ll iSlOQ'

~

That is ~

me very rough ly, and it shows not the sligh\esl roo lC:«ll for my wd l-boing.

~

of it. But history is also my hi!!tory. I hIlve indeed had I share in its

happening. If ",., holds the cosmos witllin him. there is all the

~

mason for saying

\hal: he indudn. history ""i!hin him. In the spiritual dcpIh of me - in II'an5«tIdenIa man _ the wnlnlldi,:tion is removed. The history of 1""",,1, Eg)'pI.

rm.... Babylon, Greece,

and Rome, of lhe M iddle Ages and the Renaiuance occufll'Jd wilh my paniciJl"lion, it is

my hiSlOQ' and for that reason only can it be illCt'lIigible 10 me. 11 is my paIh, my quest and my lure. lis fall. and ils upl ifting are mine. If for me lIlis

~

mc:n: objcdiflClllion

in whic h everything is r=:ived fium without on ly. !tom I should be .... 10 IIIKicntand

llt{..'
soul: "'''' given the liN; of every

1»'

[ 111 1'0,:1'01". 11plll1

the Patriarch

so"1cerdl ~a l

~,lSUIi ng

the orthodoxy of Ih" E'mpo.'TOI', 10 the ext,'IlI lhal

his corona/ion. wes required to

The resuh of this

~ice

~l!1I

a confession of faith. ruliflCd

is Ita the Emperor was given an a/ITJO!;{

role in the life of the Church even though his power "'lIS checked,

1I -.:t","1ically. by [hl'

l~oI1riarcl1.

",ho

"'as

given the authority to condl.'fIln a h"n.1ica1

,he ilffperi"", ,.,"""",,'" of Ease Rome as in ~ Christ..'fldom In
f.mre m.- had tx."n deemed Qr\hodox by lhe l'alriald\ and signed

the CllI1 t~'SSi"n of faith, he _"ned f'O"er in and <M:r the inslilulional Q1m,:h.

II is clear. fur1hcnnore, that the Em peror had II major role in the

m
Copyrighted matenal

197

during his lriaI makes clear: "do 001 grieve the emperor who has i5sucd the Typos for the sake of peace aOO that alone, 001 beceuse he wanted to destroy any of eose Ihingo; Wldefstood of Christ but 10 arrange for the silence of !hose Iertt1S wllietl were causing dis.~ion.·"

Political exigency in this \'.a'<e _ i.e~ the

Empire 5OI"ely pn:s.'led on all sides by

iTIC~ioos

preo;ervarion of the

stability of 11I1

of Arabs, Slavs, and Pe!sillfl'j - was

The refusal of MaximlJ5 to abide by the TupoII issued by

Emperor CORSIans II (an

edict forbidding any diswssion of the mmbcrs of wills or energies in CITisl:) resulled in

his being placed on Iri;tI for Emperor.

tmr;on, i.e~

b

his refusal to abide by the will of the

Ye'I Ihis raised a larger qlleSl.ion: To what extent is the Emperor pennitted to

infel'Vme in ecclesiaun:h had a reliable SlIf\ma of the faith. ..t1ich one simply needed

to anri~ne. Cantra CeL'e. 4 \lois. (Paris:

cerr 1967,

1968. 1969).

_ _' De I'ri"dl'ii". ed. II , G&g emanns. H. Katpp. (Jt'iRe,,.,., ,'ier B,...hu "'"'" dell

I'ri";::il'i..,, ([hm,sladt Wischen.rJ>aflliche Buchge;ellschafl 1976).

_

' C"mmell/urii ill eVb 6- 10). Ir. T.P. Scheck

(WllIhingron. D ,C.: The Cathol ic University of America PrISS 2002).

----' T1w Song of Son~ __ Com menlary and Homilies,

If.

R. P. Lawson

r<ew York:

PauI!S! Press 1956).

- ' Homilies on J'lJhuo. tr. BJ . Bn.x;e (Wll9Jington. D.C.: The C8lhoIic Univ=ity of America Press 2(02).

_ _' Homilies on Jeremiah and Homily on / KinKJ 28, tr. l e . Smith (Wl6lirtglon.

D.C.: The Catholic Univnsity of America PressI998).

St. Maximus the Confesso r

Editions

Copyrighted matenal

"" M.,1.\ imus the Confessor. (j1l" e,f l itH/('.1 uJ 7ha1a,sium, ed. C. Laga, C. Sleel, M aximi



De coetau hieron:hia; De eccle.•la..tica hieron:hia; De m.l'stiro t;"',I/"1[lo;

£[1I.,tuloe. ed. G. llei!, A.M , Riner f/'atri.•U.che Teae wid Studlen 36; Berlin; De GfuykT 199 1).

Evagrill'l Ponticu/e (New Yorl;: lIarpcr Collins (984).

Bay~

N.l L Byzwrtin l! Smdjes The Dm iny al AlUlI, IT. N. Duddington (New York: IIl11pe1" and Row 1960).

The Meaning of Hi.:""1tudies in JU'/in,

Clement. and Or'igen (New York: OlI.ford Uni~rsity Press 1966).

Coo per, J.M., ed. Pluta: Conrplele Worb (Indianapolis: Hackett (997).

Copenhaver. B.P~ tr~ Hentfetica (New York

Cambrid~

Vniv=.ity Press 1992).

Copleston. F~ II 1/iSlory of Philos"phy , vol. I, Gru a and Rome, part 2 (New York:

Image Books 1962).

- ' A Hislury of Philosophy, vol. 2, Mediae val Phi/moplly. part I (New Ym : Image: Books 1962).

Copyrighted ma"lrIal

210

Cl'fI\.IIel Il.. OriK"" : The l,f[e <JnJ n",u,:!u of lhe FirM C,...al T1w<J{,,/{i,m , lr. A.S. W'-"'d ll (T.&T. Clark LId. 19119).

Cumont. F. (1921). A.f lm l,'KJ' mid RodiXlo" Amo.,/{ the G,..,,.t.< and R'H1I t1'

lomhlichus (Univer.;.ily Part:

Pamsyl vllI1ia Stale Unin 'TSil)' Press 1995).

Shen.o. ood, 1'., All A "'''''
of M=imw

the

ConftitWl" (L.....J; C.W.K. Gleerupand Ejnar Munksgaard 1965).

Trigg.

J.W~

Or/grit: The BiNe and Philo..op/Iy

j"

rhe Thi.u<e'll lttY Chwell (AllanIa;

John KJ1(lJl Press 1983).

Tripolitis. A.. The Doc,ri" e oj lhe Su ,,1 in Ihe ThaI/Xiii of Plot;".... and Origm (New York: Libra 1978).

Tumer,

J.D~

Majercilr.. R., eds.• Gnmlirum and Lmer ria/oni.. m: Theme" FigUT('5, and

T1':
We ber. K.O., Origem!.• der N..upluIOl,iker( Mun ich: 19(2).

Werner, M ~ TIll! For"""i""

"I

Clrri,.ti"" Dt'Xmu, lr. S.G.F. Brandon ( 1Iarpt.... and

BrolheI"l 1957).

Willi