Description
Book SynopsisThe First Council of Ephesus (431) was the climax of the so-called Nestorian Controversy. Convoked by the emperor Theodosius II to restore peace to the Church, it immediately divided into two rival councils, both meeting at Ephesus. Attempts by the emperor’s representatives to get the bishops on both sides to meet together had no success, and after four months the council was dissolved without having ever properly met. But a number of decrees by the larger of the two rival councils, in particular the condemnation of Nestorius of Constantinople, were subsequently accepted as the valid decrees of the ‘ecumenical council of Ephesus’. The documentation, consisting of conciliar proceedings, letters and other documents, provides information not only about events in Ephesus itself, but also about lobbying and public demonstrations in Constantinople. There is no episode in late Roman history where we are so well informed about how politics were conducted in the imperial capital. This makes the Acts a document of first importance for the history of the Later Roman Empire as well for that of the Church.
Trade Review‘Richard Price [has made] translated texts for historians... available to a wider scholarly public... In this way, future research will have much easier access to difficult complex of traditions.’ Wolfram Kinzig, Plekos (translated from German)
‘[S]ophisticated and nuanced historical narrative... an extraordinary contribution to scholarship on the council and on the development of fifth-century theology and ecclesiastical politics.’ Nathan Porter, Vigiliae Christianae
Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction
I. The Sources
II. The ‘Nestorian Controversy’ and the First Council of Ephesus: a brief history
III. The Theology
Documents and Proceedings
1. Before the Council [Eph 1]
2. The Session of 22 June [Eph 2]
3. After the Session of 22 June [Eph 3]
4. The ‘Session’ of 22 July [Eph 4]
5. From the end of July till Nestorius’ retirement [Eph 5]
6. From the Colloquia at Chalcedon to the Dissolution of the Council [Eph 6]
Appendices
I. Attendance at the Council
II. From the Coptic Acts
Glossary
Bibliography
Maps
Indices
