Monophysitism Past and Present: A Study in Christology

The monophysite controversy was not merely a theological abstraction - it fractured the ancient church, sparked imperial intrigue, and continues to define Christianity's oldest surviving communion. A.A. Luce's rigorous study traces this pivotal Christological debate from its 5th-century origins through its modern implications, examining how the assertion that Christ possesses a single divine nature (rather than two distinct natures, human and divine) challenged the boundaries of orthodox belief. The work analyzes the philosophical underpinnings of the position, the historical circumstances that nurtured it, and the Christological definitions that emerged in response - culminating in the Council of Chalcedon's definitive, and deeply political, formulation. Luce brings particular attention to the theological tradition that persisted among Coptic, Armenian, and Syrian Christians, showing how monophysitism survived as a living faith rather than merely a historical curiosity. For anyone seeking to understand how the early church defined orthodoxy - and why those definitions still matter - this work offers both rigorous scholarship and ecumenical relevance.