The Impact of Greek Concepts of God on the Christology of Cyril of Alexandria

Abstract

Cyril transposes Neoplatonism rather than replicates it. Hence, his early struggle with Arianism and his fervour for the homoousios rule out full-blown ontological dualism in the Platonist manner. Rather, immutability and impassability do not mean immobility and impassivity, but active life-giving power and sufficiency to supply strength, powers which prove the co-equality of the Son with the Father. They support Cyril’s resulting Christology: the Son ‘appropriates’ (Norris) human existence to himself in order to communicate life and victory. Immutability and impassability, paradoxically, nurture more a narrative Christology than a union of two static substances.