Nick at 06:06, 27 May 2020

Nick — Wed, 27 May 2020 06:06:15 GMT

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Nick: New page: '''Leo's Tome''' refers to a letter sent by Pope Leo I to Flavian of Constantinople^[1] explaining the position of the Papacy in matters of Christology. The text conf...

Nick — Wed, 27 May 2020 05:58:30 GMT

New page: '''Leo's Tome''' refers to a letter sent by Pope Leo I to Flavian of Constantinople[1] explaining the position of the Papacy in matters of Christology. The text conf...

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'''Leo's Tome''' refers to a letter sent by [[Pope Leo I]] to [[Flavian of Constantinople]][1] explaining the position of the Papacy in matters of [[Christology]]. The text confesses that [[Christ]] has two natures and was not of or from two natures.[2] The letter was a topic of debate at the [[Council of Chalcedon]] in 451 being eventually accepted as a doctrinal explanation of the nature of the Person of Christ. The letter was written in response to Flavian, [[Patriarch of Constantinople]], who had [[excommunication|excommunicated]] [[Eutyches]], who also wrote to the Pope to appeal the excommunication.

==Summary of the text==
Acknowledging the letter of Flavian that prompted the reply and the "proceedings of the bishops," the Pope declares that he now understands the controversy. He condemns Eutyches in the first paragraph, impugning the wayward presbyter's learning and misunderstanding of the [[Nicene Creed|Creed]]. Leo states that by the first three clauses of this Creed, "the engines of almost all heretics are shattered." Echoing the same, he recounts the Church's doctrine regarding the coeval nature of God the Father and God the Son. Bespeaking the necessity of the [[Incarnation (Christianity)|Incarnation]], he next offers scriptural justification for the dogma and against the position of Eutyches, noting that the latter, for his own illumination on this matter, might have read relevant passages in [[Gospel according to Matthew|Matthew]], [[St. Paul]]'s [[Epistle to the Romans]], or [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]]. Eutyches, the Pope says, believes Christ not to have been of our nature, but rather to have been the [[Logos|Word]] ''made'' flesh, i.e. to have taken a body that was created directly for the purpose, not a body truly derived from that of his [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Mother]]; in this Eutyches errs, for the [[Holy Ghost]] made the Virgin fertile, and from her body a real body was derived.

Leo insists that both natures of Christ were maintained, both met in one Person; this is the "appropriate remedy for our ills," and Christ is, from the human element, capable of death and, from the divine, incapable. By taking up our nature and, therefore, "a share in our infirmities," furthermore, Jesus did not become "a partaker in our transgressions...enriching what was human, not impairing what was divine." The form of God does not take away the form of a servant, nor does the servant's form impair God's form. God willed to be confined to the flesh, "to be subjected to the laws of death." The wondrousness of the [[Nativity of Christ|Nativity]] does not imply that Christ lacks human nature; the natures co-exist in Christ, each performing the duties proper to it.

Again invoking the text of the Creed, Pope Leo illustrates the coexistence of human and divine natures in Jesus, also drawing upon references to the New Testament, e.g. "The infancy of the Babe is exhibited by the humiliation of swaddling clothes: the greatness of the Highest is declared by the voices of angels." One Nature, such as that promulgated by Eutyches, does not claim, "I and the Father are one," while also stating, "the Father is greater than I"; two natures exist in one Person. [[Saint Peter]] is brought forward as the earliest example of a believer who rejects all other theories of the nature of Christ in order to declare Him the Son of the living God; for this declaration of faith, Peter is especially rewarded by Jesus.

The [[Resurrection of Jesus]] and the interval between that event and the [[Ascension of Jesus|Ascension]] is that which makes the "faith entire and clear of all darkness": in that time, Jesus sought to demonstrate that the two natures existed in him without division. Turning now to [[Gospel according to John|John]], Leo reaffirms that to deny the human nature of Christ is to dissolve Jesus, and to deny the redemptive mystery of the resurrection and also of the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|crucifixion]], whose indignities only the human nature of Christ could have suffered.

The Pope is astonished that the folly of Eutyches has not been more soundly rebuked, and he concludes by asking Flavian's "solicitude...to see that, if by God’s merciful inspiration the case is brought to a satisfactory issue, the inconsiderate and inexperienced man be cleansed also from this pestilent notion of his." Pleading Christlike mercy on the matter, Leo notes Eutyches's perceived occasional indifference to his heresy, and seems hopeful that the excommunicate will soon recant. He names the men who will bear his position to Eutyches before wishing Flavian health and noting the date.

==References==
* 1. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09154b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Pope St. Leo I (the Great)]
* 2. [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xi.vii.html Christian Classics Ethereal Library]

==External links==
*[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf214.xi.vii.html English text of Leo's Tome]
*[http://www.earlychurchtexts.com/public/leo_tome.htm Text of the Tome in the original Latin & in the Greek presented to the Council of Chalcedon]

[[Category:Papal bulls]]
[[Category:5th-century papal bulls]]
[[Category:5th-century Christian texts]]
[[Category:Documents of Pope Leo I]]

Leo's Tome - Revision history

Nick at 06:06, 27 May 2020

Nick: New page: '''Leo's Tome''' refers to a letter sent by Pope Leo I to Flavian of Constantinople[1] explaining the position of the Papacy in matters of Christology. The text conf...

Nick: New page: '''Leo's Tome''' refers to a letter sent by Pope Leo I to Flavian of Constantinople^[1] explaining the position of the Papacy in matters of Christology. The text conf...