What happened at the Council of Ephesus?

Answer

The Council of Ephesus, held in AD 431, was the third of the Ecumenical Councils, following Nicea in 325 and Constantinople in 381. The Council of Ephesus focused primarily on the doctrine of Nestorianism, while also condemning Pelagianism and reaffirming the Nicene Creed.

The Council of Ephesus examined the teachings of the Archbishop of Constantinople, Nestorius, who asserted that Christ’s two natures, human and divine, were distinct. Nestorius proposed that Mary should be called “Christokos,” meaning “bearer of Christ,” instead of the traditional “Theotokos,” meaning “bearer of God.” He argued that Theotokos implied a mingling of Jesus’ divine and human natures, which he believed were united only by the will. Nestorius’ preference for the term Christokos implied a clearer separation of Jesus’ two natures. While historians generally agree that Nestorius’ beliefs were not significantly different from the orthodox position, the debate extended beyond terminology as Nestorianism clashed with biblical teachings concerning the divinity of Christ (see John 10:30).

The disagreement on this doctrinal point intensified between Nestorius and Cyril of Alexandria, leading Cyril to successfully appeal to the Pope to condemn Nestorius’ views as heretical. Despite this, Nestorius remained steadfast and urged Emperor Theodosius II to convene a council to resolve the conflict. The request was granted, and at the Council of Ephesus, Nestorius intended to accuse Cyril of heresy. Ironically, the council’s final decision was the opposite: it deemed Nestorianism heretical and deposed Nestorius.

Furthermore, the Council of Ephesus rejected the ideology of Pelagianism, which posited that it was conceivable, in theory, to lead a morally flawless life without divine assistance. Embracing Pelagianism entails a denial of the doctrine of original sin.In rejecting Nestorianism, the Council of Ephesus officially recognized Mary as the “Mother of God,” although at the time this term was explicitly meant to refer only to Jesus’ humanity and only appropriate in Mary’s unique circumstance. Over time, this reverence for Mary would evolve, within Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, into belief in her perpetual virginity, sinlessness, and cooperative work in human redemption.

Another regrettable consequence of the Council of Ephesus is bitterness and division. The meeting itself was reported to be contentious, heated, and unfriendly. The decision to condemn Nestorianism led to an immediate split in the Eastern Church, giving rise to several splinter groups. Some of these factions persist today, including the Assyrian Church of the East and Chaldean Catholicism.