On the Unity of Christ: Cyril of Alexandria

            The edition of On the Unity of Christ by Cyril of Alexandria which I read has a useful historical background introduction at the beginning of the book. This introduction covers both the life of Cyril as well as giving an overview of his theology. This kind of introduction, which the other books did not have, was a very helpful contribution for me. The only critique I had of the introduction was the strong pro-Cyril attitude. The author is out to rescue the name of Cyril, and so he makes Nestorius the “bad guy” of the story. Unfortunately, there is no discussion at all in regards to the issue of what Nestorius himself actually believed based on the material he wrote near the end of his life, which sounds very little like the Nestorius that Cyril argues against. While it very well may be that Nestorius has changed his mind, it would only be fair at least to include information about these writings and the current historical debate on the exact content of Nestorius’ belief in the introduction. 

The style of the book itself is refreshingly set up as a dialogue between two conversation partners, although since they are never identified it is apparently purely a rhetorical effect. Cyril, as the title indicates, argues for the unity of Christ, as opposed to a conjunction of the two natures as Nestorius argued. Since this work is probably a later work, it is apparently written not against Nestorius himself but against continuing Antiochene influence in the church. Cyril’s argument is fairly clear throughout the work and easy to follow, especially since he repeats himself on occasion. He not only argues against Nestorius and Apollonarius, but he also argues against the later error of Eutychus by saying that the two natures are neither confused or mingled (terminology that appears in the Creed of Chalcedon itself). Cyril’s methodology includes every Scriptural and logical argument he can think of, which are then put into an order which I was not able to discern upon a first reading.

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