The definition of Chalcedon
Last night at FAC Daniel Bergèse did an evening on Ecclesiastes - the gospel backwards. There was a decent crowd and the evening went well. He stayed at our house afterwards and we sped off this morning to the church for a morning conference on the Nicene creed. During this session I was reminded of the glorious definition of Chalcedon, which I cite below for you.
Chalcedon's definition of a Saviour who is 100% God and 100% man, who becomes what he had not been without leaving aside what he had always been, is of real importance and relevance.
It means there is a man in heaven. A real man ! Flesh and bones like us.
It means that when we look at the gospel accounts of Jesus we see one whole and indivisible person. We can"t say "Oh now it's the God-bit acting and there he's acting just as a perfect man." He is always the God-Man.
It means that Jesus has exalted human nature to the heights of the throne of God. Isn't that amazing.
It means so much :
Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.
Comments