Page 37 - God's Church through the Ages - Student Textbook

Study Section 6: The Great Scientific Theologians - continued

6.1 Connect

Matthew 28 tells every believer that their primary ministry is to share the Gospel with everyone they
meet and to make disciples of those who believe. What an amazing calling we all have! Aren’t you
glad someone told you about how you could be saved from the wrath of God? Aren’t you glad you
heard about the love of Jesus Christ and His willingness to pay the penalty for your sins on the cross?
For unless the people around us hear about what Jesus has done for them, how can they be saved?

We are called to be preachers of God’s Word. Today we are going to look at some more faithful men who were
called to not only preach the Word, but to stand up for the Word against great opposition. It seems like
throughout history, we see opportunity, then opposition. As long as Satan is alive and free, he will oppose the
work of Christ with all his power. Let’s continue to study the battle for men’s souls….

6.2 Objectives

1. The student will be able to describe the contributions of Cyril of Alexandria to the flow of church
history.

2. The student should be able to describe the importance of the Constantinople Creed of 381.

3. The student should be able to give a biographical sketch of the life of Patrick, missionary to Ireland.

4. The student should be able to describe the key elements of the Edict of Theodosius of 391 and why the
edicts were so important.

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6.3 Cyril of Alexandria (378-444)

Cyril was Christian theologian and bishop active in the complex doctrinal struggles of the 5th
century. He is chiefly known for his campaign against Nestorius, bishop of Constantinople, whose
views on Christ’s nature were to be declared heretical.

He succeeded his uncle Theophilus as bishop of the see of Alexandria in 412 and
came in conflict with the civil administration over the zeal with which he
championed orthodoxy. He closed the churches of the Novatians, a schismatic sect that denied
the power of the church to absolve those who had lapsed into idolatry during persecution. He
also was involved in the expulsion of Jews from Alexandria following their attacks upon
Christians. Riots ensued, and Cyril, who if not directly responsible at least had done nothing to
prevent them, was forced to acknowledge the authority of the civil government.

Cyril remained a chief citizen of Egypt and in his struggle with Nestorius he was in some ways a
political as well as a religious leader. The conflict concerned not only doctrinal matters; it also reflected the
Egyptians’ fear that Constantinople might come to dominate them. The religious argument involved the relation
of the divine and human within Jesus Christ. Cyril emphasized the unity of the two in one Person, while
Nestorius so emphasized their distinctness that he seemed to be splitting Christ into two Persons acting in
concert.

24 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Cyril-of-Alexandria
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