Theological Term of the Week: Chalcedonian Definition

Chalcedonian Definition
The statement produced by the Council of Chalcedon in A. D. 451 that is regarded by most branches of Christianity as the orthodox definition of the biblical teaching on the person of Christ; also called the Chalcedonian Creed.   

• Text of the Chalcedonian Definition:

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us. 

• From Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, pages 557-8:

Some have said that the Chalcedonian definition really did not define for us in any positive way what the person of Christ actually is, but simply told us several things that it is not. In this way some have said that it is not a very helpful definition. But such an accusation is misleading and inaccurate. The definition actually did a great deal to help us understand the biblical teaching correctly. It taught that Christ definitely has two natures, a human nature and a divine nature. It taught that his divine nature is exactly the same as that of the Father (consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead”). And it maintained that the human nature is exactly like our human nature, yet without sin (“consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead”). Moreover, it affirmed that in the person of Christ the human nature retains its distinctive characteristics and the divine nature retains its distinctive characteristics (“the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved”). Finally, it affirms that, whether we can understand it or not, these two natures are united together in the one person of Christ.

Learn more:

1. Monergism.com: The Definition of the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)
2. Donald Fairburn: The Chalcedonian Definition: Christ’s Two Natures
3. Keith Mathison: The Chalcedonian Definition, The Basics of Chalcedonian Christology
4. Nick Needham: Truly God, Truly Man: The Council of Chalcedon
5. Sinclair Ferguson: Chalcedon: A Defining Moment for the Doctrine of Christ

Related terms:

• Apostles’ Creed
• Athanasian Creed
• Eutychianism
• Nestorianism
• Nicene Creed

Filed under Creeds and Confessions

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Sunday Hymn: Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Dear re­fuge of my wea­ry soul,
On Thee, when sor­rows rise;
On Thee, when waves of trou­ble roll,
My faint­ing hope re­lies.

While hope re­vives, though pressed with fear
And I can say, My God,
Beneath Thy feet I spread my cares,
And pour my woes abroad.

To Thee I tell each ris­ing grief,
For Thou alone canst heal;
Thy Word can bring a sweet re­lief
For ev­ery pain I feel.

But oh! when gloomy doubts pre­vail,
I fear to call Thee mine;
The springs of com­fort seem to fail,
And all my hopes de­cline.

Yet, gra­cious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my on­ly trust,
And still my soul would cleave to Thee,
Though pros­trate in the dust.

Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face?
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sov­er­eign grace
Be deaf when I com­plain?

No, still the ear of sov­er­eign grace
Attends the mourn­er’s pray­er;
O ac­cess may I ev­er find,
To breathe my sor­rows there.

Thy mer­cy seat is op­en still;
Here let my soul re­treat,
With hum­ble hope at­tend Thy will,
And wait be­neath Thy feet.

—Anne Steele

Theological Term of the Week: Catechism

catechism
A summary of Christian doctrine and belief written in the form of questions with answers, used to teach the basics the faith.   

• Scriptural warrant for the use of catechisms:

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV)

• From Living for God’s Glory by Joel R. Beeke and Sinclair B. Ferguson, page 338:

The Puritans taught their children catechism as soon as possible; most fathers catechized each child for one hour per week. To help them, Puritan pastors wrote books that explained fundamental Christian doctrines by means of questions and answers supported by Scripture. Fathers explained the theological content of the questions and answers of these catechism books by illustrating them with Bible stories and dialoguing with their children.

The goals of catechizing were to make sermons and the sacraments more understandable for covenant children, to prepare them for confession of faith, and to teach them how to defend their faith against error. Then, too, children were taught that truth must be loved and lived. As the Puritan ministers’ catechism books and sermons show, children were told the truth about matters such as the fall in Adam, sin, and condemnation, as well as salvation in Christ, His righteousness, and everlasting bliss. They were also invited, via appeals to their wills and hearts, to flee to Christ with their sins. The ultimate goal was not simply a well-stocked head, but also a warm appreciation of the truths of God in mind and soul so that the child would lead a holy life.

Learn more:

1. Covenant of Grace RPC: Catechism, what is it?
2. Greg Strand: “What is Catechism?”
3. Westminster Bookstore: What Is Catechism? A Simple Guide For Beginners
4. Joe Carter: 10 Things About Catechesis
5. Kim Riddlebarger: The Need To Recover the Practise of Catechism

A few Protestant catechisms:

• Luther’s Small Catechism
• Luther’s Large Catechism
• Bunyan’s Catechism
• Keach’s Catechism
• A Puritan Catechism (Spurgeon)
• Two Short Catechisms (John Owen)
• Heidelberg Catechism
• Westminster Shorter Catechism
• Westminster Larger Catechism
• New City Catechism
• New City Catechism for Kids

Related terms:

• Heidelberg Catechism
• Westminster Larger Catechism
• Westminster Shorter Catechism

Filed under Creeds and Confessions

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Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured as a Theological Term of the Week? Email your suggestion using the contact button in the navigation bar above. 

Clicking on the Theological Terms button above the header will take you to an alphabetical list of all the theological terms.