The Soteriology of Leo the Great (Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs)

Leo the Great was the beneficiary of the consolidation of the power of the papacy in Rome and the Christianization of the city over the course of the preceding century. In this carefully nuanced study, Bernard Green demonstrates the influences at work on this celebrated pope's development as a theological thinker, including two of the most renowned theological names of the period, Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo. Green charts Leo's theological journey from his first encounters with the Pelagian and Nestorian controversies, where he engaged Cassian as an advisor. Leo took an admiring though limited view of Cyril of Alexandria but misunderstood the weaknesses in Nestorius' thought. As pope, Leo preached a civic Christianity, accessible to all citizens, baptising the virtues of the classical and civic past. The study then examines Leo's recently dated sermons and reveals the evolution of his thought as he worked out a soteriology that gave full value to both the divinity and humanity of Christ, especially in reaction to Manichaeism. In the crisis that led to Chalcedon, Leo's earlier misunderstanding of Nestorius affected the content of his Tome, which was atypical of the Christology and soteriology he had developed in his earlier preaching. Green persuasively concludes that its emphasis on the distinction of the two natures was an uncharacteristic attempt to respond to both Eutyches and Nestorius, as this pope understood them. In the light of Chalcedon, Leo produced a revised statement of Christology, the Letter to the Palestinian monks, which is both more accomplished and better aligned with his characteristic thought. Contents......Page 12 Abbreviations......Page 14 Introduction......Page 16 The Christianisation of Rome......Page 17 The Restoration of the Papacy, 366–99......Page 23 The Ascendancy and Impact of Ambrose......Page 28 Zosimus and the Crisis of 418–19......Page 32 Conclusion......Page 37 Rome and the Nestorian Controversy, 428–30......Page 38 Cassian’s Failed Critique of Nestorius: The De Incarnatione......Page 43 The Roman Condemnation of Nestorius......Page 50 The Formula of Reunion, 433......Page 52 The Impact of Ambrose and Augustine: Una Persona......Page 60 Soteriology and the Nestorian Controversy......Page 68 Leo’s Use of his Sources......Page 71 Conclusion......Page 75 Monastic and Orator Bishops......Page 76 Romanitas......Page 89 Who Can Be Saved? Grace and Predestination......Page 91 Christ and Society......Page 97 The Church......Page 102 Conclusion......Page 108 Introduction......Page 109 The Structure of the Cycle......Page 111 The First Three Sermons, September to December 440: The Ecclesial Context of Theology......Page 114 Christmas and Epiphany, 440–1: Incarnation and Salvation......Page 117 The Ecclesial Response: The Lenten Fast, 441......Page 136 Christ’s Triumph: The Pasch, 441......Page 139 The Appropriation of Salvation: Pentecost, Peter and Paul, the September Fast, 441......Page 146 Conclusion......Page 150 Introduction......Page 153 The Divine Dispensation in the Second and Third Cycles, 441–3......Page 154 The Saving Significance of Christ’s Two Natures in the Second and Third Cycles, 441–3......Page 158 The Holy Spirit and the Appropriation of Salvation in the Second and Third Cycles, 441–3......Page 178 Preaching against the Manichees: 443–4......Page 183 The Fifth Cycle of Sermons, 444–5......Page 195 Conclusion......Page 202 Introduction......Page 203 Two Letters in 447......Page 204 Prosper of Aquitaine and the Authorship of Leo’s Tome......Page 208 Against Whom was the Tome Written?......Page 217 Twin Heresies: Nestorius and Eutyches......Page 221 The Purpose and Structure of the Tome......Page 224 Leo’s Changing View of Nestorius......Page 242 The Letter to the Palestinian Monks: Ep 124......Page 245 Conclusion......Page 261 Conclusions......Page 263 Bibliography......Page 269 A......Page 282 D......Page 283 L......Page 284 M......Page 285 P......Page 286 Z......Page 287 Index of Scripture......Page 288 Leo the Great was the beneficiary of the consolidation of the power of the papacy in Rome and the Christianization of the city over the course of the preceding century. In this carefully nuanced study Bernard Green demonstrates the influences at work on this celebrated pope's development as a theological thinker, including two of the most reknowned theological names of the period, Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo. Green charts Leo's theological journey from his first encounters with the Pelagian and Nestorian controversies, where he engaged Cassian as an advisor. Leo took an admiring though limited view of Cyril of Alexandria but misunderstood the weaknesses in Nestorius' thought. As pope, Leo preached a civic Christianity, accessible to all citizens, baptising the virtues of the classical and civic past. The study then examines Leo's recently dated sermons and reveals the evolution of his thought as he worked out a soteriology that gave full value to both the divinity and humanity of Christ, especially in reaction to Manichaeism. In the crisis that led to Chalcedon, Leo's earlier misunderstanding of Nestorius affected the content of his Tome, which was atypical of the Christology and soteriology he had developed in his earlier preaching. Green persuasively concludes that its emphasis on the distinction of the two natures was an uncharacteristic attempt to respond to both Eutyches and Nestorius, as this pope understood them. In the light of Chalcedon, Leo produced a revised statement of Christology, the Letter to the Palestinian monks, which is both more accomplished and better aligned with his characteristic thought. Green offers a historical study of the development of the thought of Leo the Great, showing the influence of Augustine and his own role in the promotion of the papacy in Rome and in the wider world. Includes a fresh reading of Leo's Tome and discussion of his participation in the great theological controversies of the age. The historical background of Leo's theology : the making of a theologian The nestorian controversy Salvation and civic Christianity The first cycle of sermons, 440-1 Leo's theological development, 441-5 The tome of Leo. Green offers an historical study of the development of the thought of Leo the Great, showing the influence of Augustine and his own role in the promotion of the papacy in Rome and in the wider world.