Church History
11/25/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter X. Church Fathers, and Theological Literature." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2562-2700). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 161-180).
"§171. Cyril of Alexandria." (pp. 2629-2635).
After a brief bibliography, Schaff introduces us in an unfavorable way to Cyril of Alexandria, describing him as "a man making theology and orthodoxy the instruments of his passions" (Schaff 2014, p. 2630). After ascending to the position of patriarch in Alexandria in 412, he began consolidating power to himself using armed force (Schaff 2014, p. 2631). When the governor took exception to Cyril's practices, he gathered a guard of armed monks who would insult the governor publicly.
Cyril became involved in Christological disputes from 428 until his death in 444 (Schaff 2014, p. 2631). He used all tools available to fight against Nestorianism, including misrepresentation, artifice, violence, and bribery (Schaff 2014, p. 2632). Schaff notes, "Cyril furnishes a striking proof that orthodoxy and piety are two quite different things, and that zeal for pure doctrine may coexist with an unchristian spirit" (Schaff 2014, p. 2632). He was a keen minded theologian and apologist (Schaff 2014, p. 2633). Cyril showed great zeal in his battle for the incarnation and for the honor of Mary. Schaff lists his extant writings in brief, mostly consisting of commentary sermons (Schaff 2014, p. 2635).
"§172. Ephraem the Syrian." (pp. 2636-2640).
Schaff treats Ephraem (also spelled Ephraim) the Syrian as the last of his gathering of Eastern fathers. He was born in Mesopotamia in the early fourth century to pagan parents, then was forced to leave home due to his care for Christianity (Schaff 2014, p. 2637). He was taken in, instructed, and likely baptized by Jacob of Nisibis, who kept him as a teacher after 325. After 363, Ephraem became a hermit near Edessa. He traveled to Egypt and also visited Basil the Great in Caesarea (Schaff 2014, p. 2638). He died in 379.
Ephraem was known especially for his teaching and his written works (Schaff 2014, p. 2638), in Syriac but translated at an early date into Greek. Though we have only commentaries on about half of the Old Testament and on the Pauline Epistles, Ephraem is known to have written commentaries on the entire Bible (Schaff 2014, p. 2639). His sermons are vividly written. We also know him to have written hymns (Schaff 2014, p. 2640).
11/25/25
Schaff, Philip. (2014). "Chapter X. Church Fathers, and Theological Literature." In History of the Christian Church. (The Complete Eight Volumes in One). Volume 3, Nicene and Post-Nicene Christianity A.D. 311-600, from Constantine the Great to Gregory the Great. (pp. 2562-2700). (Original work published 1889). Amazon Kindle Edition. (Personal Library). (sections 161-180).
"§171. Cyril of Alexandria." (pp. 2629-2635).
After a brief bibliography, Schaff introduces us in an unfavorable way to Cyril of Alexandria, describing him as "a man making theology and orthodoxy the instruments of his passions" (Schaff 2014, p. 2630). After ascending to the position of patriarch in Alexandria in 412, he began consolidating power to himself using armed force (Schaff 2014, p. 2631). When the governor took exception to Cyril's practices, he gathered a guard of armed monks who would insult the governor publicly.
Cyril became involved in Christological disputes from 428 until his death in 444 (Schaff 2014, p. 2631). He used all tools available to fight against Nestorianism, including misrepresentation, artifice, violence, and bribery (Schaff 2014, p. 2632). Schaff notes, "Cyril furnishes a striking proof that orthodoxy and piety are two quite different things, and that zeal for pure doctrine may coexist with an unchristian spirit" (Schaff 2014, p. 2632). He was a keen minded theologian and apologist (Schaff 2014, p. 2633). Cyril showed great zeal in his battle for the incarnation and for the honor of Mary. Schaff lists his extant writings in brief, mostly consisting of commentary sermons (Schaff 2014, p. 2635).
"§172. Ephraem the Syrian." (pp. 2636-2640).
Schaff treats Ephraem (also spelled Ephraim) the Syrian as the last of his gathering of Eastern fathers. He was born in Mesopotamia in the early fourth century to pagan parents, then was forced to leave home due to his care for Christianity (Schaff 2014, p. 2637). He was taken in, instructed, and likely baptized by Jacob of Nisibis, who kept him as a teacher after 325. After 363, Ephraem became a hermit near Edessa. He traveled to Egypt and also visited Basil the Great in Caesarea (Schaff 2014, p. 2638). He died in 379.
Ephraem was known especially for his teaching and his written works (Schaff 2014, p. 2638), in Syriac but translated at an early date into Greek. Though we have only commentaries on about half of the Old Testament and on the Pauline Epistles, Ephraem is known to have written commentaries on the entire Bible (Schaff 2014, p. 2639). His sermons are vividly written. We also know him to have written hymns (Schaff 2014, p. 2640).
RSS Feed