Pro-Nicene Creation and Salvation according to Augustine of Hippo and Cyril of Alexandria

Steen, Austin

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Pro-Nicene Creation and Salvation according to Augustine of Hippo and Cyril of Alexandria

Steen, Austin

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Steen, Austin

Abstract

Both Augustine of Hippo and Cyril of Alexandria inherit the pro-Nicene Trinitarianism that develops from the latter decades of the fourth century. However, while they similarly agree on their commitment to the Trinity’s consubstantiality and coequality, these bishops exhibit diversity in their extensions of the pro-Nicene view to other aspects of their thought. The first three chapters consider how pro-Nicene theology shapes Augustine’s and Cyril’s articulations of humanity’s relationship with God in the context of creation. The first chapter examines how an ambiguity in John 1:3-4 leads Augustine and Cyril to envision differently the Word’s presence with respect to creation and created beings’ disposition toward him. Then, the second chapter assesses how these theologians navigate the tension between the Son’s identity as the Father’s image and humanity’s creation in the image of God. Each figure’s connotations of image influence how the Trinity emerges in humanity’s reflection of the divine image. Chapter 3 reveals how Augustine and Cyril accentuate different verses in the Genesis narrative when identifying the Spirit’s role in the process of creation. While the former reads Genesis 1:2 as stressing the Spirit as God’s love directing creation toward himself, the latter interprets Genesis 2:7 as detailing humanity’s initial participation in the Spirit. Shifting from creation to salvation, chapters 4 and 5 respectively consider Augustine’s and Cyril’s views on the incarnation. These chapters examine how pro-Nicene commitment to Christ’s divinity create soteriological explanations for his humanity, specifically the distinct purposes of Christ’s materiality and human experiences. Finally, chapter 6 analyses how Augustine’s and Cyril’s interpretations of John 17:20-23 balance humanity’s unity with God, the Son’s unity with the Father, and humanity’s unity with one another. While both bishops consider humanity’s volitional oneness as an imitation of Trinitarian unity, Cyril further adds deification as humanity’s means for substantial unity with God. Thus, this examination of Augustine and Cyril demonstrates how each figure’s explanation of creation and salvation builds upon his adherence to pro-Nicene principles.