451–451 · Chalcedon
Council of Chalcedon
Why this council matters
Chalcedon supplies essential language for speaking about Jesus Christ as fully divine and fully human. Its definition rules out both confusion of the natures and division of Christ into separate personal subjects.
Read the definition beside Leo’s Tome and the earlier creeds. The council also issued disciplinary canons. Its reception was contested, and some ancient Christian churches did not accept it; learning that history requires distinguishing the wording of the definition from later political and ecclesial conflicts.
Read and investigate
Read the definition, Leo’s Tome, and the canons. These source selections do not constitute every session’s acts.
Controversies
How to confess Christ’s full divinity and full humanity without division or confusion.
Decrees
The definition of faith confessed one and the same Christ in two natures.
Definitions
One person and hypostasis; divine and human natures remain distinct without separating Christ.