What was the Third Council of Constantinople? Overview and Historical Context The Third Council of Constantinople, historically recognized as the Sixth Ecumenical Council, convened in 680–681 AD. It addressed critical Christological debates regarding the wills of Christ, reaffirming doctrinal consistency with prior church councils, including the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD). Under Emperor Constantine IV, church leaders gathered to settle the controversy of Monothelitism, a teaching that suggested Christ had only one will. This council’s decisions significantly shaped Christian theology across both Eastern and Western regions, preserving the Scriptural view that Christ is fully God and fully man. The council’s rulings draw from passages such as John 6:38, where Jesus says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me,” emphasizing the harmonious yet distinct operation of both His divine and human wills. Key Theological Issue: Monothelitism Monothelitism proposed that while Christ possesses two natures (divine and human), He expressed only one will. Proponents sought to heal theological rifts with those who previously held Monophysite views (that Christ had only one nature). However, church authorities found this teaching inconsistent with biblical testimony and existing creedal formulations. The Gospels reveal Jesus acting and speaking in ways that manifest His humanity—such as experiencing hunger (Luke 4:2) and sorrow (John 11:35)—yet also showcase His deity through miracles, divine authority (Matthew 9:6), and sinless perfection (Hebrews 4:15). The council thus concluded that for Christ to be truly fully God and fully man, He must have both a divine will and a human will. Council Proceedings Gathered under the emperor’s oversight, bishops and theological experts examined scriptural references, earlier council decisions, and the writings of recognized church fathers. The official Acts of the Council—a collection of doctrinal statements, canons, and response letters—served to record testimonies and formalize decisions. Leaders cited church tradition, especially the authority of the Apostolic teachings, to confirm that the integrity of Christ’s two natures necessitated two wills. Participants referenced earlier councils (like Ephesus in 431 AD and Chalcedon in 451 AD) as anchors for consistent Christian orthodoxy. Outcome and Doctrinal Decree The council definitively condemned Monothelitism, declaring that Jesus Christ possesses both a fully divine will and a fully human will, working together in perfect harmony. This decree, based on the interpretation of biblical texts and early creedal statements, reinforced that any denial of Christ’s two wills compromises His complete humanity or full divinity. The council’s conclusion reads in harmony with verses that portray Jesus praying to the Father (e.g., Matthew 26:39: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”). Such statements illustrate Christ’s genuine human will subject to the Father alongside His undisputed deity. Scriptural Harmony and Practical Importance Theologically, the Third Council of Constantinople underscores that every aspect of who Christ is—both divinely and humanly—operates consistently with the testimony of the Gospels and Old Testament prophecies pointing to a Messiah with genuine human attributes (Isaiah 53:3–5) and divine authority (Psalm 2:7–9). By clarifying Christ’s two-will nature, the council protected the doctrine of salvation: if Christ were not fully human (complete with a human will), He could not fully represent humanity; and if He were not fully divine, He would lack the power to atone for sin (Hebrews 9:14). The condemnation of Monothelitism thus helped the church maintain a consistent, Scripturally grounded view of salvation through the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ. Legacy in Church History The Third Council of Constantinople remains significant as the definitive statement against Monothelitism. In unity with the earlier five ecumenical councils, it further secured the universal church’s confession that Christ is the “Word became flesh” (John 1:14), complete in both divine and human faculties. Subsequent church writings and confessions have echoed its affirmation, sustaining the theological continuity traceable to apostolic teaching. Historians often reference material evidence such as preserved conciliar records and related correspondences in the centuries following, attesting to church-wide acceptance of the council’s doctrinal stance. Conclusion The Third Council of Constantinople (680–681 AD), as the Sixth Ecumenical Council, served to clarify and uphold the biblical truth that Christ operates through two wills, one human and one divine, in a single Person. By officially rejecting Monothelitism, the council not only reinforced core Christian doctrine about the nature of Christ but also safeguarded the biblical teaching that He—fully God and fully man—is the only One capable of providing salvation. This enduring affirmation continues to shape Christological understanding within the global Christian community. |
    |