Misconceptions About The Teachings Of The Council Of Ephesus

An Ecumenical Council is when the entire Church, convened by the Pope and composed of bishops, gathers in an assembly to address certain concerns of the Universal Church. The council’s purpose is to correct any misconceptions in the church, teachings or scripture, so that the church’s teachings and doctrine continue to carry out the same message that Jesus Christ intended when he entrusted his apostles with his church on earth. During the Council of Ephesus there had been several controversies about the teachings of the church that were addressed such as the Nestorian heresy, and the reaffirmation of the Nicene Creed, that of which ultimately were discussed and successfully resolved.

Ephesus was a city located near the west coast of Asia
minor near the mouth of the Cayster river. Connecting highways with the main cities of the province, Ephesus was the most easily accessible city in Asia, both by land and sea. Its location, therefore, favored its religious, political and commercial development. In the year A.D. 34,1 the council of Ephesus took place in the city of Ephesus convened by Emperor Theodosius II in an effort to clear some teachings in the church and make more firm the teachings and practices. During his reign, the empire defended itself against attacks led by Attila the Hun, as well as, Theodosius also oversaw a compilation of Roman laws.
Also during this time, other historical events and figures were recognized such as Ulfilas, Gothic Wulfila (c. 311 - c. 382, Constantinople) a Christian bishop and missionary who evangelized the Goths, created the Gothic alphabet, and wrote the earliest translation of the Bible into a Germanic language originally translating from Greek and Latin. The Gothic church that he helped create, provided it with a vernacular Bible and liturgy. For the first time in the Germanic world, writing was now being used for the spread of information and ideas. Also during A.D 341, Constans the Emperor of Rome began his reign with a successful campaign against the Franks and victories along the Danube. Concerning religion, Constans was tolerant of Judaism and enforced an edict banning pagan sacrifices in. He was also able to put an end to Donatism in Africa and began to support Nicene orthodoxy against Arianism, which was supported by his brother Constantius.

The Council of Ephesus began with the condemnation of the Nestorian heresy.
Nestorius’s was teaching that there were two separate persons in Christ, one human, and one divine; this also included his refusal of Mary as the Theotokos “God -Bearer.” He was quickly confronted for teachings of heresy by Cyril, the Patriarch of Alexandria who had appealed to the Pope at the time, Clementine I, and had been given the power to give notice to Nestorius that he had ten days to rethink his beliefs or be excommunicated from the church. Pope Clementine gave Cyril the power to be the first agent to speak against Nestorianism. Later, Cyril called the first session of this council in 431 A.D. Almost 200 bishops arrived, Nestorius however declared that he would not arrive until all the bishops were present. After the third time Nestorius was called upon he did not respond to the council, refusing to recognize Cyril as a judge of the council. Cyril however, knew that all he had to do to start the council in place was to get one of the bishops of the council to read Theodosius II, Eastern Roman emperor’s, call to convocation. Cyril then was able to trick one of the opposing bishops into read Theodosius’s convocation, which then gave the counsel no choice but to recognize its legality. The council condemned Nestorius for his teachings, “Our lord Jesus Christ, who has been blasphemed by him, has determined through this most holy synod that the same Nestorius should be stripped of his
episcopal dignity and removed from the college of priests.” (Epistle of Cyril to Nestorius), and declared Mary as the true Mother of God (Theotokos). In 435, the emperor banished Nestorius in Egypt where he died.
The fourth and fifth Council revolved around John of Antioch for accusing the synod for Apollinarianism; declaring Jesus had a human body and soul but had a divine mind.
When John and the Eastern bishops finally arrived, they were outraged to find that the council had begun without them and already concluded in their decision. Aside from this, they convened their own council immediately, condemning and excommunicating Cyril and others. This led to some confusion and conflict. In conclusion both Rome and Constantinople approved of Cyril’s council. In addition to this, the Council disproved the heresy of Pelagianism; the heresy that claims that God made human beings free to choose between good and evil and that sin is a voluntary act committed against God’s
law.
In the sixth Council, the Council issued over the Nicene Creed, not allowing “anyone to produce, write or compose any other creed except the one which was defined by the holy Fathers who were gathered together in the Holy Spirit at Nicaea” (Definition of Faith at Nicea). The seventh and the last council, had persuaded the council to approve their claim of having been rightly exempt from the jurisdiction of Antioch. Six canons were passed against the supporters of Nestorius. The people of Constantinople were now pleased with the rulings. The emperor however, was a little shocked but after a representative finally handed him a letter with the reasoning for the rulings, after receiving this information he declared the Council of Ephesus the true council.
The council of Ephesus has greatly influenced the church today by shaping our current image and understanding of Jesus, as one fully functioning person with two natures, as well as being God. The council also coined the term “Theotokos” for Mary the Mother of God and reaffirmed and made explicit our belief in the hypostatic union of Christ in the Nicene Creed, which we still use currently today.

Ecumenical councils periodically convene to carry out their judicial and doctrinal functions, whenever faith or morals or discipline are seriously threatened the Pope will then take immediate action to preserve the church.
If Pope francis were to call an Ecumenical Council during 2017 some of the issues he might address could be the attainment of peace and unity, love between peoples and the removal of racial and other discrimination trying to unite us all as God’s people, continuing the mission of Christ as one Catholic and Apostolic Church; he might also bring up any issues concerning church teachings and correct or 4condemn any heresies that may be affecting the reputation of the Catholic church.