Maximus the Confessor

Byzantine Theologian · c. 580–662

Maximus is known as the father of Byzantine theology and was the dominant figure in the development of doctrine in the Eastern church in the seventh century. He is especially important to the Eastern Orthodox.1

The emperors, seeking to reconcile the opponents of Chalcedon, decreed that Christ has only one will. Maximus refused. The Lateran Council of 649 at Rome condemned that teaching, Monothelitism, but the emperor had Maximus arrested. With two of his disciples he was punished savagely:2

Each one’s tongue was cut out, and his right hand was cut off.3 Orthodox Church in AmericaLife of St. Maximus

He died in exile in Scythia, by tradition on August 13, 662. His title “the Confessor” honors that suffering.4

His Legacy

Maximus taught deification, the view that man can become like God, and saw the purpose of history in the incarnation of the Son and the deification of man. That idea shapes Orthodox spirituality to this day. His defense of Christ’s two wills, with Rome on his side, belongs to the Christology later received by Rome and the Reformers alike: the Son who prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done,” was truly man.5

Medieval Theologians

Notes

  1. Michael J. Vlach, “Historical Theology I: A.D. 100–1600” (course notes, TH 507, The Master’s Seminary, Fall 2007), “Maximus the Confessor.” Summarized. ↩
  2. “Venerable Maximus the Confessor,” Orthodox Church in America, online. Summarized. ↩
  3. “Venerable Maximus the Confessor.” ↩
  4. “Venerable Maximus the Confessor.” ↩
  5. Vlach, “Historical Theology I,” “Maximus the Confessor.” Summarized. ↩