COUNCIL Post-Chalcedonian & Medieval (451–1517 AD) November 680 – September 681 AD Inter-Confessional/Academic (Post-Chalcedonian)

Third Council of Constantinople (680–681 AD)

Sixth Ecumenical Council, defined two natural wills and operations in Christ (Dyothelitism)

The Third Council of Constantinople, convoked by Emperor Constantine IV, rejected the compromises of Monoenergism and Monothelitism (one will), solemnly defining that Jesus Christ possesses two distinct natural wills (thelemata) and two natural operations/energies (energeiai)—one divine and one human—acting in perfect moral harmony without division or conflict.

Geographical Center: Constantinople (Trullus Hall) Historical Catalyst: Monothelite imperial controversy seeking political union against Arab conquests

Historical Context & Significance

The council vindicated the theology and martyrdom of Maximus the Confessor and Pope Martin I, anathematizing Patriarch Sergius of Constantinople and Pope Honorius I of Rome for tolerating Monothelite compromise.

Genealogical Lineage & Splits

Root Origin

This movement or council is an early root foundation with no preceding parent split in the dataset.

Direct Offshoots & Descendants (1)

council

Second Council of Nicaea (787 AD)

The Second Council of Nicaea, convoked by Empress Regent Irene with ~350 bishops, ended the first phase of Byzantine Iconoclasm by defining that icons of Christ, the Virgin Mary, angels, and saints may be painted and given honorable veneration (proskynesis timitike), while absolute worship and adoration (latreia) belongs exclusively to the Triune God.

Theological & Hermeneutical Coordinates

Soteriology Dyothelitism: Christ's Free Human Will Freely Submits to Divine Will for Redemption

Hermeneutic Exegesis of Gethsemane ('Not as I will, but as You will')

Ecclesiology & Sacraments Anathematization of Unorthodox Bishops Regardless of See

Eschatology Human Will Perfected and Deified in Glory

Primary Scripture Proof-Texts

Key biblical passages central to this tradition's exegesis and historical debates.

NT.MAT.26.39 → NT.LUK.22.42 → NT.JHN.6.38 →

Connected Theological Perspectives & Debates

Hermeneutics & Canon OT.GEN.1.1, OT.EXO.20.11, NT.COL.1.16

Creation Days & Biblical Cosmology

Universal Christian confession that God Almighty is the sole Creator of all things visible and invisible out of nothing (*creatio ex nihilo*).

Hermeneutics & Canon NT.2TI.3.16, NT.2PE.1.20, NT.JHN.10.35

Biblical Inerrancy vs. Infallibility

Universal Christian confession that Holy Scripture is divinely inspired, supremely authoritative, and completely trustworthy for knowing God and receiving salvation.

Eschatology & Millennium NT.ROM.11.1, NT.GAL.6.16, NT.EPH.2.14

Israel & the Church: Supersession vs. Dispensationalism

Universal confession that Gentiles are grafted into the covenant promises through faith in Jesus Christ, the true Seed of Abraham.