Monoenergism, Monotheletism, and the Reformed Viewpoint

[FrozenChosen]

I was reading in Sir Steven Runciman's [i:8b10f85e67]History of the Crusades, Volume 1[/i:8b10f85e67]. Since I had set it down for a while, I started from the beginning again. He starts off in the 600s and points out how many considered Heraclius to be the first Crusader against the Persians.

Then the book mentioned how Heraclius began to dabble in matters of theology. He desired to see the Eastern churches united back with the Western churches. The Eastern churches were more Monophysitic than anything, and the Catholic church said no.

Heraclius came up with two ideas, one being monoenergism, and the second being monotheletism. I decided to see if I could find any information about these ideas (apparently heresies condemned by the popes).

Monoenergism says that while Christ had two natures, human and divine, he only had one will. The terminology was deliberately vague, with "will" meaning more of "motivation."

Monotheletism is a rehash of Monoenergism, with "will" being more redefined, but I have yet to find how it differs.

The major question the Catholics had was that if Christ only had one will, wouldn't he be less than fully human, and wouldn't his humanity be a mere tool of divine use?

Would it be appropriate to say that Christ has two natures, indivisible and indistinguishable, as well as two wills (divine and human) that share the same unity as his natures?

I'm curious as to what a Reformer would say. I didn't see any treatment of the issue in my Berkhof Systematic.

 

[Puritan Sailor]

Perhaps these sections from chapter 8 of teh WCF would be helpful:

II. The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was come, take upon Him man's nature, with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.

III. The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and Surety. Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgment into His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.