Theodore of Mopsuestia
Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428), a Biblical exegete and theologian born in Antioch, attended courses by the renowned rhetortician Libanius and later by Diodore of Tarsus. John Chrysostom, his friend and fellow student, convinced him to devote his life to Christian Philosophy. In 392 he became bishop of Mopsuestia in Cilicia. He wrote prolifically on hrisuch subjects as scripture, theology, liturgy, catechesis and ascetiscism, but most of his works have been lost. On the Psalms, On John, and On the Epistles of Paul are included among his works. Like Diodore of Tarsus, he combatted heresies of his time like Apollinarianism. He strictly followed Antiochene thought and rejected the Alexandrian method of allegorical interpretation of the Bible. Considered a forerunner of Pelagianism and Nestorianism, Theodore stressed the importance of free will and the humanity of Jesus Christ. Nestorius and Theodoret of Cyrrhus numbered among his pupils. His theology came under question after his death because of the Nestorian controversy. Some of his writings and his doctrine of the incarnation were condemned in 533 at the Second Council of Constantinople.
Elise Bender
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