Communication of Idioms
Because Christ is one person, what is said of his humanity can be said of God, and the reverse
The communication of idioms holds that, because Christ is one person in two natures, the properties of each nature may be predicated of the one person. The principle is associated with Cyril of Alexandria and received later development among Lutherans. It is broadly affirmed across traditions, but Lutheran and Reformed theologians dispute its extent—especially the genus maiestaticum, the question of whether Christ's humanity shares divine attributes—so the traditions differ.
How it traveled
- Against Praxeas.— · 220explains
- Melito, the Philosopher.— · 220explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395explains
- Exposition of the Christian FaithMilan · 397explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council of EphesusEphesus · 431explains
- The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against NestoriusMarseille · 435explains
- The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All HeresiesLérins · 445explains
- The Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Council of ChalcedonChalcedon · 451explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- Selected Epistles of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox FaithDamascus · 749explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43])Paris · 1274explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
- XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius · John Cassian
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All Heresies · Vincent of Lérins
Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.) · Athanasius of Alexandria
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council of Ephesus · The Ecumenical Councils
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the Gospel · John Calvin
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
Letters of St. Augustin · Augustine of Hippo