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Third Council of Constantinople (680–681)

If Christ is fully human, he must have a human will too

This sixth ecumenical council, meeting in 680-681, addressed whether Christ had one will or two. Drawing on the theology of Maximus the Confessor, it condemned Monothelitism (the teaching of a single will) and affirmed that Christ possesses two wills, divine and human, working in harmony. This safeguarded his full humanity. The decision is received by the Chalcedonian churches as authoritative.

How it traveled

  1. The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople
    Constantinople (Istanbul) · 680
    explains
  2. Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)
    Paris · 1274
    explains

Key passages(20)

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — Letter of the Council to St. Agatho.↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — Extracts from the Acts. Session I.↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — Extracts from the Acts. Session VIII.↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — Session XVI.↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Imperial Edict Posted in the Third Atrium of the Great Church Near What is Called Dicymbala.↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Letter of Pope Agatho. — part 4↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Letter of Pope Agatho. — part 5↗applies

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Sentence Against the Monothelites. Session XIII.↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) — Question. 18 - OF CHRIST'S UNITY OF WILL (SIX ARTICLES) — part 1↗applies

Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Letter of Pope Agatho. — part 6↗applies

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) — Question. 19 - OF THE UNITY OF CHRIST'S OPERATION (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 1↗applies

Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas

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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith — An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith. — Book III — part 5↗applies

John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Letter of Pope Agatho. — part 1↗explains

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) — Question. 19 - OF THE UNITY OF CHRIST'S OPERATION (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 2↗applies

Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas

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The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council — The Canons of the Council in Trullo. — Canon LXXIII.↗explains

The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council — The Canons of the Council in Trullo. — Canon LXXXI.↗applies

The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Letter of Pope Agatho. — part 2↗applies

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople — The Letter of Pope Agatho. — part 3↗applies

The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) — Question. 9 - OF CHRIST'S KNOWLEDGE IN GENERAL (FOUR ARTICLES) — part 1↗applies

Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas

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The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Constantinople — The Capitula of the Council. — part 2↗applies

The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils

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