Note 501 — LECTURE VII. THE UNSCRIPTURAL ORIGIN AND ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY. BY REV. JOHN HAMILTON THOM.
Reading edition
“Hence many questions arose, which gave rise to as many controversies. For example, it was debated, Whether the two natures in Christ were so united as to become one; or whether they remained distinct? Whether, since Christ was born, and died, and rose again, it could be said that God was born and died, and rose again?
“Whether the Virgin Mary, who was the Mother of Christ, could be called the Mother of God?
“Whether Christ were two persons, or only one?
“Whether Christ was everywhere present, in his human, as in his divine nature?
“Whether one person of the Trinity could be said to suffer for us?
“Whether the whole Trinity could be said to suffer for us?
“Whether in Christ there were three substances, or only two?
“These questions produced altercation and strife, and then anathematisms, and then fightings and murders.”—Jortin, vol. iii. p. 117.
To these might be added the question proposed by the Emperor Heraclius, A.D. 629, to his Bishops—“Whether Christ, of one person but two natures, was actuated by a single or a double will?” This gave rise to what was called the Monothelite (one will) Controversy, as that respecting the single nature was called the Monophysite (one nature) Controversy.