57. Christ's Operations: Divine and Human in Unity

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Lecture Notes

Main Topics #

The Problem of Operations in Christ #

• Whether Christ has one operation (combining divine and human) or two distinct operations
• The relationship between operational unity and the unity of the hypostasis (person)
• How to maintain both natures’ distinct integrity while affirming personal unity
• The heretical errors that either confused the natures or denied the human nature its own operation

The Principle of Ordered Agents #

• When multiple agents are ordered hierarchically, the lower agent’s action is both its own and participates in the higher agent’s action
• The lower agent acts according to its own form but is moved and used by the higher agent
• The operation of the lower agent is not a separate operation beyond the higher agent’s use of it
• Example: The body is moved by the soul; the feet walk, but the soul acts through the feet

The Instrument Analogy #

• The human nature in Christ functions as an instrument (tool) of the divine nature
• An instrument has its own operation according to its form, yet this operation is not distinct from the principal agent’s operation
• The instrument participates in the principal agent’s power and effectiveness
• The divine nature uses the human nature’s operation as its own instrumental doing

Key Arguments #

Arguments for One Operation #

1. From Dionysius and “Theandric” Operation: God’s operation toward us is described as theandrike (divine-human), seemingly indicating unified operation
2. From Hypostatic Unity: Since there is one person in Christ, there must be one operation, as operation belongs to the subsisting hypostasis
3. From Unified Being: If there is one esse (being) in Christ due to hypostatic union, there must be one operation
4. From Unified Effect: The same miracles (healing the leper, raising the dead) are performed by both natures together, suggesting one operation
5. From the Instrument Principle: As a tool’s action is not distinct from the craftsman’s action, the human nature’s action is not distinct from the divine nature’s action

Arguments for Two Operations (Orthodox Position) #

1. From Ambrose: How can diverse powers produce the same operation? Can the lesser do what the greater does?
2. From Diverse Natures: Christ has two natures with diverse forms and powers; diverse forms necessarily produce diverse operations (operatio sequitur formam)
3. From the Council of Constantinople III: “Two natural operations, not confused, not divided, and the same Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, we glorify”
4. From Proper Forms: Each nature has its own form and power; operation must follow from form
5. From Integrity of Natures: Denying the human nature its own operation would either make the human nature imperfect or confuse the natures

Thomas’s Resolution #

The Principle Reconciling Both Positions #

• Two operations in species (according to the two natures, since each nature has its own form)
• One operation in number (unified in effect, unified in the person performing it)
• The divine nature uses the human operation as its instrument: Just as the craftsman uses the saw, the divine nature uses the human nature’s operations
• The human nature’s operation participates in divine power: The human operation is elevated and made effective through participation in divine operation

Proper Operations Distinguished #

• Divine operation proper: Healing, sustaining all things, the miraculous effect
• Human operation proper: Touching, walking, speaking, bodily actions
• Unified result: Both operations run together (concurrunt) to produce one effect (e.g., healing through touch)

Distinctions Clarified #

• Operation as a tool: The human nature’s operation, insofar as it is moved by the divine nature, is not other from divine operation
• Operation as a certain thing: The human nature, insofar as it is a nature with its own form, has its own operation distinct from the divine
• Being vs. Operation: Esse (being) belongs to the person by reason of constitution; operatio (operation) belongs to the person through a nature. Therefore, one esse does not necessitate one operation
• Species vs. Number of Operations: Operations can differ in species (according to different natures) while being one in number (performed by one person)

Important Definitions #

Theandrike (θεανδρικός) #

• From Greek: “theos” (divine) + “andros” (human)
• Not a confusion of divine and human operations, but a unified effect produced by ordered operations
• Emphasizes the communion of both operations, not their collapse into one

Operatio (Operation) #

• The act or activity proceeding from a nature according to its form
• Belongs to the subsisting subject (hypostasis) but according to some nature
• Distinguished from esse: being constitutes the person; operation flows from the person through a nature

Instrumentum (Instrument) #

• A moved mover: something that has its own operation according to its form yet is moved by a principal agent
• Participates in the principal agent’s operation without having a separate operation
• The saw cuts by itself but participates in the craftsman’s operation of making benches

Species of Operation #

• Operations differ in species according to the diversity of the natures/forms from which they proceed
• Operations are one in number when performed by one person once
• Fire has two operations differing in species (illuminating and heating) but one illumination in number when fire illuminates once

Examples & Illustrations #

The Craftsman and Tool #

• A carpenter using a saw: The saw has its own operation (cutting) according to its form, but this operation is not distinct from the craftsman’s operation (making benches)
• The cutting is both the saw’s proper operation and the craftsman’s instrumental use of the saw
• The craftsman’s operation uses and encompasses the saw’s operation

Fire’s Operations #

• Fire naturally illuminates and heats—two operations differing in species
• Yet when fire illuminates once, there is one illumination in number
• Similarly, Christ’s divine and human operations differ in species but are unified in number as performed by one person

The Human Body and Soul #

• The soul moves the body through diverse members: walking (operation of feet) and touching (operation of hands)
• These are diverse operations according to diverse instruments
• Yet both proceed from one soul as the unified principle
• The soul’s operation uses and encompasses the body’s diverse operations

Healing the Leper #

• Human operation proper: Touching (the bodily, instrumental action)
• Divine operation proper: Healing (the miraculous, supernatural effect)
• Both operations present: Neither is absorbed into the other
• Unified result: The leper is healed through Christ’s touch
• This exemplifies how two operations of different species operate together in one person for one effect

Notable Quotes #

“The incarnation is the miracle of miracles.” — Thomas Aquinas (from Disputed Questions on Power)

“All other miracles are in some way ordered to the miracle of the incarnation.” — Thomas Aquinas

“Two natural operations, not confused, not divided, and the same Lord Jesus Christ, our true God, we glorify.” — Council of Constantinople III (Sixth Ecumenical Council)

“Both forms act, to wit both the divine nature and the human in Christ, with the communion of the other.” — Leo the Great (quoted by Thomas)

“The divine nature uses the operation of the human nature as a doing of its instrument, and likewise the human nature partakes of the operation of the divine nature as the instrument partakes of the operation of the chief agent.” — Thomas Aquinas

“Operation is of the subsisting hypostasis, but according to some form or nature.” — Thomas Aquinas (principle distinguishing being from operation)

Questions Addressed #

Question 19, Article 1: Is there one operation of both natures or many? #

Resolution: Two operations in species (according to the two natures), but unified in effect and in the person. The divine operation uses the human operation as its instrument. The human nature has its own operation according to its form; the divine nature has its own operation. Yet both operations are ordered and unified through the person of the Word made flesh.

Objections Resolved #

1. From Hypostatic Unity: One person does not require one operation, just as one person (soul) can have multiple operations through diverse bodily members. Being belongs to the person’s constitution; operation belongs through a nature.
2. From Unified Effect: When two operations concur to one effect (e.g., healing through touch), they remain two operations ordered to one result, not one operation.
3. From Instrument Principle: While the instrument’s operation is not other than the principal agent’s use of it, the human nature in Christ nonetheless has its own operation as a nature, apart from its instrumental use.

Heresies Addressed #

Monophysitism #

• Erroneous view that confused or collapsed the two natures into one
• Would require either denying the human nature its own operation (making it imperfect) or confusing the divine and human powers into one
• Explicitly condemned by the Council of Constantinople III

Monothelitism (implied) #

• Related error denying the human will in Christ
• Refuted by affirming that the human nature has its own proper operations

Connections to Previous Material #

• Avicenna’s Error on Divine Creation: The opening discussion of Avicenna clarifies why God must produce the universe by intellect and will, not by nature alone. This principle applies analogously to Christ: the divine nature must operate through will and intellect, not by natural necessity.
• Natural Philosophy: The principle that nature acts for an end presupposes something that acts by mind and will. This supports the understanding that divine operations are freely willed, not natural/necessary.
• The Being/Operation Distinction: The principle that being belongs to the constitution of a person while operation belongs through a nature explains why Christ’s one esse does not necessitate one operation.

Pedagogical Notes #

• Berquist emphasizes the importance of the early ecumenical councils (particularly Constantinople III) in preserving orthodox Christology
• He uses concrete, sensible examples (craftsman, fire, body and soul) to make abstract metaphysical principles intelligible
• He stresses the careful navigation between extremes: neither confusing the natures (monophysitism) nor dividing the person (Nestorianism)
• The instrument analogy is central and repeated: understanding it unlocks the solution to apparent paradoxes