Monophysitism Past and Present: A Study in Christology

"Monophysitism Past and Present: A Study in Christology" by A. A. (Arthur Aston) Luce is an exploration of the religious idea of Monophysitism. The book takes an academic approach as it looks at historical information and philosophical arguments linked to Monophysitism. This is a belief that Christ had only one nature, a view that goes against the traditional Christian belief that Christ had two natures. Authored in the early 20th century, its primary goal is to discuss whether Monophysitism is important for modern religious conversations. Luce argues that studying Monophysitism is helpful for fully understanding Christian teachings and to avoid making errors in modern religious ideas. It starts by explaining where Monophysitism came from, pointing out that it dates back to the fifth century when the Church spoke out against it. The book emphasizes how understanding this belief is important for anyone who wants to fully understand traditional Christian ideas about Christ, suggesting that someone's beliefs about Christ's nature are tied to their understanding of faith itself.