Was the Assyrian Church once referred to as the "Nestorians"?

[RyanSpeakman]

I am reading a book by Asahel Grant, published in 1841, titled "The Nestorians, or The Lost Tribes". I am trying to figure out who the "Nestorians" are today, and my best guess is that this is the modern-day Assyrian Church... Does anyone have any knowledge about this?

 

[ASHOOR]

I am reading a book by Asahel Grant, published in 1841, titled "The Nestorians, or The Lost Tribes". I am trying to figure out who the "Nestorians" are today, and my best guess is that this is the modern-day Assyrian Church... Does anyone have any knowledge about this?

Long story short, and this is a topic I have read and researched extensively, Assyrian Church of the East is neither Nestorian in nature, nor has it ever fully adapted his teachings.

The long answer? it all has to do with history and the context back then. I am talking 4th and 5th century, when the initial Christian councils were being held, specifically that in Ephesus (431 AD)

The Assyrian Church of the East is often linked to Nestorianism, but many scholars and church members consider this label misleading and frankly confusing, as seen by all those who ask whether the Assyrian church is considered Nestorian. In fact, some members of the church itself ask this question. Nestorius, a 5th-century bishop, emphasized the separate divine and human natures of Jesus Christ. His teachings were deemed heretical at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD). Despite this, some Eastern Christians, especially in Persia, adopted similar views due to political and theological differences with the Byzantine Empire. This is why I mentioned that historical context is important here. In other words, due to the patriarchal seat of the Assyrian Church of the East being situated in Persia, which at the time was in conflict with the Roman/Byzantine empire, Byzantine Christianity, representing the Roman empire, wanted to tarnish the image of Eastern Christianity, based out of Persia and Assyria.

The Assyrian Church has its own distinct theology, even if some of its belies and doctrines may be similar to that of Nestorianism.

 

[RyanSpeakman]

Long story short, and this is a topic I have read and researched extensively, Assyrian Church of the East is neither Nestorian in nature, nor has it ever fully adapted his teachings.

The long answer? it all has to do with history and the context back then. I am talking 4th and 5th century, when the initial Christian councils were being held, specifically that in Ephesus (431 AD)

The Assyrian Church of the East is often linked to Nestorianism, but many scholars and church members consider this label misleading and frankly confusing, as seen by all those who ask whether the Assyrian church is considered Nestorian. In fact, some members of the church itself ask this question. Nestorius, a 5th-century bishop, emphasized the separate divine and human natures of Jesus Christ. His teachings were deemed heretical at the Council of Ephesus (431 AD). Despite this, some Eastern Christians, especially in Persia, adopted similar views due to political and theological differences with the Byzantine Empire. This is why I mentioned that historical context is important here. In other words, due to the patriarchal seat of the Assyrian Church of the East being situated in Persia, which at the time was in conflict with the Roman/Byzantine empire, Byzantine Christianity, representing the Roman empire, wanted to tarnish the image of Eastern Christianity, based out of Persia and Assyria.

The Assyrian Church has its own distinct theology, even if some of its belies and doctrines may be similar to that of Nestorianism.

This makes perfect sense to me... What was throwing me off is a book that I am currently reading, "The Nestorians... or, The Lost Tribes", written by Asahel Grant and published in 1841. I think that we can count Grant among those who are confused about the relationship between the Assyrian Church and Nestorius.

As you point out, Nestorius lived in the fifth century... but Grant says that the community of Christians about whom he is writing dates all the way back to to the first century; this church, Grant posits, was established by the earliest Disciples, those sent out by Jesus Himself. Both things cannot be true: This group about whom Grant is writing cannot have been established in the first century by a person (Nestorius) who did not live until the fifth century.

So, that said, I think that Grant must be talking about the Assyrian Church... Does the Assyrian Church make this claim: that they were established by the very first Disciples/Apostles, during the first century A.D.?