Jonathan Greig on the Question of Universal Salvation in Maximus
It is a fairly-widespread minority opinion that Maximus taught a doctrine of universal salvation, a doctrine which is not considered orthodox by any major Christian denomination (listeners interested in this theme in Christianity might want to check out our diachronic exploration of it with Morwenna Ludlow).
Primary Sources
Pal.gr.123
This work forces a confrontation with the limits of human knowledge. Maximus argues that God is not a being among beings but a cause that transcends essence itself. By stripping away our reliance on sensory data and rational concepts, we can approach the unapproachable. He presents a vision where th
Vat.gr.508
This manuscript acts as a primary record of the seventh-century fight for the soul of the Church. Maximus argues that if Christ did not possess a fully human will, he could not truly save humanity. He separates the natural capacity to act from the hesitant moral choices that define our fallen state.
Vat.gr.506
Vat.gr.506 demands that we stop viewing ethics and biology as separate fields. It argues that the soul is not trapped by fate but is shaped by deliberate, repeated actions. Maximus provides a rigorous framework for understanding how our passions physically stain our character. The text refuses to se
Maximos the Confessor (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS O.3.48)
This text presents the intellectual defense of a theologian fighting to keep the Church focused on the union of divine and human natures. Maximus rejects the sloppy thinking that leads to heresy and instead uses precise logic to map the relationship between essence and personhood. He argues that the
Pal.gr.39
This manuscript acts as a guide to the mechanics of deification. Maximus argues that human existence is a constant movement toward a state of unity with the Divine. He treats evil not as a physical substance but as a mere lack of goodness. Through a blend of Christian dogma and ancient philosophy, h
Maximos the Confessor, treatises and letters (Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.2.22)
In this profound exploration of the prophets Haggai and Zephaniah, Maximus the Confessor offers a daring fusion of mathematics and theology. He posits a universe where numbers are not merely tools for counting but symbols of spiritual reality, where odd numbers represent the indivisible unity of God
Ott.gr.319
This text provides a rigorous guide for those interested in the architecture of spiritual warfare and the logic of the incarnation. Maximus argues that the devil traps humanity through the simple lures of food, money, and glory. He insists that the only way to escape this cycle is through a radical
On Various Difficult Passages of the Holy Fathers Dionysius and Gregory
Maximus argues that Christ is the key to reconciling the divisions between the created and the uncreated. He rejects simplistic explanations, preferring to lead the reader through the logic of the Hypostatic Union and the process of deification. This work challenges the reader to move beyond literal
Theological and Polemical Opuscula
This work serves as a sharp-edged defense of the two wills of Christ against those who sought to simplify the mystery of the Incarnation. Maximus asserts that without a human will, Christ is not truly human and therefore cannot heal humanity. He cuts through linguistic obfuscation to prove that natu