Why the Third Council Still Matters

In the early Church, people were on fire for the truth about who Jesus is. But there were also serious disagreements that threatened the unity of the Church. That’s why the Third Ecumenical Council, held in Ephesus in 431 AD, was so important. It helped the Church answer a crucial question: Who is Jesus, really?

What Was the Issue?

A bishop named Nestorius started teaching that the Virgin Mary should not be called Theotokos, which means “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” He said we should only call her “Christotokos”—“Mother of Christ”—because he believed that Jesus' divine and human natures were separate like two persons, not united.

This might sound like a small difference, but it actually affects the entire Christian faith. If Jesus isn’t fully God and fully man in one person, then He can’t truly save us.

What Did the Council Decide?

The bishops met in Ephesus, a city where Mary herself had once lived, to settle the matter. After much debate and prayer, the Council made a firm decision:

1. Mary is truly TheotokosBecause Jesus is one person with both divine and human natures united, Mary gave birth to the Son of God—not just a man. So we rightly call her “Theotokos,” the Mother of God.

2. Jesus is one personThe Council affirmed that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man, united in one divine person. This is what makes salvation possible—God truly became man to redeem us.

3. Nestorius was condemnedHis teachings were rejected as false because they divided Christ and endangered the truth of the Gospel.

   
   

Why It Matters for You

• It protects your faith: The Council of Ephesus made sure we understand who Jesus really is. He’s not half-man, half-God, or two persons. He is one Lord—truly God and truly human—who came to save us.

• It honors the Theotokos: Calling Mary “Mother of God” isn’t just tradition. It’s a confession about who Jesus is. When we honor her, we honor the truth about Christ.

• It reminds you of your salvation: Because Jesus is both God and man, He knows your struggles, your joys, and your needs—and He has the power to save.

  
  

How to Respond

When you pray to Christ or honor His Mother, do it with confidence. The truth the Church defended at Ephesus is the same truth you live by today. Jesus is our one and only Savior—God made man for us and for our salvation.