What is the Pentecostal stance on Mary? Is the Christokos(Mother Of Christ) or Theotokos(Mother of God)?
What is the Pentecostal stance on Mary? Is the Christokos(Mother Of Christ) or Theotokos(Mother of God)?
Pentecostals will affirm the hypostatic union. However, many will cringe at the term mother of God/theotokos. While I have no real problem with the term, I would probably never use it due to the ambiguity some may place on the term.
Theotokos means "God-bearer".
Miter Theou means "Mother of God".
However, it is the meaning of the term in its theological context.
Who places ambiguity on the term?While I have no real problem with the term, I would probably never use it due to the ambiguity some may place on the term.
Not really.
Theotokos refers to the Virgin Mary containing the Subsistent Person of God in her womb, rather than merely a human nature or essence.
Miter Theou speaks to the Virgin Mary being the origin of Christ's humanity, the one by whom Christ was begotten in time by the power of the Holy Spirit, and his mother according to the flesh. It also refers to her relationship to Christ as a mother, especially because she hears the words of the Lord and keeps them in the Gospels.
Who places ambiguity on the term?
Fair enough.The Roman Catechism defines theotokos as Mother of God. The OP defines theotokos as Mother of God. I believe the Anglican church defines the term in the same manner. I agree, it is not a literal translation, however, as it is the way the OP used the term, it is consistent with other traditions that use the term in that manner.
Our conversation demonstrates the ambiguity. Apparently, EO utilizes a more literal translation. I respect that.
Why is your tradition uncomfortable with those terms? I understand they "make people cringe" as you said above.my tradition may feel uncomfortable using Mother of God, theotokos, or miter theou for that matter. For that reason, I would not use the term in my circles because of how it may be received.
Fair enough.
Why is your tradition uncomfortable with those terms? I understand they "make people cringe" as you said above.