“The Twofold Affection”: The Background to John Chrysostom’s Use of Φύσις and Χάρις

Abstract

John Chrysostom’s pairing of φύσις and χάρις, which tends to be read exclusively in light of the Pelagian controversies, reflects the influence of distinct models in early Christianity for conceptualizing the interaction between created nature(s) and the divine creator. The first, informed especially by Pauline categories, understands “nature” (φύσις; natura) to refer to an inborn relationship that stands in contrast to the adopted sonship qualified by “grace” (χάρις; gratia). The second, evident especially in Philo and Alexandrian theologians, takes nature as an individual essence, to which grace is superadded as a property. In the final portion of the essay I show evidence that Chrysostom tends to prioritize the property model over the filial model of nature and grace.