THEODOTUS Bishop of Ancyra.
THEODOTUS Bishop of Ancyra a City of Galatia, whom Gennadius calleth Theodorus, was one of the greatest Adversaries of Nestorius. He was present at the Council of Ephe∣sus, * 1.1 where he courageously delivered his Opinion against him. Gennadius says, That he made a Treatise on purpose to confute him, and that that Work was very Logical, but that it was not sufficiently grounded upon the Authority of Holy Scriptures, but lays down several Ar∣guments before he comes to Scripture-proofs. This description agrees well to the two Ser∣mons of Theodotus upon the Feast of the Nativity, preached in the Council of Ephesus, and which are recited in the Acts of that Council, where he proves, by several Arguments, That Jesus Christ is God and Man, and that it is truly said, That God is born of a Virgin.
There is also a 3d. Sermon preached at Ephesus upon S. John's day, where he likewise speaks against the Errour of Nestorius. The beginning of it is remarkable, wherein he compares a Bi∣shop to a Physician, Error to a Disease; And says, that as a Physician cuts off putrefied and gangrened Members to prevent the spreading of the Disease into the other parts; so Bishops are obliged to cut off the Members of the Church, but yet they ought not to do it but with regret, and in cases of necessity, when there is no other remedy left sufficient, and proper to effect the Cure.
He hath also a 4th. Treatise upon the same Subject, which was published [at Paris] in 1675. [in Twelves] by F. Combefis out of a MS. copyed by Holstenius * 1.2. It bears this Title, An Ex∣position of the Nicene Creed, but it is a confutation of Nestorius grounded upon the Nicene Creed. In it he makes mention of 3 Books, which he had written concerning the Divinity of the Holy Spirit.
The Iconoclasts having quoted a Testimony of Theodotus Bishop of Ancyra against Images, Epiphanius maintained in the 7th. Council, Act 6. That that place was supposititious. And to prove it invincibly, he says, That he had collected all the Works of that Author, but never met with the Passage which they alledged. And then gives us the following Catalogue of them, viz. Six Books against Nestorius dedicated to Lausus: The Exposition of the Nicene Creed: A Sermon upon the Feast of the Nativity: Another upon the Purification: Another upon Elias and the Widow: Another upon S. Peter and S. John: Another upon the Lame Man, who lay at the Gate of the Temple: Another upon him that had received the Talents: And, lastly, upon the two blind Men. Altho' Epiphanius makes mention here of several of Theodotus's Works which we have not, yet we cannot say, that he forgot none. Nicephorus at∣tributes to him a Sermon upon the Virgin and S. Simeon. Some think, That it is the 4th. Ser∣mon among Amphilochius's, which bears his Name in a MS. in Cardinal Mazarini's Library. F. Combefis who published Theodotus's Exposition upon the Nicene Creed, assures us, That he had 4 Sermons more of this Author, and, among others, that upon the Purification of the Virgin Mary cited by Epiphanius.
The Style of this Author is short and concise, full of subtle Interrogations and cogent Ar∣guments. He speaks like a Logician or Controvertist, rather than like an Orator or Preacher. There is nothing very remarkable in his Writings, but we may observe in them a great deal of Artifice and Subtilty.