About Saint Maximus

[MaximilianK]

I heard that Saint Maximus the confessor was an universalist? Is this true? Who can quote some fragments from his writings against this heresy?

 

[Vico]

I heard that Saint Maximus the confessor was an universalist? Is this true? Who can quote some fragments from his writings against this heresy?

Saint Maximus the Confessor wrote about two restorations (a will - the soul - and a body) to be granted to everyone at the end of time returning the person to its state before the Fall, yet being insufficient to guarantee salvation.

 

[Magnanimity]

I heard that Saint Maximus the confessor was an universalist? Is this true? Who can quote some fragments from his writings against this heresy?

Vico doesn’t quite give a full picture. Here is a relevant quote from St Maximus:

“the third meaning [of apokatastasis] is used by Gregory [of Nyssa] especially in reference to the qualities of the soul that had been corrupted by sin and then are restored to their original state. Just as all nature will regain, at the expected time, its completeness in the flesh, so also will the powers of the soul, by necessity, shed all imprints of evil clinging to them; and this after aeons have elapsed, after a long time of being driven about without rest. And so in the end they reach God, who is without limitations. Thus they are restored to their original state through their knowledge, but do not participate in gifts. It also will appear that the Creator cannot be blamed for any sinfulness.” Maximus, Questiones et dubia 13, PG 90:796AC

It is a universalism, in the sense that everything without exception eventually returns to the Source–to God. However, there will be a qualitative difference in the experience of God between the righteous and the wicked. The former will have a beatific vision of God–will see him and know him and experience his gifts. The wicked will be restored to their original state merely “through their knowledge” but there will be no participation in the gifts of God.

Many early church fathers (Maximus included) did not believe in an eternal Hell for about a hundred different reasons. But since the Fathers are intellectual giants, their views on the issue are sometimes difficult to box into easily digestible packages of thought.

Hope this helps!