Ibas

Syrian theologian

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Ibas was a Syrian theologian and instructor at the School of Edessa in the 5th century CE. He was a proponent of the Antiochene tradition in theology, which emphasized preserving both the divine and human natures of Christ. Ibas was known for translating and disseminating the Christological views of Theodore of Mopsuestia. His own theological stance was critical of Cyril of Alexandria's position and was later condemned by the Second Council of Constantinople in 553 CE as part of the Three Chapters Controversy.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

patristic literature
The schools of Edessa and Nisibis
…one of its leading instructors, Ibas (died 457), who worked energetically translating Theodore of Mopsuestia’s commentaries and disseminating his Christological views. His own stance on the now urgent Christological issue was akin to that of Theodoret of Cyrrhus—roughly midway between Nestorius’s dualism and the Alexandrian doctrine of one nature—and he…
Read More
…one of its leading instructors, Ibas (died 457), who worked energetically translating Theodore of Mopsuestia’s commentaries and disseminating his Christological views. His own stance on the now urgent Christological issue was akin to that of Theodoret of Cyrrhus—roughly midway between Nestorius’s dualism and the Alexandrian doctrine of one nature—and he…
Read More