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How did the theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch differ in their approaches to Christology?

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Christology The Transfiguration, the nature of Jesus as the Son of God being revealed to the apostles Peter, James, and John, mosaic icon, early 13th century; in the Louvre, Paris.

The theological schools of Alexandria and Antioch held distinct approaches to Christology, primarily differing in their starting points and interpretive methods regarding the person of Jesus Christ.1

The School of Alexandria

The School of Alexandria emphasized the divinity and unity of Christ. Drawing inspiration from the Gospel According to John, this school viewed Jesus as the preexistent divine Logos who became flesh. Their approach focused on the descent of the divine Word into the world, often utilizing an allegorical method of biblical interpretation. Critics frequently accused this school of absorbing or diminishing Christ's humanity in favor of his divinity.2134

The School of Antioch

In contrast, the School of Antioch prioritized the true, complete humanity of Jesus. Their Christology began with the human Jesus, viewing his divinity through his consciousness of God and the mission imposed upon him by the Holy Spirit. The Antiochene school was characterized by a literalist approach to scripture. Opponents argued that this emphasis on the distinction between Christ's two natures risked splitting him into two separate persons.4513

These competing perspectives fueled significant debates in the early church, eventually leading to the formal definitions of the two natures of Christ at the Council of Chalcedon.64