Dyothelitism


Dyothelitism or dithelitism is the Christological doctrine that teaches the existence of two wills in the person of Jesus Christ. Specifically, dyothelitism correlates the distinctiveness of two wills with the existence of two specific natures in the person of Jesus Christ, in a dyophysite context.

History

Dyothelitism as a position stands in opposition to the view of monothelitism, the doctrine of Jesus having one will, in Christological thought. Dyothelitism was championed by Maximus the Confessor. The conflict arose between varying views of the constitution of a 'person' and 'will': monothelites believe that a single person can only possess a single will without arising in conflict, whereas dyothelites emphasize the perfect humanity in Christ's nature.
The debate concerning the monothelite and dithelite churches came to a conclusion at the Third Council of Constantinople in 681. The Council declared that, in line with the declarations of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, just as there are two natures in the one person of Jesus Christ, there are equally two "wills" or "modes of operation" in the one person of Jesus as well:
Chalcedonian Christianity accepts dyothelitism as theologically orthodox. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

Thomism

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, distinguished in Jesus Christ God two types of will as a consequence of His human-divine nature. Like in the human creatures, the human will is split into three aspects: sensitive appetite, natural appetite and rational appetite.
The natural appetite is spontaneously and naturally inclined and disposed towards the good, but it does not know the means necessary to achieve it. The rational appetite, also called deliberative will, chooses through reason the means necessary to achieve the ultimate end, which is the Supreme Good, identified with God himself.
Generally, the rational will is the freedom of human beings and dominates and prevails over all others. However, in imperfect men who are slaves to sin, the sensual appetite, common to the animal kingdom, can prevail.
This cannot be true for Christ who is true and perfect man as well as true and perfect God.
In Jesus Christ God, the human rational will is always in harmony with and never contradicts His divine will.
The divine will of Jesus Christ God is the same as that of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.