The problem of objectivity of human conceptions of god in the theology of St. Maximus the Confessor based on Ambigua 19 and Quaestiones ad Thalassium 59 (part 2)

Part 2 of the article is devoted to the analysis of Quaestiones ad Thalassium 59, in which St. Maxim the Confessor answers the question of how and under what conditions human reasoning about God can objectively express His being and the revelation communicated by Him. Special attention is paid to the anthropological views of St. Maxim. The study of Quaestiones ad Thalassium 59 reveals that St. Maximus defines discursive theology, i. e. the study of the meanings (λόγοι) of the Divine revelation concerning the “salvation of the soul”, as God-human theology. Active “research” (ἐκζήτησις) and “investigation” (ἐξερεύνησις) of the meanings of the Divine revelation should finally make the theologian allow God himself to “think” with his own «mind» (νοῦς) and to “make judgements” with his own “reason” (λόγος). According to St. Maxim, in genuine discursive theology done “in the Spirit” (ἐν πνεύματι), i. e. with the assistance of God, God Himself “moves” (κινεῖ) the “thinking and reasoning forces of the soul” of the theologian. Since in this case God Himself becomes the thinking and reasoning subject of the rational soul of man, such thinking and reasoning about God and salvation of the soul becomes objective and true. Comparative analysis of the views of St. Maxim on the nature of discursive theology and prophetic visions shows their inner semantic unity. Based on the analysis of Quaestiones ad Thalassium 59, the conclusion results in a definition of the theological method.