Demetrios Bathrellos: The Concepts of Sin and Sinlessness in St. Maximus the Confessor

Maximus’ theological system is a system of both dogmatics and asceticism. The concepts of sin and sinlessness occupy a key place in it and are applied to both anthropology and Christology. This paper will investigate what Maximus means by these and other similar terms. It will locate the discussion within Maximus’ anthropology and ascetical theology, with their emphasis on temptations and the passions, but also within Christology, where the concepts of sin, temptation, and passion acquire a new and distinct meaning. Finally, the paper will expand on the sinlessness of Christ and on how this sheds light upon the dialectic between sin and sinlessless in Christian life.