Thomistic Institute Angelicum.

The Scriptures tell us that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor” (Lk 2:52). How are to interpret these inspired words in the context of the Church’s teaching on the hypostatic union confirmed at both Nicea and Chalcedonian? This conference draws us into the teaching of theologians throughout the centuries who have struggled to properly interpret “two na¬tures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indi¬vis¬i¬bly, insepara¬bly,” united in “one Person and one Subsistence”, such that “the property of each nature being pre¬served, and concur¬ring in one Person and one Subsis¬tence […] the same Son, and only begot¬ten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Having these profound theological statements as a foundation, this paper addresses one seemingly simple question: whether or not Christ, in his human nature, made progress? I will respond to the question by analyzing three specific aspects of Christ’s assumed nature: first, the question of physiological change and progress; second, pr