Christological herisies

Eutychianism

1) A 5th century heresy proposed by Eutychius and Theodosius II. 2) It denied the distinction of Christ's natures. A form of monophysitism, whereby Christ's human nature was swallowed up by the divine to create a third new nature (A+B=C). It denied a distinction of the two natures. 3) Was condemned in the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 451).

Apollinarianism

1) A 4th century Christological heresy maintained by Apollinarius, bishop of Laodicea. 2) It was a denial of the completeness of Christ's humanity. 3) Specifically, it denied that Jesus had a human spirit or mind. The divine Logos took its place. 4) It was condemned in the Council of Antioch (A.D. 378-379); Council of Constantinople (A.D. 381).

Arianism

1) A 4th century Christological heresy proposed by Arius. 2) Maintained that Christ was the first and highest created being. 3) Accordingly, Christ is not one with the Father (homoousios), but is rather homoiousios with the Father. 4) Modern versions of this heresy are recognized in the Christology of the Jehovah Witnesses. 5) While Arianism is primarily a denial of Christ's deity, it likewise affects his humanity. He is more than a man, less than God - a demi-god. 6) Arianism was answered specifically by the Council of Nicea (AD 325).

Nestorianism

1) A 5th century Christological heresy. There is evidence to suggest that Nestorius, a bishop in Constantinople (A.D. 428), never actually taught this perspective. 2) Nestorianism maintains that there were two separate persons (divine and human) in one body. It denied the union of the two natures. 3) The early church condemned this view on the biblical grounds that in the incarnation there is no multiplicity of persons ("we").

Ebionism

1) One of the earliest and simplest forms of Christological heresies. There were some variations in the doctrines held. 2) Maintained an adherence to the Mosiac law, and a thoroughgoing monotheism. The Judaizers whom Paul addresses in Galatians were likely the root from which later Ebionism arose in the 2nd century. 3) Ebionism seeks to resolve the tension that arises from a monotheistic view of God, and the assertion that Christ is God. 4) Most forms of Ebionism maintained that Jesus was a man born like any other man (no virgin birth), but who had been set apart by God as the Messiah. 5) At John's baptism, the Christ descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove (a form of adoptionism), and endowed Jesus with supernatural power and abilities. 6) Even this "indwelling," however, is best understood as an endowment of divine power or influence, rather than an ontological reality. 7) The Christ departed from Jesus some time prior to his death. 8) Hence, while affirming the human nature of Jesus, there is an explicit denial of his divine nature.

Docetism

1) One of the first heresies that the church encountered (with the exception of Judaizers Paul corrected in Galatians). 2) A form of gnostic dualism that viewed matter as evil, and spirit (mind) as good. 3) Taken from the Greek term "dokeo", which means "to seem or appear". 4) Jesus only seemed to be human. God could not have become material since all matter is evil and God is good and holy. 5) Jesus was therefore seen more as an apparition in human form. For example, if he were to walk on the beach, he would not have left any footprints. It denied Christ's human nature. 6) It is possible that the apostle John was combating an early form of docetism in 1 John (cf. 4:2-3).

Explicit denials of Arianism addressed in the Nicean Creed

1) There was a time when the Son did not exist. 2) The Father preexisted the Son. 3) The substance of the Son differs from that of the Father. 4) The Son is a creature similar in every way to the other creatures - though either out of nothingness or out of some other material. It denied Christ's divine nature (deity). 5) The Son is subject to alteration and moral change.