False Views and Heresies about Christ
Throughout history, the church confronted distorted understandings of Jesus’ person:
| Heresy | Claim | Church Response |
|---|---|---|
| Docetism | Jesus only appeared to be human. | Condemned for denying the incarnation (1 John 4:2–3). |
| Arianism | Jesus was created, not eternal. | Refuted at Nicaea (AD 325). |
| Apollinarianism | Jesus had a divine mind but human body. | Rejected at Constantinople (AD 381). |
| Nestorianism | Jesus was two separate persons. | Corrected at Ephesus (AD 431). |
| Monophysitism | Jesus had only one (divine) nature. | Refuted at Chalcedon (AD 451). |
These heresies show the tension of preserving the mystery: Jesus is fully God and fully man.
“Who do you say that I am?” — Matthew 16:15
Every age must answer this question afresh.
