Docetism, Nestorianism and Monophysitism

Dear Brother Ron

How does the Nicene creed repose to Docetism, Nestorianism and Monophysitism? I would greatly appreciate your help.

Kendrick

Dear Kendrick

Docetists, named from the Greek word dokeo, "to seem," believed Jesus only seemed to be human, but was not, and simply went through the motions of being human. Thus, when Jesus ate, they said, he only pretended to eat. The Nicene Creed declares Him to be fully human and fully God. Jesus was not a ghost or and angel who merely pretended to be mortal.

Nestorianism was named after Nestorius, archbishop of Constantinople from 428 to 431. Nestorius claimed that in Christ a divine and a human Person acted as one, but did not join to compose the unity of a single individual. In other words, there were two separate entities occupying the same body. To me, this borders on accusations of schizophrenia or demonic possession.

Monophysitism is the position that Christ has only one nature (divine), as opposed to the Chalcedonian position which holds that Christ has two natures, one divine and one human. This would seem to be similar to the Docetists in that it denies the humanity of Jesus.

Jesus is only important as a source of spiritual enlightenment if we accept the belief that He was fully human. For an angel or a ghost to rise from the grave would be no miracle. Likewise, if a human died but a spirit arose, that would invalidate the entire message that the power of God is greater than the power of death. To me, this is the true meaning of the crucifixion and resurrection.

If Jesus was a ghost, an angel or a quick-change artist, then we have no hope of a life hereafter. This was not what Jesus told us. And just as I believe He was not a ghost, I also do not believe He was a liar or a lunatic.

Best always
Brother Ron