Docetism is an early Christian heresy that taught Jesus Christ only seemed to have a physical body and to suffer on the cross, but in reality, His physical form and suffering were illusions. The term comes from the Greek word dokein, meaning “to seem” or “to appear.”
Key Beliefs:
- Denial of Jesus’ Humanity:
- Docetists claimed Jesus was fully divine and could not truly take on human flesh, as material existence was often viewed as corrupt or inferior in their worldview.
- Illusory Suffering:
- According to Docetism, Jesus’ crucifixion and death were not real but appeared so to observers.
- Dualistic Influence:
- Heavily influenced by Greek and Gnostic thought, which often viewed the spiritual realm as pure and the material world as flawed or evil.
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