Nestorianism is a Christological doctrine attributed to Nestorius, a 5th-century Archbishop of Constantinople. It emphasizes the distinctness of Jesus’ divine and human natures, to the point of suggesting that these natures exist almost as two separate persons within one body. This belief was condemned as heretical by the early church.
Condemnation:
- Council of Ephesus (AD 431):
- The council condemned Nestorianism, believing that Jesus Christ is one person with two natures (divine and human) united in the hypostatic union.
- Chalcedonian Definition (AD 451):
- The Council of Chalcedon further believed that Christ is “one person in two natures, without confusion, change, division, or separation.”
Legacy and Influence:
- Church of the East:
- Nestorian beliefs persisted in parts of the Middle East and Asia, particularly in the Assyrian Church of the East, which emphasizes the distinctiveness of Christ’s natures.
- Modern Understanding:
- Nestorianism’s perceived overemphasis on the separation of Christ’s natures serves as a cautionary example in theological discussions.
Written by AI. A more correct, God given, explanation can be found here.