Term
Adoptianism
An eighth-century Spanish heresy teaching that Christ was adopted in his manhood to distinguish the eternal Son from the incarnate Christ.
Filed underHistorical TheologyChristology
Definition
A term properly restricted to an 8th century Spanish heresy which taught that in his manhood, Christ was not true Son of God but adopted; its aim was to prevent a blurring of the distinction between the eternal Son and the incarnate Christ.
Connections
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- Narrower than
- HeresyTerm
- Contrasted with
- Son of GodTerm
Sources
- 1.Alan Richardson and John Bowden The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983). 6Original citation: Richardson, Alan, and John Bowden. The Westminster Dictionary of Christian Theology. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1983, 6.
Last revised August 14, 2026