Term
Docetism
A heresy claiming Jesus only appeared to be human. It held that because matter is evil, the Son of God could not be incarnate, making his physical nature an illusion.
Filed underHistorical TheologyChristology
Definition
From the Greek doketai (dokeô; to seem or appear), a heresy maintaining that Jesus Christ only appeared to be a real and fully human being. It held that because matter is essentially evil, the Son of God could not have become incarnate, so his physical nature was only an illusion. It was condemned by the early church but has resurfaced in various expressions throughout church history.
Connections
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- Part of
- GnosticismTerm
- Narrower than
- HeresyTerm
Sources
- 1.Allison, Gregg R., and Wayne A. Grudem Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011). 743Original citation: Allison, Gregg R., and Wayne A. Grudem. Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011, 743.
Last revised August 14, 2026