Apollinarianism
Classical Protestant confessions preserve the full humanity of Christ, not merely a body animated by the divine Word.
Historical context
Apollinarius of Laodicea developed his account while defending Christ's unity against Arianism. Pro-Nicene theologians judged that removing the human mind made Christ's humanity incomplete and therefore made the healing of human thought, freedom, and obedience incomplete as well.
Reception
Classical Protestant confessions retain the complete humanity of Christ as essential to the historical gospel and atoning work.
Memory hook
The healer assumes the whole human person.
Key points
- Christ's humanity includes a human body, rational soul, mind, will, and natural human activity.
- The divine Word does not replace the human mind; the Word assumes a complete humanity.
- Christ's growth in wisdom and human obedience matter for the doctrine of salvation.
- The error is not corrected by imagining two Christs; it is corrected by confessing one Son with complete divine and human natures.
Common questions
- Why must Christ have a human mind?
- Does a complete humanity threaten Christ's divine identity?
- What does 'what is not assumed is not healed' mean?
Doctrinal connections
- Incarnation
- Human nature
- Salvation
- Christ's human mind and will
Scripture
- Luke 2:52 — The Gospel speaks of Jesus growing in wisdom; later Christological argument asks what complete human development entails.
- Hebrews 2:17 — The Son's likeness to his brothers and sisters matters for his priestly saving work.
Primary sources
Gregory of Nazianzus writes against Apollinarianism:
Gregory argues that whatever Christ did not assume would not be healed.
For that which He has not assumed He has not healed; but that which is united to His Godhead is also saved.
Passage context and translation
Gregory rejects Apollinarianism by insisting that the Word assumed the fullness of human nature, including a human mind.
Before the excerpt
If anyone has put his trust in Him as a Man without a human mind, he is really bereft of mind, and quite unworthy of salvation.
After the excerpt
If only half Adam fell, then that which Christ assumes and saves may be half also; but if the whole of his nature fell, it must be united to the whole nature of Him that was begotten, and so be saved as a whole.