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Introduction to Christological Controversies

Throughout church history, theological debates have arisen concerning the identity and nature of Jesus Christ. Among these debates, Apollinarianism and Nestorianism stand out as significant heresies that attempted to explain the relationship between Christ’s divinity and humanity but ultimately deviated from biblical truth. These errors highlight the importance of maintaining a scripturally faithful understanding of the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

The doctrine of the incarnation—God becoming flesh (John 1:14)—is central to Christian theology. Any deviation from this truth distorts the gospel and diminishes the work of Christ as Savior and Mediator. To comprehend and address these heresies, it is crucial to analyze their claims in light of Scripture and the Historical-Grammatical method of interpretation.

What Is Apollinarianism?

Apollinarianism emerged in the fourth century, named after Apollinaris of Laodicea (310–390 C.E.), who sought to safeguard the divinity of Christ but did so at the expense of his full humanity. Apollinaris proposed that Jesus had a divine mind and soul but only a human body. In this view, the Logos (the Word) replaced the rational human soul in Jesus. This error aimed to affirm the unity of Christ’s person but created a distorted picture of the incarnation.

Scriptural Examination of Apollinarianism

The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. Philippians 2:5-8 states that Christ, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” This passage demonstrates that Jesus possessed both divine and human natures. Additionally, Hebrews 2:17 emphasizes, “Therefore, he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God.”

Apollinarianism fails to align with these truths because it denies that Jesus was fully human. By asserting that Christ lacked a human mind, Apollinaris undermined the incarnation’s purpose. Jesus, as the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45), had to be fully human to represent humanity and bear its sins. A partially human Christ could not fully substitute for humanity.

Refutation of Apollinarianism from Scripture

Apollinarianism is also refuted by Jesus’ experiences that demonstrate a fully human nature. For example, in Matthew 4:2, Christ is said to have been hungry after fasting for forty days, showing physical dependence. In Luke 2:52, Scripture records that Jesus “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man,” indicating a genuine human development that would not have been possible without a human mind and soul. These verses affirm that Jesus was entirely human in body, mind, and soul while retaining His divine nature.

The denial of a full human nature in Christ contradicts the teaching of 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Only by being fully human could Jesus mediate between God and humanity.

What Is Nestorianism?

Nestorianism, named after Nestorius (386–451 C.E.), a patriarch of Constantinople, arose in the fifth century as a reaction against perceived errors in Christological doctrine. Nestorius emphasized the distinction between Christ’s divine and human natures but went so far as to propose a division within Christ’s person. This error effectively claimed that there were two separate persons in Christ—one divine and one human—rather than one person with two natures.

Nestorianism overemphasized the distinction between Christ’s natures to the point of separation, undermining the unity of His person. It also rejected the title “Theotokos” (God-bearer) for Mary, arguing that she only bore the human nature of Christ, not the divine.

Scriptural Examination of Nestorianism

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is one person with two distinct natures—fully divine and fully human—united without confusion or division. John 1:14 declares, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” This verse does not describe two separate persons but rather the eternal Word assuming human flesh in a single person.

Isaiah 9:6 refers to the Messiah as the “Mighty God” and “Prince of Peace,” indicating the unity of divine and human attributes in the one person of Christ. Furthermore, Colossians 2:9 states, “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” This passage confirms that the fullness of God’s nature and the fullness of humanity coexist in the person of Jesus Christ.

Refutation of Nestorianism from Scripture

Nestorianism fails to account for the consistent biblical portrayal of Christ as one person. When Jesus speaks of Himself, He does so as a unified individual, not as two separate persons. For instance, in John 10:30, Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.” This statement reflects His divine nature, yet it is spoken by the same person who experienced hunger, fatigue, and sorrow (Mark 14:34; John 4:6).

Additionally, Nestorianism undermines the work of salvation. If Christ’s natures were divided into two persons, then His humanity alone would have suffered and died on the cross, separating His divine nature from the atonement. However, Scripture presents the atonement as the act of the one Christ, who is both God and man. Acts 20:28 speaks of “the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood,” affirming the unity of Christ’s person in the work of redemption.

The Importance of Upholding Biblical Christology

Both Apollinarianism and Nestorianism deviate from the biblical teaching that Jesus Christ is one person with two distinct natures—fully divine and fully human. These heresies highlight the necessity of precise theology to safeguard the truth of the gospel.

The Council of Chalcedon in 451 C.E. articulated a biblically faithful Christology that affirms the unity of Christ’s person and the distinction of His natures. This definition aligns with passages like Hebrews 4:15, which states, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Christ’s full humanity and divinity are both essential to His role as Savior.

Conclusion: Learning from Christological Errors

Apollinarianism and Nestorianism serve as warnings against oversimplifying the mystery of the incarnation. The biblical doctrine of Christ maintains that Jesus is one person with two distinct yet united natures, fully divine and fully human. This truth is foundational to the gospel, as only a fully human and fully divine Savior can mediate between God and humanity and provide redemption through His death and resurrection.

By adhering to the Historical-Grammatical method of interpretation and grounding theology in Scripture, believers can avoid the errors of these heresies and faithfully proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. As Hebrews 13:8 declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).