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Jesus of Nazareth had both a divine and human nature
Supporting arguments
Jesus was born of both man (in the form of Mary) and God, and therefore has both natures. He was simultaneously fully human and fully divine. [1]
The Fourth Ecumenical Council of 451 (the Council of Chalcedon) declared this to be doctrine. Therefore, disagreement with it is heretical. [2]
Opposing arguments
It is not clear from the historical evidence that Jesus existed at all, but if he did, there is no compelling reason to think he was anything other than an ordinary human. [3]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth was an ordinary human.
Jesus was an ordinary human who became the messiah predicted in the Old Testament after he died and was resurrected. [4]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth was an ordinary human.
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth was the messiah whose coming was foretold in the Old Testament.
Jesus' nature was a unified whole consisting of two distinct parts, one human, the other divine. These parts were combined into one person, containing all of the attributes of both natures [5]
The divinity and the humanity within Jesus can not be separated, and he thus had one nature only with both attributes present. [6]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth had one indivisible nature.
Jesus was a human, and Christ is divine. They shared one person but their natures were too distinct to be combined. [7]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth had distinct and separate human and divine natures.
Jesus describes himself in the Bible as having a solely human nature, with no divine attributes in his lifetime. [8]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth had a solely human nature.
The divine Logos took the place of Jesus' mind, and it was only his body and lower soul that was human. It is not possible for a true God (like Christ) to unite his nature with a complete mortal (Jesus of Nazareth). Since the divine Christ can not be hobbled or limited in any way, Jesus' human nature must have been taken apart, and his mind replaced by Christ. [9]
- Related argument: Christ existed before Jesus of Nazareth.
- Related argument: Jesus had a human body and lower soul but a divine mind.
At his baptism, Jesus was chosen by God to become Christ and the messiah. [10]
Notes
- ↑ Theopedia
- ↑ Orthodox Tradition, Vol. XIII, No. 1, 1996, pp. 20-22.
- ↑ Ioannis Roussos
- ↑ TheHumanJesus.org
- ↑ Severus of Antioch
- ↑ Church of Armenia
- ↑ Nestorius as described by John Chapman
- ↑ TheHumanJesus.org
- ↑ Apollinaris the Younger as described by Joseph Sollier
- ↑ Elipandus, Archbishop of Toledo and Felix, Bishop of Urgel (8th century)
