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Jesus of Nazareth was born an ordinary human and was eventually adopted by God the Father
- Note: This position is called adoptionism. The Catholic Church calls it the Hispanicus error.
Supporting arguments
At his baptism, Jesus was chosen by God to become Christ and the messiah. [1]
Opposing arguments
The Catholic Church declared this belief heretical in two of Pope Hadrian's letters (to the bishops of Spain in 785 and to Charlemagne in 794) and in the decrees of the Council of Frankfort in 794. [2]
- Related argument: The Catholic Church is a source of scriptural and doctrinal authority.
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 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. [8]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth had both a divine and human nature.
Jesus describes himself in the Bible as having a solely human nature, with no divine attributes in his lifetime. [9]
- Related argument: Jesus of Nazareth had a solely human nature.
