Diophysitism encyclopedia topics

Dyophysite

1 reference results for: Diophysitism

Wikipedia

Dyophysite (Greek: δυοφυσῖται) is a theological term used in understanding how the divine and human related in the person of Jesus Christ, an area of study known as Christology. The term comes from the Greek and literally means "two natures." Two natures refer to a human nature and a divine nature that exist in the one person of Jesus.

Dyophysite describes the position of the Council of Chalcedon (AD 451). The term was primarily used by those who rejected the Chalcedonian position, in contrast to their own Christology which was arguably either Monophysite - that is, Christ had one nature that was divine, or Miaphysite - that is, Christ was both divine and human in one nature. The Oriental Orthodox tradition, including the Copts, considered themselves to be Miaphysites.

Dyophysite was also use to describe the position of Nestorius, that Christ existed as two persons: the human Jesus and the divine Logos. However, those who supported the Chalcedonian position (who continued on as the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church) did not consider themselves to be Nestorian.

See also