Early Christian beginnings. 6-3-02, Monday

Some early Heresy of the Christian church.

Monophisitism-

A belief that Jesus had one nature, only a Devine nature. The physical body he had on earth was just something he put on like a coat. After the resurrection Jesus sheds this coat and is only the spirit again.

Nestorianism-

A reaction to Monophisitism, started by a maned Nestorius. Taught that Jesus had two natures, Spirit and Body. But only the body was born suffered and died. Emphasized the division of the two natures. This belief came about on the belief that Jesus was the Word, the “Devine Logos”. He existed before he became man, than how could the two natures be one. Also believed that Mary wasn’t the mother of both natures, just the mother of Jesus’s body.

Arianism-

This belief was based on the thinking that Jesus was a created being. God created him before the incarnation. Jesus was the “Son of God” not “God the Son”. This practice had a big emphasis on humanity. Down played the attributes of God in Jesus. Jehovah’s Witnesses is a modern religion based on this belief.

Sabellianism-

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three different modes or manifestations. Father from Old Testament, Jesus from the New Testament, and the Holy Spirit from the present church. Has a belief in Jesus having father, son, grandfather characteristics. A modern religion based on this belief is United Pentecostal.