Trinitarian and Christological Controversies

Question 1

Ebionism

Answer 1

• Jesus is a man, but not divine

* Jesus was the messiah, but only as a man whom the Spirit came upon at baptism

Question 2

Adoptionism

Answer 2

• Jesus was human

* Jesus became God’s by adoption

Question 3

Gnosticism

Answer 3

• They possessed unique higher insight
• Taught that matter was evil
• Believed that Christ’s body was an illusion
• Rejected the OT and Judaism

Question 4

Montanism

Answer 4

• They were ascetic (severe self discipline, abstention)
• Continued prophetic revelation
• Sought martyrdom

Question 5

Manichaeism

Answer 5

*Dualistic: light (Christ) vs. darkness (Satan)

Question 6

Novatianism

Answer 6

• Originated after Decian persecution in North Africa
• Theologically orthodox, wrote fine works on the Trinity
• Opposed allowing those who had lapsed during the persecution to return to the church
• Condemned as schismatic, not heretical

Question 7

Docetism

Answer 7

Jesus was God, but only seemed to be a man

Question 8

Arianism

Answer 8

• Jesus was the first creation
• Jesus not of the same substance as the Father
• A viewpoint of the Jehovah’s Witnesses

Question 9

Apollinarianism

Answer 9

*The Logos assumed a human body, but had a divine mind

Question 10

Nestorianism

Answer 10

Christ is two persons, two natures, one body

Question 11

Monarchianism (Adoptionism)

Answer 11

• Jesus became Christ at his baptism
• Jesus was adopted by the Father after his death
• Paul of Somosata

Question 12

Sabellianism (Modalism)

Answer 12

One God reveals himself in three ways/modes at different times

Question 13

Semi-Arianism (Eusebianism)

Answer 13

Christ is “of similar essence” with the Father, but is subordinate to him

Question 14

Machedonianism (Pneumatomachism)

Answer 14

The HS is a created being

Question 15

Eutychianism

Answer 15

The human nature of Christ was absorbed by the Logo

Question 16

Monophysitism

Answer 16

Christ had one nature

Question 17

Monothelitism

Answer 17

Christ had no human will, just a divine one

Question 18

Pelagianism

Answer 18

• Man is born essentially good and capable of doing what is necessary for salvation
• Man sins because he follows bad examples; Christ came to be a good example

Question 19

Marcionism

Answer 19

• Mean God of OT, Nicer God of NT
• Jesus was not born into the material world
• Jesus merely appeared at age 29
• His sufferings were not real
• Very similar to Gnosticism

Question 20

Antinomianism

Answer 20

• Denies the need to obey the OT law
• Was a popular component of Gnosticism
• Has persisted in various forms through out the centuries

Question 21

Donatism

Answer 21

• Started after the persecution of Diocletian
• Refused to accept back those who lapsed under persecution
• North Africa
• Primary opponent was Augustine

Question 22

Kenoticism

Answer 22

Idea that Christ fully emptied himself of deity when he became incarnate