Docetism

American  

[doh-see-tiz-uhm, doh-si-tiz-] / doʊˈsi tɪz əm, ˈdoʊ sɪˌtɪz- /

noun

1. an early Christian doctrine that the sufferings of Christ were apparent and not real and that after the crucifixion he appeared in a spiritual body.

2. Roman Catholic Church. an ancient heresy asserting that Jesus lacked full humanity.

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Docetism British  

/ ˈdəʊsɪˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. (in the early Christian Church) a heresy that the humanity of Christ, his sufferings, and his death were apparent rather than real

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Other Word Forms

• Docetist
  noun
• Docetic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Docetism

First recorded in 1840–50; Docet(ae) + -ism

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Docetism

In the first place, it seems to have overcome the tendency of Logos theology to produce Docetism.

From Landmarks in the History of Early Christianity by Kirsopp Lake

Docetism, originating in apostolic times, passed through many phases, to provide, at the end of the fourth century, in its most refined form, Apollinarianism, the immediate positive cause of monophysitism.

From Monophysitism Past and Present A Study in Christology by A. A. (Arthur Aston) Luce

In "Philippians" especially, many expressions seem to verge upon Docetism, the extreme form of Gnosticism, according to which the human body of Jesus was only a phantom.

From The Unseen World and Other Essays by John Fiske

Docetism, with its phantom Christ, and Gnosticism with its antithesis of the just God and the good God, were not likely to satisfy mankind.

From The Conflict of Religions in the Early Roman Empire by T. R. (Terrot Reaveley) Glover

There was danger that Christologic speculation might break quite loose from historic tradition, and pass into the metaphysical extreme of Docetism.

From The Unseen World and Other Essays by John Fiske