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.

---

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

---

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

Clement and Origen, at the head of the Alexandrian school, took a somewhat subtle view of the Incarnation, and Docetism pervades their controversies with the Monarchians.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

Docetism, however, undoubtedly existed before the time of Cassianus.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

Obviously the tendency of Ephesian Christianity was to minimise the human characteristics of the historic Jesus, and to merge into Docetism.

From Landmarks in the History of Early Christianity by Kirsopp Lake

Docetism was elaborated by Valentinus, Manes and other gnostics and adopted into their systems, while ebionitism provided the basis for the Christologies of Paul of Samosata, of the Photinians and Adoptionists.

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

Docetism lays an exclusive emphasis on His real divinity, ebionitism on His real humanity.

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