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

If Ephesian Christianity had never come to Rome, and met its complement in the Adoptionists, it might, in spite of the Fourth Gospel, have degenerated into thorough-going Docetism, or have been represented only by Gnostics.

From Landmarks in the History of Early Christianity by Lake, Kirsopp

Nevertheless, the author carefully avoids the extremes of Docetism or ditheism.

From The Unseen World and Other Essays by Fiske, John

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 Glover, T. R. (Terrot Reaveley)

The Docetism of Valentinus comes out in the following.

From A Source Book for Ancient Church History by Ayer, Joseph Cullen