Nestorianism

November 22, 2009

The belief first attributed to Nestorius (c. 386–c. 451), Archbishop of Constantinople, that Christ existed after the incarnation as two seperate persons, Jesus, a man, and the Son of God. Although there is quite a bit of debate as to whether the issues involved in this controversy were legitimate or linguistic and political (and as to whether Nestorius himself truly held to such a view), this doctrine was condemned as heresy at the Council of Ephesus in 431 and at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The orthodox Christian position was that Christ exists as one person with two natures. If he were two persons redemption was not accomplished as it would render the incarnation and representation of Christ meaningless.

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