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TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD:<br />
PROF. M. M. NINAN<br />
VII<br />
MONOPHYTISM<br />
Historically, Monophysitism (usually capitalized in this sense) refers primarily to the<br />
position of those (especially in Egypt and to a lesser extent Syria) who rejected the<br />
Council of Chalcedon (the fourth ecumenical [worldwide] council), in 451.<br />
The moderate members of this group, however, maintained a "Miaphysite" theology<br />
(i.e. the teaching that Christ possessed two natures "united" [Greek "mia"] without<br />
separation, without mixture, without confusion, and without alteration) that became<br />
that of the Oriental Orthodox churches. Many Oriental Orthodox reject the label<br />
"Monophysite" even as a generic term, but it is extensively used in the historical<br />
literature.<br />
A: Apollinarianism<br />
Apollinaris of Laodicea, a pro-Nicene theologian, keeping in line with the Nicean<br />
concept of Christ being fully God came up<br />
with the idea that Christ consisted of a human<br />
body and a divine mind, rejecting Christ<br />
having a human mind, which will make him<br />
God in a human body. Jesus had a human<br />
body, but not a human mind. He would then<br />
become a living soul with the body and soul of<br />
man but and mind of God.<br />
Appollinarius used the three part<br />
humanity consisting of Body, Mind and Soul as seen by the Greek.<br />
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