Adoptionism Faith ID

Overview

Adoptionism is an early Christian doctrine that held Jesus of Nazareth as being a mortal man, born of human parents, who became the divine Son of God through adoption by God at his baptism. This doctrine contrasts with Trinitarian Christian belief which sees Jesus as pre-existent, God-become-man through incarnation.

Historical Background

Adoptionism has roots going back to the second century AD where it was propounded by Theodotus of Byzantium. Adoptionists rose to prominence within the Church until the time of the Synod of Antioch in AD 268, where the doctrine was formally condemned as heretical.

In the 8th century, Adoptionism emerged as a significant theological controversy in western Europe, particularly in Spain. Often referred to as "Spanish Adoptionism", it held the view that Jesus was adopted as God's Son either at his baptism, his resurrection, or his ascension. Not taking into account the divine nature of Christ, the Spanish Adoptionists were labeled as heretics.

Theological Implications

Adoptionists believe that Jesus was born human only, and not divine. However, there was divine intervention in his incarnation, birth and growth. Importantly, it was not until his baptism that he was adopted as God’s Son, therefore initiating his divine sonship.

Adoptionism challenges traditional Christian interpretations of the nature and person of Christ. Adoptionists see a dichotomy between the human and divine in Jesus; they refute the concept of God literally becoming a man. Consequently, Adoptionism poses significant challenges to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and also to the doctrine of Mary's divine motherhood in Christianity.

Criticisms

The main argument against Adoptionism is that it contradicts the orthodox belief in the Athanasian Creed and the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, both of which affirm that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine, rather than a divergence of the two.

Moreover, critics argue that if Jesus was not divine until His baptism, then His virgin birth and the events of His early life hold no significance. This contradicts biblical accounts which emphasize His divinity from His birth.

Conclusion

Even though Adoptionism has been declared heretical by the formal Church, historically and contemporarily, it is crucial to appreciate the diverse perspectives on the nature and person of Jesus within Christianity. These perspectives remind us of the vastness of human experience and comprehension of the divine mystery. Understanding the doctrine of Adoptionism also provides significant insight into the progression of Christological thought throughout the centuries.

In-Game Description

The Iberian strand of Adoptionism traces its roots to a combination of independent thinking in the Archbishopric of Toledo and its surrounding sees, the North African puritanism of centuries past, and several extremely charismatic early ninth century heresiarchs.\n\nThough it takes many forms, ranging from the supremely subtle to the utterly blunt, the uniting doctrinal point is a questioning attitude towards the eternal divinity of the Son.

Adoptionism is a Christological doctrine that holds Jesus was born as a mere human and became divine by virtue of His adoption by God, generally seen at His baptism. This belief differs from mainstream Christianity which maintains that Jesus was divine from the moment of His conception and inherently the Son of God.