Theological Term of the Week

Apollinarianism
A Christological heresy taught in the fourth century by Apollinaris of Laodicea, who maintained that Christ had a human body and a human soul, but not human mind. Rather, Christ’s mind came from the divine nature of the Son of God; in place of the human mind was the divine Logos. This teaching declared to be heretical by the First Council of Constantinople in 381.

• Scripture repudiating this heresy:

  Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 ESV)
  

• From the Heidelberg Catechism:

  Question 16. Why must [the mediator and deliverer] be very man…?

  Answer: Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin….

• From Elwell Evangelical Dictionary, V. L. Walter:

  The central deviation of Apollinarianism from the later Chalcedonian orthodoxy began in a Platonic trichtomy. Man was seen to be body, sensitive soul, and rational soul. Apollinaris felt that if one failed to diminish the human nature of Jesus in some way, a dualism had to result. Furthermore, if one taught that Christ was a complete man, then Jesus had a human rational soul in which free will resided; and wherever there was free will, there was sin. Therefore it followed that the Logos assumed only a body and its closely connected sensitive soul. The Logos or Word himself took the place of the rational soul (or spirit or nous) in the manhood of Jesus.

  …The general principle on which Apollinarianism was condemned was the Eastern perception that “that which is not assumed is not healed.” If the Logos did not assume the rational soul of the man Jesus, then the death of Christ could not heal or redeem the rational souls of men. And as the church wrestled with this perception it rejected Apollinarianism and moved toward the Chalcedonian Definition, which rebuked and corrected both Antioch and Alexandria in their extremes: “This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and also in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul and a body.”

Learn more:

1. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry: Apollinarianism
2. GotQuestions.org: What are Docetism, Apollinarianism, Ebionism, and Eutychianism?
3. Thoughts of Francis Turretin: Apollinarianism and Orthodoxy
4. Justin Holcomb: Apollinarius: Know Your Heretics

Related terms:

• adoptionism
• Arianism
• deity of Christ
• docetism
• Eutychianism
• humanity of Christ
• hypostatic union
• Nestorianism

Do you have a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it.

I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.

Theological Term of the Week

king (as an office of Christ)
The office by which Christ rules over the church and the universe.

• From scripture:

  …[H]e raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church…. (Ephesians 1:20-22 ESV)
  

  Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (Revelation 19:11-16 ESV)
  

• From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

  QUESTION 26. How does Christ execute the office of a King?

  ANSWER: Christ executes the office of a King, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof:

  As the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, the eternal Son, Christ naturally shares the dominion of God over all His creatures. His throne is established in the heavens and His Kingdom ruleth over all, Ps 103:19. This kingship differs from the mediatorial kingship of Christ, which is a conferred and economical kingship, exercised by Christ, not merely in His divine nature, but as Theanthropos (the God-man). The latter is not a kingship that was Christ’s by original right, but one with which He is invested. … In general we may defined the mediatorial kinship of Christ as His official power to rule all things in heaven and on earth, for the glory of God, and for the execution of God’s purpose in salvation.
  

Learn more:

1. The Shorter Catechism Explained: Question 26: How does Christ execute the office of a King?
2. Thomas Watson: Sermons upon the Assembly’s Catechism: Question 26, Christ’s Kingly Office
3. J. C. Philpot: Jesus the Enthroned King
4. Wayne Grudem: The Offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King, part 1 (mp3)

Related terms:

• offices of Christ
• priest (as an office of Christ)
• prophet (as an office of Christ) 

Filed under Person, Work and Teachings of Christ

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it. I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.

Theological Term of the Week

priest (as an office of Christ)
The office by which Christ sacrificed himself for us and continues to intercede for us.

• From scripture:

  Christ … offered himself without blemish to God…. (Hebrews 9:14 ESV)

  Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 ESV)

  [Christ] holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God l through him, since he always lives m to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7: 24-25 ESV)

• From the Westminster Larger Catechism:

  Question 44: How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
  
  Answer: Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people; and in making continual intercession for them.

• From In Understanding Be Men by T. C. Hammond:

  The New Testament clearly teaches that in the sacrificial office our Lord ministered in two ways:
  
  1. Actively, by steadfastly setting His face to go up to Jerusalem, voluntarily laying down His own life, and subsequently presenting Himself before the throne of God on behalf of the redeemed.
  
  2. Passively, by submitting to crucifixion at the hands of men. He offered Himself as the sacrificial victim.
  
  His present activity as High Priest consists in:
  
  1. His mediation and suretyship of the new covenant.
  
  2. His advocacy and intercession for His people at the throne of God.
  
  3. His providing and ensuring the right of access into the presence of God to the humblest Christian.

Learn more:

1. John Flavel: The Nature and Necessity of the Priesthood of Christ
2. John Murray: The Heavenly Priestly Activity of Christ
3. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.: Christ, Our High Priest in Heaven
4. Wayne Grudem: Chapter 29: The Offices of Christ: Prophet, Priest, and King, part 1 (mp3)

Do you have a a theological term you’d like to see featured here as a Theological Term of the Week? If you email it to me, I’ll seriously consider using it. I’m also interested in any suggestions you have for tweaking my definitions or for additional (or better) articles or sermons/lectures for linking. I’ll give you credit and a link back to your blog if I use your suggestion.

Clicking on the Theological Term graphic at the top of this post will take you to a list of all the previous theological terms organized in alphabetical order or by topic.