Apollinarianism
In one sentence
A Christology in which the divine Logos takes the place of a human rational mind in Christ.
In simple terms
In Christ a human body and sensitive soul are affirmed, but the divine Logos takes the place of a fully human rational mind or spirit.
Biblical truth
Scripture portrays Jesus as fully human: he grows, thinks, feels, chooses, and acts humanly while remaining the divine Son.
Key Scriptures
Luke 2:40,52 · Matt. 26:38–39 · John 1:14 · Heb. 2:17 · Heb. 4:15
Example
In an Apollinarian scheme Christ’s human psychological life is incomplete because the Logos performs the role of the human mind.
Who holds it
Historically associated with Apollinaris of Laodicea and his fourth-century followers.
Opposing view
Chalcedonian Christology
Not to be confused with
Not to be confused with saying the Logos is the personal subject of the incarnation; classical Christology still affirms a complete human nature.
History
The teaching arose as an attempt to protect the unity of Christ’s person but was rejected for making his humanity incomplete.
Main point of debate
The debate is captured by the principle: if Christ did not assume a complete human nature, can he truly heal and save it completely?