📖 Biblical Definition
The fourth-century Christological heresy named for Apollinaris of Laodicea (c. 310-c. 390), bishop of Laodicea in Syria. Apollinaris was initially an orthodox defender of Nicene Trinitarian theology against Arianism; in his later years he developed a Christology that attempted to safeguard the unity of Christ's Person by reducing the human nature. Apollinaris taught that Christ had a true human body (soma) and a true human soul (psyche, the lower animating principle) but that the divine Logos replaced the human rational soul / mind (nous) in Christ. The motivation was to safeguard the substantial union of the Person; the result was the denial of a complete human nature in Christ. The heresy was condemned at the First Council of Constantinople (381) and refuted theologically by the Cappadocian Fathers (especially Gregory of Nazianzus and Gregory of Nyssa). Gregory of Nazianzus's famous axiom against the heresy: what is not assumed is not healed; what is united to God is saved (Letter 101) — meaning that if Christ did not assume a complete human nature including a human rational mind, then the human rational mind is not saved by His work. The Apollinarian heresy is the substantive opposite of Nestorianism: where Nestorianism over-divides the natures (positing two Persons), Apollinarianism over-unites by reducing the human nature. Chalcedon (451) settled the question with the orthodox formula: one Person, two complete natures, preserved without confusion, change, division, or separation.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Fourth-century Christological heresy of Apollinaris of Laodicea: Christ has true human body and soul but the divine Logos replaces the human rational mind (nous); condemned First Council of Constantinople 381.
expand to see more
APOLLINARIANISM, n. (Christological heresy; 4th c.; named for Apollinaris of Laodicea, c. 310-c. 390) Apollinaris initially orthodox Nicene defender against Arianism; later developed Christology reducing Christ's human nature to safeguard unity of Person. Taught that Christ has true human body (soma) and true human soul (psyche, lower animating principle) but divine Logos replaces human rational soul / mind (nous). Motivation: safeguard substantial union of Person. Result: denial of complete human nature. Condemned First Council of Constantinople 381. Refuted by Cappadocian Fathers; Gregory of Nazianzus's axiom (Letter 101): what is not assumed is not healed; what is united to God is saved. Substantive opposite of Nestorianism (which over-divides); Apollinarianism over-unites by reducing human nature. Chalcedon 451 settled with two-complete-natures formula.
📖 Key Scripture
Luke 2:52 — "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
Hebrews 2:17 — "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."
Hebrews 4:15 — "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Philippians 2:7-8 — "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Apollinarianism reduces Christ's human nature by replacing the human rational mind with the divine Logos; condemned 381; Gregory of Nazianzus's principle: what is not assumed is not healed.
expand to see more
Apollinarianism's substantive corruption is the reduction of Christ's true and complete humanity. The heresy preserves Christ's true human body and lower soul but denies the human rational mind, replacing it with the divine Logos. The pastoral consequence is severe: if Christ did not assume a complete human nature including the human rational mind, then the human rational mind — the seat of intellectual sin, of unbelief, of pride, of all the highest-order human failures — is not assumed by Christ in the incarnation and therefore is not healed by His atoning work. Gregory of Nazianzus's principle what is not assumed is not healed is the Christological version of the soteriological principle: only what Christ assumed in His incarnation is saved by His work; for the salvation of the whole human person, the whole human nature must be assumed.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Apollinaris of Laodicea c. 310-c. 390; condemned Constantinople I 381; refuted by Cappadocians; Gregory of Nazianzus's what is not assumed is not healed.
expand to see more
['Greek', '—', 'Apollinarios', 'Apollinaris of Laodicea']
['Greek', '—', 'Laodikeia', 'Laodicea in Syria (not the Asia-Minor Laodicea of Revelation)']
['Greek', '—', 'nous', 'rational mind (the element Apollinaris denied)']
Usage
"Apollinarianism reduces Christ's human nature by replacing the human rational mind with the divine Logos."
"Condemned at the First Council of Constantinople (381)."
"Gregory of Nazianzus: what is not assumed is not healed."