📖 Biblical Definition
The fifth-century Christological heresy that Christ is two persons — one divine, one human — loosely joined in conjunction rather than personally united in one incarnate Son. Named for Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople (428-431 AD), whose objection to calling Mary theotokos (God-bearer) precipitated the controversy. Nestorius held that Mary bore only the human nature of Christ, not the divine Son — effectively severing the personal unity of Christ into two distinct subjects. Cyril of Alexandria led the orthodox response: Christ is one person, the eternal Son, who took on a complete human nature; the personal subject of all His acts (whether divine or human) is the one Son. The Council of Ephesus (431 AD) condemned Nestorius and deposed him; the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) reinforced with its definition: Christ is one person in two natures (divine and human), without confusion, change, division, or separation. The Assyrian Church of the East still bears Nestorian heritage. The Nestorian error is alive whenever Christian teaching implies Christ's natures are two persons rather than one.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Heresy of two-persons Christology.
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The Christological heresy taught by Nestorius that the divine and human in Christ amount to two persons in conjunction rather than one Person with two natures. Condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431.
📖 Key Scripture
John 1:14 — "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Philippians 2:6-7 — "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant."
Hebrews 1:3 — "Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Surfaces today whenever speakers describe 'the human Jesus' as if there were a separable Jesus apart from the divine Son.
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Modern speech often slips into Nestorianism — 'the human Jesus suffered, but God can't suffer' — splitting Christ into two persons. Chalcedon settles it: one Person, two natures. Without confusion, without separation.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Latinized from Greek prosōpa — persons.
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['Greek', 'G4383', 'prosōpon', 'person, face']
['Greek', 'G5449', 'physis', 'nature']
Usage
"Speak of the one Christ in two natures."
"Nestorius split what God joined."