Hypostatic Union
Fully God and fully human, united in one person without confusion
The hypostatic union holds that in Christ the divine and human natures are united in one single person without confusion or separation. Articulated by Cyril of Alexandria and defined at the Council of Chalcedon, it became the touchstone of orthodox Christology for many. The Oriental Orthodox, often called miaphysite, express the union differently while equally affirming Christ's full divinity and full humanity, so the traditions differ in formulation more than in core conviction.
How it traveled
- Against Heresies: Book IIILyons · 202explains
- Melito, the Philosopher.— · 220explains
- A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity.Rome · 258explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
- The Incarnation of the WordAlexandria · 373explains
- Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His LifeAlexandria · 373explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Select Letters of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395explains
- The Great CatechismNyssa · 395explains
- Exposition of the Christian FaithMilan · 397explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of St. JohnConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious MenBethlehem · 420explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- The EnchiridionHippo Regius · 430explains
- City of GodHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Third Ecumenical Council: The Council of EphesusEphesus · 431explains
- The Seven Books of John Cassian on the Incarnation of the Lord, Against NestoriusMarseille · 435explains
- The Commonitory of Vincent of Lérins, For the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith Against the Profane Novelties of All HeresiesLérins · 445explains
- The Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Council of ChalcedonChalcedon · 451explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Letters and Sermons of Leo the GreatRome · 461explains
- The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of ConstantinopleConstantinople (Istanbul) · 553explains
- Selected Epistles of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- The Sixth Ecumenical Council. The Third Council of ConstantinopleConstantinople (Istanbul) · 680explains
- John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox FaithDamascus · 749explains
- Anselm's Cur Deus HomoCanterbury · 1109explains
- Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59)Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on The Most Holy Trinity (QQ[27-43])Paris · 1274explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Book Second. of the Knowledge of God the Redeemer, in Christ, as First Manifested to the Fathers, Under the Law, and Thereafter to Us Under the GospelGeneva · 1564explains
- XIV Five discourses on the soul's eternal salvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- Seventeen Occasional SermonsNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- HeavenNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
- The Wisdom of God Displayed in the Way of SalvationNorthampton, Massachusetts · 1758explains
Key passages(20)
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
“The natures which have been brought together in the true unity are distinct, and of both there is one God and Son, but the difference of the natures has not been removed in consequence of the union.”
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The Fifth Ecumenical Council. The Second Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils
The Capitula of the Council. (Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. V., col. 568.) I. If anyone shall not confess that the nature or essence of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is one, as
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
But some more recent masters, thinking to avoid these heresies, through ignorance fell into them. For some conceded one person in Christ, but maintained two hypostases, or two supposita, saying that a
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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
Therefore, in the case of our Lord Jesus Christ, seeing that we recognise that He has two natures but only one subsistence compounded of both, when we contemplate His natures we speak of His divinity
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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
Confessing, then, the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, to be perfect God and perfect man, we hold that the same has all the attributes of the Father save that of being ingenerate, and all the attributes o
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John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
Leo, Epist. 1 ad Flav. Note, therefore, that in the case of our Lord Jesus Christ, we speak sometimes of His two natures and sometimes of His one person: and the one or the other is referred to one c
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The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Anathemas of Cyril in Opposition to Nestorius. ———————————— (Mansi T. IV. p. 1067–1082, Migne Cat. 76, col. 391. The anathemas of Nestorius against Cyril are to be found in Hardouin i. 1297.) I
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Hence, supposing the truth of the Catholic belief, that the true Divine Nature is united with true human nature not only in person, but also in suppositum or hypostasis; we say that this proposition i
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, What belongs to one cannot be said of another, unless they are both the same; thus "risible" can be predicated only of man. Now in the mystery of the Incarnation the Divine and human na
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
If, therefore, the human nature accrued to the Son of God, not hypostatically or personally, but accidentally, as some maintained, it would be necessary to assert two beings in Christ---one, inasmuch
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Thirdly, a thing is made up of things not mixed nor changed, but imperfect; as man is made up of soul and body, and likewise of divers members. But this cannot be said of the mystery of the Incarnatio
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
On the contrary, Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iii, 3,4,5): "In our Lord Jesus Christ we acknowledge two natures and one hypostasis." I answer that, Some who did not know the relation of hypostasis t
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Objection 2: Further, all composition requires parts. But the Divine Nature is incompatible with the notion of a part, for every part implicates the notion of imperfection. Therefore it is impossible
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 2: This saying of Damascene may be taken in two ways: First, as referring to human nature, which, as it is in one individual alone, has not the nature of a common species, but only
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 3: Assumption determines with whom the union is made on the part of the one assuming, inasmuch as assumption means taking unto oneself [ad se sumere], whereas incarnation and humana
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Reply to Objection 4: The perfection of the universe is not the perfection of one person or suppositum, but of something which is one by position or order, whereof very many parts are not capable of a
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
On the contrary, As stated above (Q[16], AA[4],5), the attributes of human nature are predicated of the Son of God only by reason of the union. But what belongs to the body of Christ after death is pr
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
Thirdly, in order to direct the fervor of our charity to heavenly things. Hence the Apostle says (Col. 3:1,2): "Seek the things that are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Mind t
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Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
To Cledonius the Priest Against Apollinarius. (Ep. CI.) To our most reverend and God-beloved brother and fellow-priest Cledonius, Gregory, greeting in the Lord. I desire to learn what is this fashio
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The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
Eran.—And where is this taught in the divine Scripture? Orth.—It is all full of this teaching. Eran.—Give proof of what you assert. Orth.—Do you not acknowledge the properties of each nature? Eran
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