Two Natures of Christ
Fully God and fully human: one person in whom two complete natures meet
This teaching, set out in the Chalcedonian Definition, holds that Christ is at once fully divine and fully human, possessing two complete natures united in one person. The Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant traditions confess this dyophysite formula. The Oriental Orthodox churches instead speak of one united nature 'out of two,' a position called miaphysitism, and the difference has been a long-standing point of division between the communions.
How it traveled
- JohnEphesus · 100explains
- Against Heresies: Book IIILyons · 202explains
- Against Praxeas.— · 220explains
- On the Flesh of Christ.— · 220explains
- A Treatise of Novatian Concerning the Trinity.Rome · 258explains
- Against the Arians. (Orationes contra Arianos IV.)Alexandria · 373explains
- On the Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia. (De Synodis.)Alexandria · 373explains
- Letters of Athanasius with Two Ancient Chronicles of His LifeAlexandria · 373explains
- Defence of Dionysius. (De Sententia Dionysii.)Alexandria · 373explains
- The Catechetical Lectures of S. CyrilJerusalem · 386explains
- Select Orations 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 the Epistle to the HebrewsConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John ChrysostomConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on Philippians, Colossians, and ThessaloniansConstantinople (Istanbul) · 407explains
- Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious MenBethlehem · 420explains
- Lectures or Tractates on the Gospel According to St. JohnHippo Regius · 430explains
- Expositions on the Book of PsalmsHippo Regius · 430explains
- On the Holy TrinityHippo Regius · 430explains
- Reply to Faustus the ManichæanHippo Regius · 430explains
- Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New TestamentHippo Regius · 430explains
- The Harmony of the GospelsHippo Regius · 430explains
- Letters of St. AugustinHippo 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
- 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
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
- 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
Key passages(20)
The Lamb of God · Sergei Bulgakov
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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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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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 Gospel · John Calvin
HOW TWO NATURES CONSTITUTE THE PERSON OF THE MEDIATOR. This chapter contains two principal heads: I. A brief exposition of the doctrine of Christ’s two natures in one person, sec. 1–4. II. A refutati
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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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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
Orth.—Very right. But it is also important to recognise the fact that no confusion of natures results from both having one name. Wherefore we are endeavouring to distinguish how the same being is Son
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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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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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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Letter XXXV. To Julian, Bishop of Cos See Lett. XXXIV., chap. ii. n. 5. Leo, bishop of the city of Rome to his well-beloved brother, Julian the bishop. I. Eutyches’ heresy involves many other here
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The Letters and Sermons of Leo the Great · Pope Leo the Great
Sermon XXII. On the Feast of the Nativity, II. I. The mystery of the Incarnation demands our joy. Let us be glad in the Lord, dearly-beloved, and rejoice with spiritual joy that there has dawned fo
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Treatise on the Incarnation (qq[1]-59) · Thomas Aquinas
I answer that, On this question there was a difference of opinion between Nestorians and Catholics. The Nestorians wished to divide words predicated of Christ, in this way, viz. that such as pertained
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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
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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Exposition of the Christian Faith · Ambrose of Milan
Solomon’s words, “The Lord created Me,” etc., mean that Christ’s Incarnation was done for the redemption of the Father’s creation, as is shown by the Son’s own words. That He is the “beginning” may be
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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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The Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Council of Chalcedon · The Ecumenical Councils
The Tome of St. Leo. (Labbe and Cossart, Concilia, Tom. IV., col. 343; also Migne, Pat. Lat., Tom. LIV. [Leo. M. Opera, Tom. I.] col. 756.) The translation here given is that of Rev. Wm. Bright. D.D
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Modern teachers who discuss this idea
Modern and living teachers whose books take up Two Natures of Christ. These works are still in copyright, so we can’t show the text here — each links out to the book.
- Sergei BulgakovThe Lamb of God(1933)View on Amazon→