Cover Story

History’s Biggest Heresies

False teachings condemned by the church.

Council of Nicaea

Council of Nicaea

On the Trinity

Modalism

Who taught it? Sabellius (3rd century)

What is it? God is only one divine being, who plays different roles at different times. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not distinct persons of the same essence, but different modes or expressions of a single person. Modalism naturally leads to Patripassianism—the belief that the Father literally suffered on the cross.

Key text? Philippians 2:6: “. . . being in the form of God . . .”

Where does it show up today? Oneness Pentecostalism believes that God’s three modes of existence can act simultaneously, though God is still only one person.

Subordinationism

Who taught it? Eusebius of Caesarea (263–339)

What is it? The Son and the Spirit are divine persons, distinct from the Father but inferior to him. All three persons are truly God, but they exist in a hierarchy of power and authority.

Key text? Matthew 26:39: “. . . not as I will, but as you will.”

Where does it show up today? According to a 2014 LifeWay Research study, 22 percent of evangelicals believe the Father is more divine than the Son.

On Jesus Christ

Arianism

Who taught it? Arius (c. 256–336)

What is it? The Son as Word (Logos, in Greek) was created by God before time. He is not eternal or perfect like God, though he was God’s agent in creating everything else.

Key Text? John 1:14: “The Word [is] the only Son, who came from the Father.”

Where does it show up today? Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus is God’s only direct creation, and that everything else was created by Christ. Jesus died for our sins, but he is not equal with God, who is not part of a Trinity.

Docetism

Who taught it? Docetai, a Gnostic sect (2nd and 3rd centuries)

What is it? The divine Christ would never stoop to touch flesh, which is evil. Jesus only seemed (dokeo, in Greek) human and only appeared to die, for God cannot die. Or, the divine Christ left the human Jesus before the Crucifixion.

Key text? Philippians 2:8: “. . . and being found in appearance as a man . . .”

Do you believe a false teaching? Take this quiz to find out.

Where does it show up today? Docetism by and large has been defeated, though many pastors report confusion among their congregants regarding Christ’s full humanity.

Adoptionism

Who taught it? Paul of Samosata (3rd century)

What is it? Jesus was a mere man before his baptism, when the Father adopted him as his Son. The Father and Son are of different natures—the Father preexistent and eternally divine, and the Son born as Jesus and adopted into the Father’s plans, but never one in essence with the Father.

Key text? Luke 3:22 (in some ancient versions): “You are my beloved Son; today I have begotten you.”

Where does it show up today? Adoptionism by and large has been defeated.

Apollinarianism

Who taught it? Apollinaris of Laodicea (4th century)

What is it? Jesus is not equally human and divine, but one person with one nature. In Jesus’ human flesh resided a divine mind (he didn’t have a human mind). Thus, Jesus was only two-thirds human.

Key text? John 1:14: “The Word became flesh” [and not a human mind].

Where does it show up today? Apollinarianism by and large has been defeated, though many pastors report confusion among their congregants regarding Christ’s full humanity.

On the Holy Spirit

Pneumatomachianism

Who taught it? Semi-Arians (4th century)

What is it? During the latter half of the fourth century, sects like Semi-Arians and Pneumatomachi (Greek for “Spirit fighters”) believed the Spirit was of a different essence from the Father and the Son. Some said the Spirit was a creature, and others understood the Spirit to be a force or power, not a person.

Key text? Acts 1:8: “. . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you . . .”

Where does it show up today? Among Jehovah’s Witnesses—but also among evangelicals. The 2014 LifeWay study reported that 51 percent of evangelicals believe the Holy Spirit is a force.

Read CT's cover story: "The Truth About Heresy"

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Why You Shouldn’t Call That False Teaching a Heresy

Cover Story

Do You Believe a False Teaching?

News

When Churches Get Burnt by the Offering

The Weird and Wonderful Church Drawings of John Hendrix

Testimony

From the Bahá’í Faith to Porn to Alpha to Jesus

Excerpt

Don't Laugh, but I Think Theology Should Be Funny

Can One Marriage Support Two Callings?

A Pastor's Journey from Gay Pride Parades to the Pulpit

Our Beautiful, Broken Christian Ancestors

Was the Samaritan Woman Really an Adulteress?

Review

Leaving Patriarchy in the Past

News

The Christian Case for Not Giving Up on the World's Most Fragile State

Review

Are You Worshiping a Fake Jesus?

The Justice-Forward Salvation Army

How Christian Institutions Can Stay Christian Amid Secular Pressure

News

Can the Baker, the Florist, the Photographer, and the Clerk Win?

A History Lesson

Reply All

A Beautiful Escape

Wilson’s Bookmarks

New & Noteworthy Books

Tent of Greeting

News

Gleanings: October 2015

Editorial

Why We Need the New Battle for the Bible

View issue

Our Latest

Wicked or Misunderstood?

A conversation with Beth Moore about UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect Luigi Mangione and the nature of sin.

Why Armenian Christians Recall Noah’s Ark in December

The biblical account of the Flood resonates with a persecuted church born near Mount Ararat.

Review

The Virgin Birth Is More Than an Incredible Occurrence

We’re eager to ask whether it could have happened. We shouldn’t forget to ask what it means.

The Nine Days of Filipino Christmas

Some Protestants observe the Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi, predawn services in the days leading up to Christmas.

The Bulletin

Neighborhood Threat

The Bulletin talks about Christians in Syria, Bible education, and the “bad guys” of NYC.

Join CT for a Live Book Awards Event

A conversation with Russell Moore, Book of the Year winner Gavin Ortlund, and Award of Merit winner Brad East.

Excerpt

There’s No Such Thing as a ‘Proper’ Christmas Carol

As we learn from the surprising journeys of several holiday classics, the term defies easy definition.

Advent Calls Us Out of Our Despair

Sitting in the dark helps us truly appreciate the light.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube