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Home , Docetism

Intro to the Bible Session 5 1) Docetism a) (From the Greek δοκέω [dokeō], "to seem") b) The belief that ' physical body was an illusion, i) as was his crucifixion; ii) Jesus only seemed to have a physical body and to physically die, but in reality he was incorporeal, a pure spirit, and could not physically die. iii) Treats the sentence "the Word was made Flesh" (John 1:14) as merely figurative. c) Commonly attributed to the Gnostics, i) Believed that matter was evil, ii) God would not take on a material body. (1) A divine spark is imprisoned within the material body, (2) The material body is in itself an obstacle, deliberately created by an evil, lesser god (the ) to prevent man from seeing his divine origin. d) Docetism was a form of early , developing around 70 AD, i) Developed from Gnostic sects, heterodox or Oriental and Grecian philosophies. ii) Partly as a way to make Christian teachings more acceptable to pagan ways of thinking of divinity. iii) Some of the books of the condemn docetic teachings iv) The early creeds were developed to counter docetic beliefs. e) Docetism largely died out during the first millennium AD. f) wrote against Docetism around 110 AD in his letter to the Smyrnaeans. i) "They [the docetists] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes". g) Docetism can be further explained as the view that i) Since the human body is temporary and the spirit is eternal, ii) The body of Jesus must have been an illusion iii) The crucifixion then also was an illusion. h) The human body is temporary i) Undercuts the importance of the belief in resurrection of the dead (1) and the goodness of created matter, i) “JESUS FELT NO PAIN” i) Unlike many early that denied the divinity of Jesus, Docetism eliminates his humanity. (1) Jesus only appeared to be human though he was in fact not, (2) There was one eternal father who was eternally transcendent and therefore unable to experience any sort of human emotion of suffering. (3) The idea that Jesus became human flesh (John 1:14) and experienced life as a human was unthinkable and offensive to this philosophy. ii) The of Peter, an apocryphal book, illustrates a Docetic view. It says that (1) During his crucifixion, Jesus “kept silence, as one feeling no pain,” which implied that His bodily make-up was illusory. j) JESUS TRULY SUFFERED i) The early church was strongly opposed to Docetism. (1) thought the teaching was so dangerous that he wrote a five-volume work (Against Heresies) against one of Docetism’s prominent teachers, (c. 136–c. 165). (2) Ignatius said that it would have been foolish for him to have been imprisoned for proclaiming one who merely appeared to suffer for his sake:

1 (a) Turn a deaf ear therefore when any one speaks to you apart from Jesus Christ, who was of the family of David, the child of Mary, who was truly born, who ate and drank, who was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate, was truly crucified and truly died….But if, as some godless men, that is, unbelievers, say, he suffered in mere appearance (being themselves being mere appearances), why am I in bonds? k) JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH i) Much contemporary popular theology tends to “view Jesus as sort of floating six inches off the ground as he walked upon the earth.” Downplaying or rejecting the true humanity of Jesus ii) While on earth, Jesus experienced hunger (Matt. 4:2) and thirst (John 19:28), showed compassion (Matt. 9:36), was tired (John 4:6), felt sorrow to the point of weeping (John 11:35), and grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). Yet, in all of his humanness, Jesus never sinned (Heb. 4:15). l) LIKE US IN EVERY WAY, YET WITHOUT SIN i) Avoiding Docetism is important because, as the author of Hebrews writes, (1) Jesus “had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17). ii) It is because Jesus was tempted as we are that he is able to sympathize with us in our weakness. (1) If Jesus did suffer and die on the cross. Then he did not die for our sins. If he did not die for our sins, the atonement means very little. (2) T. F. Torrance writes: “Any docetic view of the humanity of Christ snaps the lifeline between God and man, and destroys the relevance of the divine acts in Jesus for men and women of flesh and blood.” iii) If Docetism is true and he was so heavenly that he only appeared human, then we no longer can place our confidence in Jesus Christ, who as truly God and truly man serves as the mediator between God and men. m) The Qur'an has a docetic or gnostic , i) Viewing Jesus as a divine illuminator rather than the redeemer Sura 4:157–158 reads: (1) And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger — they slew him not nor crucified him, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! Those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.[25]

2) a) The belief that original sin did not taint human nature i) Mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special Divine aid. (1) Contrast with 1 Corinthians 15:19-22 (especially verse 22), ii) 's sin was "to set a bad example" (1) His actions did not have any other consequences. iii) The role of Jesus: "setting a good example" for the rest of humanity (1) (Counteracting Adam's bad example) (2) As well as providing an atonement for our sins. iv) Humanity has full control, and full responsibility, for obeying the Gospel (1) in addition to full responsibility for every sin b) Pelagian doctrine, i) Humans are sinners by choice, they are therefore criminals (1) who need the atonement of Jesus Christ. ii) Sinners are not victims, (1) they are criminals who need pardon.

2 c) Pelagius. i) Frequently referred to as a British monk, (1) Augustine said that he lived in Rome "for a very long time" (a) Referred to him as "Brito" (2) Bede refers to him as "Pelagius Bretto". ii) St. suggests he was of Scottish descent iii) Other sources place his origins in Brittany. d) He was certainly well known in the Roman province, i) For the harsh asceticism of his public life, ii) The power and persuasiveness of his speech. iii) Augustine referred to him as “saintly.” e) Pelagius taught i) Human will, as created with its abilities by God, was sufficient to live a sinless life, (1) God's grace assisted every good work. ii) Did not believe that all humanity was guilty in Adam's sin, (1) Adam had condemned humankind through bad example, (2) Christ’s good example offered humanity a path to salvation, (a) Through sacrifice and through instruction of the will. iii) Jerome emerged as one of the chief critics of Pelagianism, (1) According to him, sin was an unavoidable part of human nature. 3) Pelagianism Today a) Common Christian beliefs i) Infants are pure until they reach an "age of accountability," ii) Sin is something outside-in the world or in the sinful environment or in sinful company that corrupts the individual- iii) 77% of the evangelicals today believe that human beings are basically good iv) 84% of these conservative Protestants believe that in salvation "God helps those who help themselves" v) (Human nature, basically good, is warped by its environment), vi) Political (we are going to bring about salvation and revival through this campaign), b) Mormonism (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) i) Mormon theologian Sterling M. McMurrin has argued that “the theology of Mormonism is completely Pelagian.” (1) The Atonement of Jesus Christ has overcome the effects of "original sin" for all mankind. ii) The Book of Mormon, teaches: (1) The Messiah cometh in the fullness of time, that he might redeem the children of men from the fall. And because they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good and evil, to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at that great and last day, according to the commandments which God has given.

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Nicene Creeds We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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