Zain's Guide to Overthinking Everything

Hidden Nestorianism: Unveiling the Orthodox Dilemma of The Two Sons Worry     The Oxford English Dictionary defines Nestorianism as “The doctrine of Nestorius, patriarch of Constantinople (appointed in 428), by which Christ is asserted to have had distinct human and divine persons.” Nestorian Christology promotes the concept of a prosopic union of two persons that are divine and human in Jesus Christ, thus trying to avoid and replace the concept of a hypostatic union. This Christological position is defined as radical Dyophysitism, and differs from orthodox Dyophysitism, or that Christ was one divine person with two natures, which was reaffirmed at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Such teachings brought Nestorius into conflict with other prominent church leaders, most notably Cyril of Alexandria, who issued 12 anathemas against him. Nestorius’ teachings were deemed heretical at the Council of Ephesus in 431, and again at the Council of Chalcedon. The early church fathers belie...

Early Christian Heresies Throughout the history of Christianity, various theological controversies and debates have given rise to heretical beliefs that deviate from the orthodox teachings of the faith. These heresies often concern profound questions regarding the nature and person of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the relationship between the divine and the human. Understanding these heresies is important for gaining insights into the development and refinement of Christian doctrine. In this exploration, we will delve into several ancient Christian heresies, their founders, and the core beliefs they entail. Arianism: Founder: Arius (256-336 CE) Belief: Arianism taught that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was a created being and therefore subordinate to God the Father. According to Arius, there was a time when the Son did not exist.   Gnosticism: Founders: Various Gnostic teachers (1st-3rd centuries CE) Belief: Gnosticism encompassed various beliefs, but in general, it held that salv...