noun
- a Christian theological doctrine holding that Jesus was adopted as God’s son at some point during his earthly life, rather than being divine from birth
Usage: theological; historical
Examples
- Adoptionism was considered heretical by early church councils.
- The bishop rejected adoptionism in favor of orthodox Christology.
- Some scholars trace adoptionism to early Jewish-Christian communities.
- Adoptionism differs from traditional beliefs about Christ’s divine nature.
- The council condemned adoptionism as incompatible with church doctrine.
- Medieval theologians wrote extensively against adoptionism.