Explore
Heresies & Errors
Heresy
c. 428–451 · Christology (the unity of Christ's person)

Nestorianism

The teaching, associated with Nestorius, that so separates Christ's divine and human natures that He seems to be two persons, the divine Son and the man Jesus, joined in a close partnership. It surfaced in a dispute over calling Mary *Theotokos*, God-bearer.

The central claim

The eternal Word and the man Jesus are two subjects joined together, not one person.

ClassificationHeresy
PeriodPatristic
Datesc. 428–451
Doctrine affectedChristology (the unity of Christ's person)

A heresy denies the Gospel or the God it reveals (Galatians 1:8).

Historical origins

Where It Began

Nestorius, trained in the theological tradition of Antioch, became bishop of Constantinople in 428. When a preacher there objected to calling Mary Theotokos, Nestorius backed him and proposed Christotokos, Christ-bearer, instead. Cyril of Alexandria replied that if Mary did not bear God the Son, then the one born of her was not God.

Major figures

The People Involved

NestoriusBishop of Constantinople · c. 381–c. 451Cyril of AlexandriaBishop of Alexandria in the state church · c. 376–444

Loading the rest of this profile

In a sentence

Why This Is Dangerous

It divides Christ until the One who suffered on the cross is no longer God the Son. Our salvation rests on one Person who is truly God and truly man, for God purchased the church with his own blood (Acts 20:28).

Visit The Council of Ephesus · AD 431