Docetism facts for kids

In the history of Christianity, Docetism was an early idea about Jesus. The word "Docetism" comes from a Greek word meaning "to seem" or "apparition." People who believed in Docetism thought that Jesus only seemed to be human. They believed his body was not truly real, but more like a ghost or an illusion. This meant they thought Jesus did not truly experience human life, suffering, or death in the same way we do.

The term for these believers, Dokētaí ("Illusionists"), was first used by Bishop Serapion of Antioch around 197–203 AD. He found this idea in a text called the Gospel of Peter and later said it was not a true Christian teaching. Docetism likely started because people had different ideas about a sentence in the Gospel of John: "the Word was made Flesh." Some wondered if "made flesh" meant truly human or just appeared to be.

Mainstream Christian churches rejected Docetism. It was officially declared a heresy (a belief that goes against the main teachings) at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. Today, major churches like the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and many Protestant groups still consider Docetism to be incorrect. They believe Jesus was fully human and fully divine.

What is Docetism?

Docetism is a teaching that suggests Jesus' body was not real. It claimed his body was either missing or just an illusion. The term "docetic" can describe different versions of this idea.

Different Ideas About Docetism

One common docetic idea was that Jesus was so divine that he could not have a real human body. Since God was seen as not having a physical body, Jesus could not truly suffer. So, he only appeared to be a flesh-and-blood man. His body was thought to be a kind of phantom.

Another docetic idea was that Jesus was a real man, but the divine "Christ" was a separate being. In this view, the divine Christ entered Jesus' body at his baptism. This divine spirit gave Jesus the power to do miracles. However, this divine Christ then left Jesus' body before he died on the cross.

Why Was Docetism Rejected?

The exact beginnings of Docetism within Christianity are not fully clear. Some scholars have suggested it might have come from older ideas in Judaism or ancient Greek philosophies. These ideas might have tried to make Christian teachings easier for non-Christians to understand.

However, many early Christian leaders strongly disagreed with Docetism. They believed it went against the core message of Christianity. The First Epistle of John in the Bible, written in the 1st century, seems to speak against these ideas. For example, it says: "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God." (John%204:2&verse=31&src=! 31) This verse emphasizes that Jesus was truly human.

Early Christian Leaders' Views

One important early Christian leader, Ignatius of Antioch, wrote letters around 110 AD. He strongly argued against those who denied Jesus' humanity. In his letter to the Smyrnaeans, he wrote:

They stay away from the Eucharist and from prayer. This is because they do not believe the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ. This flesh suffered for our sins, and the Father, in his goodness, raised it up again. Those who deny God's gift are lost in their arguments.

Ignatius believed that Jesus truly had a physical body that suffered and died. This was a key part of his teaching. He saw the belief in Jesus' real human body as essential to understanding Christianity.

Texts Related to Docetism

Some ancient Christian texts, which are not part of the official Bible (called "non-canonical" texts), are believed to contain docetic ideas. These texts offer different perspectives on Jesus' nature.

• Acts of John
• Fundamental Epistle: Augustine of Hippo mentioned that his former religion, Manichaeism, held docetic beliefs about Jesus.
• Gnostic Apocalypse of Peter
• Gospel of Basilides
• Gospel of Judas
• Gospel of Peter
• Gospel of Philip
• Second Treatise of the Great Seth

See also

In Spanish: Docetismo para niños