Miaphysitism facts for kids

Miaphysitism is an idea about Jesus Christ. It explains how Jesus was both fully god and fully human at the same time. This idea says that these two parts—his divine (godly) nature and his human nature—are perfectly joined together. They form one single, complete nature in Jesus.

This is a bit like how your mind and body are different but work together to make you one person. For Jesus, his divine and human qualities were united into one being.

For a long time, some other Christian groups, like the Chalcedonian Christians, thought Miaphysitism was similar to another idea called monophysitism. However, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, who follow Miaphysitism, disagree with this. Recently, the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches have started to understand the Miaphysite view better.

What is Miaphysitism?

Miaphysitism is a way of understanding the unique nature of Jesus Christ. It focuses on how Jesus could be both completely divine (like God) and completely human at the same time. The word "Miaphysitism" comes from Greek words meaning "one nature."

God and Human in One

Followers of Miaphysitism believe that Jesus has one united nature. This nature is a perfect blend of his divine qualities and his human qualities. They are not separate or mixed in a way that one part is lost. Instead, they are perfectly joined into a single, complete being. This means Jesus is fully God and fully human without any confusion or change to either part.

A Different Viewpoint

The idea of Miaphysitism became important in the early history of Christianity. Different groups had different ways of explaining Jesus's nature. This led to some disagreements and debates.

Miaphysitism vs. Monophysitism

It's important to know that Miaphysitism is different from another idea called monophysitism. Monophysitism suggests that Jesus's human nature was completely absorbed by his divine nature, like a drop of water in the ocean. This would mean his human nature was no longer truly human.

However, Miaphysitism teaches that both the divine and human natures remain distinct but are perfectly united in one person. Neither nature is lost or changed into something else. They simply exist together as one complete nature in Jesus.

Modern Understanding

For many centuries, there was a misunderstanding between the Miaphysite churches and other major Christian groups. Many thought Miaphysitism was the same as monophysitism. However, in recent times, there have been talks and agreements between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches. These discussions have helped clarify the Miaphysite position. They now recognize that Miaphysitism is a distinct and valid way of understanding Jesus's nature.

Churches That Follow Miaphysitism

Several Christian churches today follow the Miaphysite understanding of Christ's nature. These churches are often called the Oriental Orthodox Churches. They include:

• The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
• The Armenian Apostolic Church
• The Syriac Orthodox Church
• The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (in India)
• The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
• The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

These churches have a rich history and continue to practice their faith based on this theological understanding.

See also

A robot, symbolizing technology and learning.

In Spanish: Miafisismo para niños