Hypostatic Union, Dyophysitism, and Miaphysitism are views of the person of Jesus regarding the divine and human natures. Let’s start with the correct view.
The hypostatic union is the correct doctrine of Christ. It is the teaching that in the one person of Jesus are two distinct natures: the divine nature and the human nature. These two natures are distinct but are united in the one person of Christ. The two natures do not become combined. They are not mixed together. They are distinct. Yet, the attributes of both natures are ascribed to the single person (communication of the properties). The hypostatic union emphasizes the one person of Christ with two natures. This is within orthodoxy.
Dyophysitism is essentially the same thing as the hypostatic union. However, where the hypostatic union emphasizes the one person with two natures, dyophysitism emphasizes the two natures as one person. This view is within orthodoxy.
Miaphysitism, also known as monophysitism, states that the two natures of Christ were combined into a new, third nature, a divine-human nature. The two natures lost their distinction and are now combined. Another way of looking at it is to say the two natures fused into a new third nature, the new divine-human nature. The problem with this position is that the new divine-human nature is neither divine nor human. It is a new third thing. This means that the continuity of the second person of the Trinity, the Word, is broken. But, this is problematic because the properties and identity of something are related to the nature of that something. If the divine nature ceases to be a purely divine nature, then the attributes of the divine nature cease – along with the identity of the person. This violates the immutability of the Trinity as three eternal and distinct persons. So, the idea that the divine and human natures combined into a new third nature violates the doctrine of the true incarnation and invalidates the atoning sacrifice.
Outline Summary of The Hypostatic Union, Dyophysitism, Miaphysitism
- The Hypostatic Union
- Jesus is one person with two distinct natures: the divine and the human.
- Emphasis on the one person of Jesus with two distinct natures, divine and human.
- The two natures of Jesus are inseparably joined in the one person of Jesus but remain distinct. They are not mixed or combined into a new third thing.
- “hypostatic union In theology, the union of the two natures, divine and human, in the one person Jesus Christ. It was defined at the Council of Chalcedon (451) to affirm the personal unity as well as the two natures. This reality is a divine mystery.” (McKim, Donald K.. The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition: Revised and Expanded (p. 156). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.)
- Dyophysitism
- Jesus has two natures in one person.
- Jesus has two natures, divine and human, that co-exist in the one person of Jesus. The two natures remain distinct from each other, but are united in a single person (hypostasis). The two natures are in union in the one person without mixture, confusion, or change of the two natures.
- Emphasizes the distinction of the two natures in the one person. They coexist in the person of Christ.
- “Dyophysitism (Gr. dyo, “two,” and physis, “nature”) The view that Jesus Christ has two natures, a divine and a human nature, inextricably united. This position was accepted by the Council of Chalcedon (451) and the Council of Constantinople (553). It contrasts with Monophysitism.” (McKim, Donald K.. The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition: Revised and Expanded (p. 95). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.)
- Miaphysitism
- Miaphysitism is also known as monophysitism. It is the teaching that Jesus has one nature, not two. The one nature is a composite of both the divine and human natures. There is no separation or distinction between the two natures. Therefore, it is a new third kind of thing, the new human-divine nature.
- “Monophysitism (Gr. monos, “one,” and physis, “nature”) A christological view, regarded by the early church as heretical, which taught that Jesus Christ had only one nature rather than a divine and a human nature that were united in one person.” (McKim, Donald K.. The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition: Revised and Expanded (p. 202). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.)
