Definition of docetism Docetism

Do•ce•tism

We found 5 definitions of docetism from 5 different sources.

What does docetism mean?

Noun
docetism - the heretical doctrine (associated with the Gnostics) that Jesus had no human body and his sufferings and death on the cross were apparent rather than real
		theological doctrine the doctrine of a religious group

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docetism (Noun)
The doctrine of the Docetes, that Jesus only appeared to have a physical body and was ultimately of celestial substance.

docetism
do-sē′tizm, n. a 2d-century heresy, which denied the human nature of Christ, affirming that His body was only a semblance.—n.pl. Docē′tæ.—adjs. Docē′tic, Docetis′tic.—ns. Docē′tism; Docē′tist. [Gr. dokētai, those of this belief—dokein, to seem.]

Docetism is an early Christian teaching that says that Jesus only appeared to have a human body. The term comes from "dokein": "to seem".

Early Christians believed all matter was unclean. For this reason, Christ could not have a physical body, as he was seen as the eternal Logos.

Today, it is unclear where this teaching came from. It might have been influenced by the teachings of Plato. Platon taught that only ideas mattered and that matter itself was inferior.

Many Gnostic teachings are docetic. For a long time, people belived that docetism and Gnosticism were developed together. This is however not the case, there are also some Gnost systems that are not docetic, as well as some docetic systems that are not gnostic.

Today, most Christian theolgians see docetism as a heresy.