Apollinarians

From BiblePortal Wikipedia

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary [1]

or Apollinarists, or, as they are called by Epiphanius, Dimaritae, a sect who derive their principal name from Apollinaris, bishop of Laodicea, in the fourth century. Apollinaris strenuously defended the divinity of Christ against the Arians; but by indulging too freely in philosophical distinctions and subtleties, he denied in some measure his humanity. He maintained that the body which Christ assumed was endowed with a sensitive, and not a rational, soul; and that the divine nature performed the functions of reason, and supplied the place of the intellectual principle in man. Hence it seemed to follow, that the divine nature in Christ was blended with the human, and suffered with it the pains of crucifixion and death. Apollinaris and his followers have been charged with other errors by certain ancient writers; but it is not easy to determine how far their charge is worthy of credit. The doctrine of Apollinaris was first condemned by a council at Alexandria in 362, and afterward in a more formal manner by a council at Rome in 375, and by another council in 338, which deposed Apollinaris from his bishopric. In short, it was attacked at the same time by the laws of the emperors, the decrees of councils, and the writings of the learned; and sunk by degrees under their united force.

Charles Buck Theological Dictionary [2]

Were ancient heretics, who denied the proper humanity of Christ, and maintained that the body which he assumed was endowed with a sensitive and not a rational soul: but that the divine nature supplied the place of the intellectual principle in man. This sect derived its name from Apollinaris, bishop of Laodicea. Their doctrine was first condemned by a council at Alexandria in 362, and afterwards in a more formal manner by a council at Rome in 375, and by another council in 378, which deposed Apollinaris from his bishopric. This, with other laws enacted against them, reduced them to a very small number; so that at last they dwindled away.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [3]

followers of Apollinaris, or Apollinarius (q.v.).

References