Miaphysitism

Miaphysitism is a Christological doctrine in some Christian churches that emphasizes the unity of Christ’s divine and human natures in one composite nature. The term, from the Greek mia physis, is often translated as “one nature,” but it denotes a single, unified nature that is fully divine and fully human, rather than a fusion into a third nature. Miaphysites stress that the two natures are undivided in the incarnate life of Jesus.

Historically, miaphysitism arose in opposition to the Chalcedonian definition adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which spoke of Christ as in two natures, hypostatically united. The Oriental Orthodox churches rejected Chalcedon’s formulation, arguing that it implied a separation between Christ’s natures and tended toward Nestorianism. In their tradition, following Cyril of Alexandria, the divine and human are united in a single, inseparable nature in the incarnate Word.

The term is commonly associated with the Oriental Orthodox churches, including the Coptic Orthodox, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Ethiopian Orthodox, and Eritrean Orthodox Churches. These communities prefer the label “Miaphysite” to distinguish themselves from what they regard as a misreading of Chalcedonian dyophysitism and from Monophysitism, which is often understood as a denial of the humanity of Christ.

In ecumenical dialogue, some Christians describe miaphysitism as a legitimate form of non-Chalcedonian Christology, emphasizing the indivisible union of Christ’s divine and human natures in the one incarnate person. The distinction between miaphysitism and monophysitism remains a central point in discussions of Christological doctrine.