dyothelitism

Dyothelitism is a Christian theological doctrine asserting that Jesus Christ possesses two wills—one divine and one human—corresponding to his two natures, divine and human, in the hypostatic union. The doctrine holds that these two wills are united in the single person of the Word, without producing a separate person or diminishing Jesus’ humanity or divinity.

Historically, dyothelitism emerged in debate with monothelitism, which maintained that Christ had only one will, typically understood as the divine will. The controversy centered on how Christ could be fully human in obedience and free choice while also being divine. The Chalcedonian Definition affirmed Christ’s two natures but did not settle the will issue by itself; the decisive turn came at the Third Council of Constantinople (680–681), which condemned monothelitism and declared that Christ has two distinct but harmonious wills and two natural operations.

The doctrine aims to preserve the full humanity of Christ—his capacity to assent, suffer, and be obedient—while also affirming Christ’s full divinity. Proponents argue that two wills allow for genuine human freedom and moral significance within the one person of Jesus, avoiding both a diminished humanity and a paradoxical division.

In later centuries, dyothelitism became a standard part of orthodox Christology in Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant traditions, though the exact language and emphasis can vary. The topic remains a central point in discussions of the incarnation, divine omnipotence, and the nature of Jesus’ experiential and volitional life.