CREEDS & CONFESSIONS: Chalcedonian Creed

The Chalcedonian Creed, formulated at the Council of Chalcedon (cal-seh-don) in 451 AD, is an important document in Christian theology. It addresses key questions about the nature of Jesus Christ emphasizing that He is both fully divine and fully human. As with the Athanasian Creed, this is an essential Christian doctrine that separates normal Christians from the fringe crazytown folks who tend to make up theology after a bowl of bad chili.

The early Church faced numerous theological disputes which they needed to correct. The nature of Christ was one of those areas where false teaching and incorrect ideas ran rampant. The council (authoritative gathering of Church leaders and thinkers) aimed to define the orthodox (normal and acceptable) Christian belief about the Person of Jesus Christ. If a person doesn’t get Jesus correct, then they are… something… but not a Christian.

The Chalcedonian Creed affirms that Jesus Christ is One Person (hypostasis, from the Greek: ὑπόστασις, ‘person, subsistence’) Who has two equal natures… divine and human. These natures are united unconfusedly, immutably, indivisibly, and inseparably (these words are specific and important). Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man, consubstantial with the Father in divinity and with humanity in His humanity.

What does all that mean? Jesus is 100% human and 100% God at the same time.

DEEPER INTO THE CHALCEDONIAN CREED

The Chalcedonian Creed is rich in theological and descriptive language. It contains several descriptive words and phrases, which primarily serve to describe the nature and unity of Christ. Here’s a breakdown of the key descriptors in the creed:

1. Perfect (in Godhead and in manhood)

2. Truly (God and man)

3. Of a reasonable soul and body

4. Consubstantial (with the Father in Godhead; with us in manhood)

5. Begotten (before all ages of the Father as to the Godhead)

6. Born (as to the manhood of the Virgin Mary)

7. Without sin (in manhood)

8. One and the same (Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten)

9. Acknowledged (in two natures)

10. Unconfusedly (in union of the two natures)

11. Immutably

12. Indivisibly

13. Inseparably

These adjectives emphasize Christ’s dual nature (divine and human) and the unity and integrity of these natures, in line with the theological disputes the creed sought to address. Jesus of Nazareth is the most unique human being Who has ever lived. Not only did He probably make wooden chairs that are still around to this day, but His nature allowed Him to accept into Himself the sins of humanity and pay for them. Christ Jesus satisfied the demands of the Father when it came to the repercussions of sin for humanity His hypostatic nature is a finite explanation of how this is possible.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

Do you find it impossible to believe that Jesus was 100% God and 100% human at the same time?

Why is it important that Jesus was not 50% God and 50% human?

How impactful would the cross have been if He had not had a human nature?

TMB