Nature of Jesus
ChristologyWho Jesus Christ is — whether he is fully God, fully human, a created being, or a divine-human hybrid, and his relationship to the Father.
Key scriptures: John 1:1-14, Colossians 2:9, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 1:3
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Affirms
Fully divine and human; Chalcedonian, Theotokos affirmed
Maronite Catholic
Affirms
Fully divine and human; Chalcedonian, two natures and two wills affirmed
Old Catholic Church
Affirms
Eternal Son; fully divine and human; Chalcedonian two natures, one person
Roman Catholic
Affirms
Fully divine and human; one divine Person, two natures, Chalcedonian
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Affirms
Chalcedonian: two natures (divine and human), one person; Theotokos Mary
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Nuanced
Two natures (qnome) in one person (parsopa); East Syrian Christology distinctive
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Nuanced
One united nature in Christ: miaphysite, fully divine and human inseparably
Eastern Orthodox
Affirms
Fully divine and human; Chalcedonian; two natures and two wills affirmed
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Nuanced
Tewahedo: one united nature, fully divine and human, inseparably joined
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Nuanced
One united miaphysite nature in Christ; fully divine and human without separation
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Affirms
Fully God and human; Chalcedonian Christology affirmed
Calvinist / Reformed
Affirms
Fully God and human; Chalcedonian two-nature Christology affirmed
Congregationalist (UCC)
Nuanced
Jesus as Lord affirmed; Christology ranges from orthodox to progressive
Lutheran
Affirms
Fully God and human; Chalcedonian two-nature Christology affirmed
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate; Chalcedonian two-nature Christology
Methodist
Affirms
Fully God and human; Chalcedonian Christology affirmed
Presbyterian
Affirms
Fully God and human; covenant mediator between God and the elect
Reformed Church in America
Affirms
Chalcedonian Christology; eternal divine Son; two natures, one person perfectly united
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate, risen and exalted Lord
Calvary Chapel
Affirms
Jesus is fully God and fully human, second person of Trinity
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Affirms
Eternal Son; fully divine and fully human; risen Lord and Coming King
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate; two natures, one person
Church of the Nazarene
Affirms
Fully divine and human; eternal Son incarnate; crucified, risen, and returning
Evangelical Covenant Church
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate; risen Savior and Lord
Evangelical Free Church of America
Affirms
Fully divine and human; eternal Son incarnate; crucified, risen, exalted Lord
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
Eternal God the Son; virgin-born; true deity and true humanity in one person
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son; Savior, Lord, and Redeemer
Non-denominational Evangelical
Affirms
Fully divine and human; risen Lord and sole Savior of all people
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate; risen and ascended Lord
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
Chalcedonian; eternal Son; two natures in one person; forever God-man
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
Eternal God the Son; Chalcedonian two natures, one person; sinless humanity
The Wesleyan Church
Affirms
Fully God and fully human; eternal Son; virgin-born; Savior and Lord
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son; Chalcedonian two-nature Christology
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Affirms
Jesus is fully God and fully human, the risen and reigning Lord
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms
Fully God and fully human; divine Son; Lord and Savior; virgin born
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son; Lord and Savior of all
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son; Jesus as Savior (first Foursquare pillar)
Vineyard Churches
Affirms
Jesus is fully God and fully human, Savior and Lord of the Kingdom
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Affirms
Jesus is fully divine and human; his humble servanthood is the Amish model
Brethren in Christ Church
Affirms
Fully human and divine; Chalcedonian Christology; eternal Son incarnate for salvation
Church of the Brethren
Affirms
Fully human and divine; incarnate Word; peace teachings central to faith
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
Jesus is fully divine and human, Lord of the community and pattern for life
Mennonite Church
Affirms
Jesus is fully divine and fully human; his life is the pattern for disciples
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Affirms
Jesus is Lord; full divinity and humanity affirmed in mainstream teaching
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Affirms
Eternal Son of God; fully divine and human; Chalcedonian Christology
Churches of Christ
Affirms
Jesus is fully divine and fully human, the unique Son of God
International Churches of Christ
Affirms
Jesus is fully divine and fully human, Lord and Savior
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Affirms
Jesus is fully God and fully human, the divine Son incarnate
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Affirms
Jesus is fully God and fully human; the Lamb of God.
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
Jesus is fully God and fully human; the eternal Son of God.
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Varies
Evangelical: full divinity and incarnation; liberal: spiritual teacher
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate, risen and exalted Lord
The Salvation Army
Affirms
Affirm orthodox Christology; Jesus is fully divine and human
True Jesus Church
Nuanced
Jesus is God (the fullness of Godhead); incarnation of the one God
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Affirms
Fully God and fully human; Lord, Savior, and Deliverer from evil; divine authority over principalities
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Affirms
Fully divine and fully human; eternal Son incarnate, risen and exalted
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Nuanced
Son of God, fully human, not pre-existent deity; exalted after resurrection
Christadelphians
Nuanced
Son of God born of Mary; fully human; not pre-existent divine being
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Nuanced
Son of God; fully human; not co-equal with Father; exalted after resurrection
Jehovah's Witnesses
Nuanced
Jesus is God's first creation, identified with Michael; not God but divine
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Nuanced
Jesus is the one God incarnate; both Father and Son; fully divine and human
Unitarian Universalist
Varies
Jesus seen as moral teacher or prophet; divine sonship and resurrection not required
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Affirms
Jesus Christ is God—the second member of the divine Family; pre-existent as the Word
Church of Christ, Scientist
Nuanced
Jesus is not God; the Christ-principle is divine; Jesus demonstrated Truth
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Affirms
Jesus Christ is one God fully incarnated; His glorification completed union
Iglesia ni Cristo
Nuanced
Jesus is truly human, Savior, God's Anointed; but not God in nature
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Nuanced
Jesus Christ is the fullness of Godhead bodily; Father, Son, Spirit all manifest in Him
Messianic Judaism
Affirms
Yeshua is fully divine Messiah and Son of God; fulfills messianic expectation
New Apostolic Church
Affirms
Chalcedonian: divine Son eternally begotten; fully human and fully divine
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
Fully God and fully human; Lord, Savior, and Healer; victor over evil powers
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Affirms
Jesus Christ is the divine Son of God and Savior of all humanity
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Affirms
Chalcedonian: fully divine and fully human; Lord and Savior of all
Zion Christian Church
Affirms
Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior; divine, human healer and redeemer