Monotheletism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Christological doctrine asserting that Jesus Christ has two natures, divine and human, but only one will ; a theological belief rejecting the existence of separate divine and human wills in Christ ; a religious concept emphasizing the unity of Christ's will above his dual nature
2. A belief in the single will of Christ despite his dual nature as both God and man ; a position in Christian theology that denies a human will coexisting with the divine will in Jesus ; a doctrine focusing on the singular volition governing Christ's personhood regardless of nature distinction
3. A theological stance holding that Christ possesses two natures united under one will ; a Christian dogma that eschews the division of divine and human wills in the incarnate Christ ; a concept promoting unity in Christ's will while acknowledging his dual nature as both human and divine

Etymology: Monotheletism is a Christological doctrine from the seventh century, and its name is built from Greek pieces: "monos" meaning "single" and "thelein" meaning "to will." The doctrine held that Christ, though possessing two natures, divine and human, had only one will. Its adherents were called Monotheletes, and the term Monothelite is the base from which the doctrine's name was formed by adding the suffix "-ism," a common way of naming a belief or system. The controversy it sparked was serious enough to shape imperial policy. Emperor Heraclius promoted the idea in the 630s as a way of reconciling the Chalcedonian church with the Monophysite churches, hoping to heal divisions in the empire. The Third Council of Constantinople in 681 condemned it, and Maximus the Confessor, who had argued forcefully that Christ possessed both a human and a divine will, became a central figure in opposing it.

Synonyms: christological doctrine, monotheletist belief

Antonyms: dyotheletism, dual will doctrine