Docetism etymology

Etymology

The term "Docetism" derives from the Greek word "dokein," which means "to seem" or "to appear."

Meaning and Origin

Docetism is a Christian heresy that emerged in the early church (1st-2nd centuries CE). It holds that Jesus Christ only appeared to be human and that his body was not truly material. Instead, Docetists believed that Jesus's body was either entirely divine or a mere phantom.

Origin

Docetism arose from various philosophical and religious influences, including:

• Gnostic influences: Gnosticism, with its emphasis on the separation of spirit and matter, provided a framework for Docetism's rejection of materiality.
• Platonic influences: Plato's distinction between the eternal and unchanging realm of Forms and the temporal and imperfect world of appearances may have influenced the Docetic notion of Jesus as a manifestation of the divine.
• Jewish and Hellenistic influences: Some Jewish and Hellenistic traditions held that manifestations of the divine could take on incorporeal forms, which may have contributed to the Docetic view of Jesus's body.

Rejection and Condemnation

Docetism was widely condemned by orthodox Christian leaders, who argued that it denied the historicity and human nature of Jesus. The Apostles' Creed, formulated in the 2nd century, explicitly rejected Docetism by stating that Jesus "was crucified, died, and was buried."

Variants of Docetism

There were various forms of Docetism, with some groups holding more extreme views than others. Some believed that Jesus's body was completely divine, while others held that it was a mere illusion or phantom.

Influences on Christianity

Although Docetism was ultimately rejected by the majority of Christians, it had some lasting influences on Christian thought. The idea of Jesus being both human and divine in nature was influenced by the challenges posed by Docetism to the concept of incarnation.

Docetism relate terms

• condign

  Etymology The word condign has its origins in Latin con meaning together or wi

• dainty

  Etymology French daint delicate c 1300 Middle English deyntee dayntee c 1340 O

• decent

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• decor

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• decorate

  Etymology Latin decorare to adorn beautify Proto Indo European deḱ to grow

• decorous

  Etymology Latin decorus seemly becoming Proto Indo European dek decency com

• deign

  Etymology The word deign originates from the Old French word deignier which in turn

• dignify

  Etymology The word dignify comes from the Latin word dignus meaning worthy or d

• dignity

  Etymology The word dignity comes from the Latin word dignitas which means worth or

• diplodocus

  Etymology Name Diplodocus Meaning Double beam Origin Greek words diploos double

• disciple

  Etymology The word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus which means pupil or

• discipline

  Etymology Latin disciplina Meaning instruction teaching training Origin discer

• disdain

  Etymology The word disdain comes from the Old French word desdaignier meaning to

• docent

  Etymology The word docent is derived from the Latin verb docere which means to teac

• Docetism

  Etymology The term Docetism derives from the Greek word dokein which means to seem

• docile

  Etymology Latin docibilis teachable gentle Ultimately from Proto Indo European

• docimacy

  Etymology Greek δοκιμασία dokimasia testing trial Latin docimare to te

• doctor

  Etymology The word doctor derives from the Latin word docēre meaning to teach M

• doctrine

  Etymology The word doctrine originates from the Latin word doctrina which means tea

• document

  Etymology The word document originates from the Latin word documentum which means p

• dogma

  Etymology Greek dogma δόγμα meaning opinion belief decree Meaning A

• dogmatic

  Etymology The word dogmatic originates from the Latin word dogma which means doctr

• doxology

  Etymology From Late Latin doxologia from Greek δοξολογία doxologia from δ

• heterodox

• indignance

  Etymology Late Latin indignatio from Latin indignari to be indignant from Indi

• indignant

  Etymology Indignus Latin meaning unworthy undeserving ant Suffix denoting a qual

• indignation

  Etymology Late Latin indignatio from Latin indignus unworthy from in not dign

• indignity

  Etymology Latin indignitas unworthiness indignity Proto Indo European dheigh

• orthodox

  Etymology The word orthodox derives from the Greek words ortho meaning right st

• paradox

  Etymology The word paradox originates from the Greek language para παρά mea

• synecdoche

  Etymology and Origin The word synecdoche originates from the Greek words syn togethe

• heresy

  Etymology The word heresy is derived from the Old French hérésie which in turn co

• proverb

  Etymology The word proverb originates from the Latin word proverbium which means a

• compassion

  Etymology Latin compassio suffering together com with together passio su

• copacetic

  Etymology The word copacetic is believed to originate from two possible sources Cop

• obvious

  Obvious Etymology Middle English obviouse from Latin obvius meaning in the way

• coupon

  Etymology French coupon Latin cooperio meaning to cut Meaning A certificate o

• chow

  Etymology The word chow has several different etymologies From the Chinese word cha

• universe

  Etymology of Universe The word universe derives from the Old French univers which

• succor

  Etymology The word succor comes from the Old French word socors which in turn is de

• character

  Character Etymology Meaning and Origin Etymology The word character derives from th