Docetism

[ doh-see-tiz-uhm, doh-si-tiz- ]

noun

1. an early Christian doctrine that the sufferings of Christ were apparent and not real and that after the crucifixion he appeared in a spiritual body.
2. Roman Catholic Church. an ancient heresy asserting that Jesus lacked full humanity.

Docetism

/ ˈdəʊsɪˌtɪzəm /

noun

1. (in the early Christian Church) a heresy that the humanity of Christ, his sufferings, and his death were apparent rather than real

Other Words From

• Do·cetic adjective
• Do·cetist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Docetism¹

First recorded in 1840–50; Docet(ae) + -ism

Word History and Origins

Origin of Docetism¹

C19: from Medieval Latin Docētae, from Greek Dokētai, from dokein to seem

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, the author carefully avoids the extremes of Docetism or ditheism.

From Project Gutenberg

As compared with this, Docetism in Origen's case appears throughout in a weakened form; see Bigg, p. 191.

From Project Gutenberg

The settlement with Gnosticism prepared a still always uncertain end for this naive Docetism.

From Project Gutenberg

In spite of all his polemic against "δοκησις" proper, one can still perceive a "moderate docetism" in Clem.

From Project Gutenberg

In this notion, however, there is more sense and historical meaning than in that of the later ecclesiastical aphtharto-docetism.

From Project Gutenberg