Why the label 'Monophysite' is a historical misnomer for ancient Christian traditions

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: For centuries, the term Monophysite has been used to describe churches that supposedly denied the humanity of Jesus. Yet, these groups have long rejected the label, arguing their theology was misunderstood. Modern scholarship suggests the divide was often more about linguistic emphasis than a fundamental disagreement on Christ's nature.

The controversy centers on the Council of Chalcedon in 451, which established that Jesus Christ possessed two distinct natures—divine and human—united in one person. This definition was designed to counter both the Nestorian view, which risked splitting Christ into two persons, and the teachings of the monk Eutyches. Eutyches, condemned in 448, argued that Christ’s humanity was absorbed by his divinity, rendering his body unlike that of other humans. This extreme position, often called ontological monophysitism, suggested that the divine nature overwhelmed the human, much like a drop of honey vanishing into the sea.

However, many theologians labeled as monophysite, such as Severus of Antioch, held a more nuanced position. They argued that because Christ is one person, he must possess a single nature. These groups, now known as the Oriental Orthodox communion, prefer the term miaphysite, from the Greek for 'single nature,' to describe their belief that divinity and humanity are equally present within that unity. They maintain that Christ’s humanity is fully consubstantial with that of all humankind, a view that modern scholars often find consistent with orthodox doctrine.

The persistence of the monophysite label was fueled by political and ecclesiastical rivalries, including the deposition of the patriarch of Alexandria, Dioscorus, after Chalcedon. Over time, the extreme sects that truly denied Christ’s humanity faded away, leaving behind traditions that are now recognized by major Christian denominations as essentially orthodox. Today, the Oriental Orthodox churches—including the Coptic, Armenian, and Syrian traditions—have largely resolved these ancient Christological disputes, moving past the historical baggage of a term they never truly accepted.

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