Docetism

Do·ce·tism

 (dō-sē′tĭz′əm, dō′sə-tĭz′əm)

n.

The belief, especially associated with the Gnostics, that Jesus had no human body and only appeared to have died on the cross.

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[Probably from Late Greek Dokētai, espousers of Docetism, from Greek dokein, to seem; see dek- in Indo-European roots.]

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Do·ce′tist n.

Docetism

(ˈdəʊsɪˌtɪzəm)

n

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

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

Do•ce•tism

(doʊˈsi tɪz əm, ˈdoʊ sɪˌtɪz-)

n.

an early Christian heresy asserting that the sufferings of Christ were apparent and not real.

[1840–50; < Late Greek dokē(taí) (pl. of dokētḗs one who professes the heresy of appearance) < Greek dokē-, variant s. of dokeîn to seem, appear (compare dogma)]

Do•ce′tic, adj.

Do•ce′tist, n., adj.

Docetism

a very early heretical belief that held that Christ’s body was not material or real, but only the appearance of a body. — Docetae, n. pl.

See also: Heresy

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the teaching of an early heretical sect asserting that Christ’s body was not human or material, but celestial in substance. — Docetic, adj.

See also: Christ

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Docetism - the heretical doctrine (associated with the Gnostics) that Jesus had no human body and his sufferings and death on the cross were apparent rather than real heresy, unorthodoxy - a belief that rejects the orthodox tenets of a religion theological doctrine - the doctrine of a religious group