Theodotus of Byzantium
Theodotus of Byzantium (Ancient Greek: Θεόδoτoς Theodotos; also known as Theodotus the Tanner, Theodotus the Shoemaker, Theodotus the Cobbler, and Theodotus the Fuller;[1] flourished late 2nd century) was a dynamic monarchian theologian from Byzantium, one of several named Theodotus whose writings were condemned as heresy in the early church.
Theodotus held the profession of a leatherworker or fuller in Byzantium. He taught that Jesus was a virgin born man and, though he later received the spirit of God upon baptism (that is to say, he became the Christ), he was not himself God (or "a god")[2] until after his resurrection.[3]
This Christology, now referred to as "Dynamic Monarchianism" by modern scholars, was declared heretical by Pope Victor I, and Theodotus was excommunicated.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Reinhold Seeberg, Text-Book of the History of Doctrines, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1956), 163
- ^ Gaston, Thomas (2019). Dynamic Monarchianism: The Earliest Christology?. Theophilus Press. p. 81.
Being 'a god' meant displaying the characteristics of a god, such as performing miracles or being seated in heaven. It would have seemed natural to Hippolytus that if Jesus gained miraculous powers at his baptism then he 'became a god' at that time. Or, by virtue of the same line of thought, when Jesus ascended into heaven, he must have been made a god. Hippolytus does not equate being a god with being an uncreated and eternal being.
- ^ Hippolytus. "Refutation of All Heresies". New Advent. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
But (among the followers of Theodotus) some are disposed (to think) that never was this man made God, (even) at the descent of the Spirit; whereas others (maintain that he was made God) after the resurrection from the dead.
Sources
[edit]- Lampe P, Johnson MD. Steinhauser M. (trans.) From Paul to Valentinus: Christians at Rome in the First Two Centuries Published by Fortress Press, 2003 Chapter 33: The Theodotians p. 344-9 ISBN 0-8006-2702-4 ISBN 978-0-8006-2702-7
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
 | This biographical article about a person in connection with Christianity is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This article about early Christianity is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |