What does Docetism claim about Jesus?

What does Docetism claim about Jesus?

• A. Jesus had a real human body and died on the cross.
• B. Jesus had two distinct natures and two wills.
• C. Jesus only appeared to be human and did not truly die on the cross.
• D. Jesus was only human and never divine.

Answer: (C)

Docetism holds that Jesus only appeared to be human; his physical body was not real, and his suffering and death on the cross were not truly actual. This is why the statement that Jesus only appeared to be human and did not truly die on the cross best captures the Docetic view. In this view, Jesus’ divinity remains intact while his humanity is only an illusion, so the crucifixion isn’t a real death for his human nature. The other ideas describe different Christological positions: one affirms a real human body and a true death on the cross, another speaks of two distinct natures and two wills, and another claims Jesus was only human and never divine—each of these does not align with Docetism’s claim that Jesus truly took on flesh but only appeared to do so.

Docetism holds that Jesus only appeared to be human; his physical body was not real, and his suffering and death on the cross were not truly actual. This is why the statement that Jesus only appeared to be human and did not truly die on the cross best captures the Docetic view. In this view, Jesus’ divinity remains intact while his humanity is only an illusion, so the crucifixion isn’t a real death for his human nature. The other ideas describe different Christological positions: one affirms a real human body and a true death on the cross, another speaks of two distinct natures and two wills, and another claims Jesus was only human and never divine—each of these does not align with Docetism’s claim that Jesus truly took on flesh but only appeared to do so.