Most Christian traditions throughout history affirm that Jesus possesses both a divine nature and a human nature. By “nature,” we refer to the fundamental characteristics or set of attributes that define something's essence.

What's in a nature?

Jesus’ divine nature includes attributes such as omniscience, omnipotence, eternality, and perfect holiness—characteristics that belong uniquely to God. His human nature, on the other hand, includes qualities such as a physical body, a rational mind, emotions, and the ability to experience suffering, hunger, and fatigue—characteristics that define the human experience. It also includes spiritual qualities such as the capability to make moral decisions. The core question is whether or not these two natures can coexist within one person, and if they do coexist within one person, do they remain fully distinct? Do they blend into a single nature? Does one nature overshadow the other? The degree to which these natures coexist and engage with each other greatly affects the implications of Jesus' life and work. For the purposes of this website, we will examine each nature individually, and then evaluate how they interact with each other. Although major positions are touched on, this list is far from exhaustive or comprehensive.

Perspectives on Human Nature

Before examining Jesus’ divine nature, let's address differing views on his humanity, as debates about his divinity often hinge on the extent and nature of his human experience.

Jesus was 0% human

This position has minimal support from theologians and philosophers historically, but was present in the second and third centuries. This view holds that divine and human natures cannot coexist, primarily due to the perceived incompatibility between the spiritual and physical worlds (see dualism and Gnosticism [insert hyperlink here]. Consequently, Jesus merely appeared to be human. According to this belief, Jesus’ physical body, suffering, and human experiences were mere illusions. This position is called Docetism, and its affirmation poses significant challenges to core Christian beliefs. If Jesus did not truly possess a human nature, his suffering, emotions, and physical needs would not have been genuine, calling into question his role as a representative of humanity.

Only Jesus' body was human

Continuing with dualistic thought, there is a sharp division between the physical and metaphysical (mind/soul) realms. Apollinarianism affirms that Jesus possessed a true human body, enabling him to experience suffering, hunger, and other physical limitations. However, it denies that he had a fully human mind or rational soul, instead arguing that his divine nature functioned in place of a human intellect. In this view, Jesus’ consciousness and decision-making were entirely governed by the divine Logos, rather than by a truly human cognitive process.

This position attempts to preserve Jesus' divinity while allowing for his human suffering, but it raises several theological difficulties. If Jesus lacked a human mind, could he truly sympathize with human thoughts, struggles, and temptations? Traditional Christian doctrine holds that Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15, NIV), implying that he had a full human psychological experience, not just a physical body. Without a complete human nature—including a human intellect and will—Jesus would not have been fully representative of humanity. This concern led to the rejection of Apollinarianism at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, affirming that Christ was fully human in both body and soul.

Jesus was born as a human and became divine

Unlike views that minimize Jesus' humanity, Adoptionism denies his divinity at birth, asserting that he was initially a human being who was later elevated to divine status.. This position teaches that Jesus was born as an ordinary man—perhaps uniquely righteous or specially chosen by God—but did not possess a divine nature from the beginning. His “adoption” into divinity is often linked to a pivotal event in his life, such as his baptism, resurrection, or ascension, when God is believed to have conferred upon him divine sonship. This belief, found in early Christian groups, was an attempt to preserve strict monotheism while still acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. However, this position directly contradicts the traditional Christian belief in the pre-existence of Christ (John 1:1-3) and his eternal divine nature. If Jesus only became divine at a later stage, it undermines his role as the eternal mediator and coequal member of the Trinity, leading to its condemnation at the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and later at the Council of Frankfurt (794 AD).

Jesus was born as a human but superseded (or lost) his humanity

Monophysitism (from the Greek mono = “one” and physis = “nature”) teaches that Jesus had only one nature, rather than both a divine and a human nature coexisting. In this view, Jesus' divinity was so dominant that it absorbed or overwhelmed his humanity, leaving him with a single, unified nature that was either entirely divine or a fusion of the two. This position arose as a reaction against Nestorianism, which overemphasized the separation of Jesus’ two natures, but it went to the opposite extreme by erasing the distinction between them. Monophysitism was especially associated with Eutyches, a 5th-century monk, who argued that Jesus' humanity was like "a drop of honey in the sea" of his divinity—present, but ultimately indistinguishable. However, this position was rejected at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), which reaffirmed that Jesus was fully God and fully human, without mixture or confusion. If Jesus’ humanity was absorbed into his divinity, his ability to fully experience human suffering, temptation, and represent humanity in salvation would be called into question.

Jesus was 100% human and 0% divine

This position would contend that there was nothing supernatural, miraculous, or divine about Jesus. Under this framework, Jesus of Nazareth was likely the son of Mary, along with a human father (perhaps Joseph, or conceived out of wedlock). His experience of life was entirely human—no pre-existence before birth, no divine knowledge or power beyond that of a normal person, and no supernatural authority. Those who hold this view often see Jesus as a great teacher, prophet, or moral example, but reject any notion of Jesus being divine or God. Some variations of this position suggest that Jesus' followers later exaggerated or mythologized his life, transforming him into a divine figure in Christian tradition.