Apollinarius

(fourth century)

   Heretic.

   Apollinarius was born in Beirut, Syria. He was an upholder of orthodoxy against the teachings of arius, was a friend of athanasius and was consecrated Bishop of Laodicea in c. 360. However, teachings similar to his were condemned at the Council of Alexandria in 362 and his own doctrines were specifically repudiated at the Western Council of Rome in 377 and at the Eastern Councils of Alexandria in 378, Antioch in 379 and Constantinople in 381. Apollinarius himself left the Church in c. 375. His followers were outlawed in later decrees issued by the Emperor theodosius i. Few of his writings have survived, but he seems to have taught that Jesus had a human body, a human soul and a divine spirit. Thus, although he was truly God, he was not fully human. This was unacceptable to the orthodox because if Jesus was less than a full human being, he could neither be a perfect example to humanity nor have fully redeemed human nature.

   H. Chadwick (ed.), St Basil the Great and Apollinarius of Laodicea (1956);

   C. Raven, Apollinarianism (1923);

   F. Young, From Nicaea to Chalcedon (1983).