The Chalcedonian Definition

Written at the Council of Chalcedon against both Nestorianism (which split Christ into two persons) and Eutychianism (which blended His humanity into His divinity). It confesses one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man; consubstantial with the Father in His deity and consubstantial with us in His humanity, apart from sin; the properties of each nature preserved, coming together into one Person — "without confusion, without change, without division, without separation." Every phrase reflects Scripture (John 1:1, 14; Phil 2:5–8; Heb 2:14–17; 4:15).

The four "withouts" have guarded the church for over 1,500 years. They are the reason Christians can say, with full confidence, that the One who died on the cross was truly God with us and truly one of us.

• Philippians 2:5-11— The self-emptying and exaltation of Christ
• Hebrews 4:15— Truly one of us, without sin

• ·Chalcedonian Definition — text
• ·Chalcedonian Definition — overview

• council_or_creed

  Council of Chalcedon

  Written at this council

• council_or_creed

  The Nicene Creed

  Presupposes Nicene deity of Christ