The first split in Christianity came at the Council of Chalcedon. Here the difficulty was over the definition of the nature of Christ. His nature was defined as fully divine and fully human, without confusion or mixture. If, as is often suggested, the splits were based on biblical interpretation, where in the Bible is this fully human and divine stuff discussed? If it isn't there how can we maintain that different biblical interpretations caused the splits in Christianity?

Question

The first split in Christianity came at the Council of Chalcedon.  Here the difficulty was over the definition of the nature of Christ.  His nature was defined as fully divine and fully human, without confusion or mixture.  If, as is often suggested, the splits were based on biblical interpretation, where in the Bible is this fully human and divine stuff discussed?  If it isn't there how can we maintain that different biblical interpretations caused the splits in Christianity?

GuruBlue · Answer

Here are two sites on this topic. Both have interesting explanations.

http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=726

http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:ZGKfrN1Iw0oJ:www.copticchurch.org/Texts/Spirituals/Natofchr.pdf+where+in+the+Bible+is+the+nature+of+Christ+discussed&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/Biblequestions/Christianity's%20Great%20mystery.html

bobpursley · Answer

Many religious folks like threading needles, and one who threads it differently is a heretic. Usually, neither side is interested in attaining a Godly relationship, but more interested in power and supressing disending beliefs. This, in my opinion, was a prime motivator in the Council of Chalcedon actions.