Aphthartodocetist

/ˌæfθɑːrtəˈdɒsɪtɪst/

noun

A follower or proponent of Aphthartodocetism, the Christological doctrine that taught Christ's body was naturally incorruptible and not subject to physical suffering, associated with Julian of Halicarnassus

Scrabble 28

Meanings

nounAphthartodocetist (plural Aphthartodocetists)

plural Aphthartodocetists

  1. historicalChristianityA follower or proponent of Aphthartodocetism, the Christological doctrine that taught Christ's body was naturally incorruptible and not subject to physical suffering, associated with Julian of Halicarnassus

    The question of the Aphthartodocetists or Phantasiastae and their central tenet of the incorruptibility of Christ's flesh would be broached in 726 at the Synod of Manazkert, which was also of importance for renewing relations with the West Syrian Church under Patriarch Athanasius III.

    2004 APRIL, Cowe, S. Peter, “ARMENIAN CHRISTOLOGY IN THE SEVENTH AND EIGHT CENTURIES WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF CATHOLICOS YOVHAN ŌJNEC'I AND XOSROVIK T'ARGMANIČ'.”, in The Journal of Theological Studies (NEW SERIES), volume 55, number 1, page 31
    1 more example

    The Aphthartodocetists of the sixth century constitute the standard exception here, though even they did not deny the reality of Christ’s sufferings; for while they denied that Christ’s human nature had any natural susceptibility to suffering, they also maintained that he willingly subjected himself to it.

    2008 Oct, McFARLAND, IAN A., “Fallen or Unfallen? Christ's Human Nature and the Ontology of Human Sinfulness.”, in International Journal of Systematic Theology., volume 10, number 4, page 407

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekδοκέω“I seem, I appear”
  2. Ancient Greekἀφθαρτος“incorruptible”
  3. Ancient Greekἀφθαρτοδοκήτης
  4. EnglishAphthartodocetist

From Ancient Greek ἀφθαρτοδοκήτης (aphthartodokḗtēs), derived from Ancient Greek ἀφθαρτος (aphthartos, “incorruptible”) + Ancient Greek δοκέω (dokéō, “I seem, I appear”).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Aphthartodocetist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Aphthartodocetist

MLA

“Aphthartodocetist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Aphthartodocetist. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Aphthartodocetist,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Aphthartodocetist.

Source: Aphthartodocetist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.