Docetism

[ doh-see-tiz-uh m, doh-si-tiz- ]

/ doʊˈsi tɪz əm, ˈdoʊ sɪˌtɪz- /

an early Christian doctrine that the sufferings of Christ were apparent and not real and that after the crucifixion he appeared in a spiritual body.

Roman Catholic Church. an ancient heresy asserting that Jesus lacked full humanity.

Origin of Docetism

First recorded in 1840–50; Docet(ae) + -ism

Do·ce·tic, adjective Do·ce·tist, noun, adjective

We have articulate evidence of the denial of the two sacraments by the Docetic idealists of Asia Minor.

Expositor's Bible: The Epistles of St. John |William Alexander
The heresies against which Ignatius contends imply the rise of the later Gnostic and Docetic sects.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 3 |Various
That room was made for docetic views, and value put upon a strict asceticism.

History of Dogma, Volume 1 (of 7) |Adolph Harnack
Docetic elements are apparent even in the fragment of the Gospel of Peter recently discovered.

History of Dogma, Volume 1 (of 7) |Adolph Harnack

Hilary especially illustrates the prevalence of naive Docetic views as regards the details of the Incarnation.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 |Various

Docetism

/ (ˈdəʊsɪˌtɪzəm) /

(in the early Christian Church) a heresy that the humanity of Christ, his sufferings, and his death were apparent rather than real

C19: from Medieval Latin Docētae, from Greek Dokētai, from dokein to seem