What is the Hypostatic Union defined at the Council of Chalcedon?
The Hypostatic Union is the theological term defining the union of Christ's two complete natures—divine and human—in the one single divine Person (hypostasis) of the Son. Defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, Catholic doctrine proclaims that Jesus is fully God and fully man, existing in two natures 'without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.' Because Jesus is one divine Person, all His human actions (sleeping, weeping, suffering, dying) belong to the Son of God, giving His sacrifice infinite saving power.
Sources
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 464-469
- Colossians 2:9
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