Britannica Sources used in this answer

How did the Council of Chalcedon describe the two natures of Christ?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Christology The Transfiguration, the nature of Jesus as the Son of God being revealed to the apostles Peter, James, and John, mosaic icon, early 13th century; in the Louvre, Paris.

The Council of Chalcedon (451) defined the two natures of Christ to refute the monophysite belief, which incorrectly posited that Christ possessed only a single, divine nature.12

In its confession of faith, the council affirmed that Christ is "perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man." It further described him as being "consubstantial with the Father" in his divinity and "consubstantial with us" in his humanity. By confirming these two distinct natures in Christ, the council established the orthodox doctrine that these natures exist within the hypostatic union, meaning they are united in one person without being separated.12