Hypostatic union

What it means

The hypostatic union is the joining of two natures, divine and human, in the one person of the Son of God. "Hypostatic" comes from the Greek word for person. The eternal Son did not stop being God when he became man, and he did not merely appear to be human. He took to himself a complete human nature, body and soul, mind and will, and he remains God and man forever.

The two natures are not mixed into a third thing, and they are not split into two persons. Jesus is one Lord. What either nature does, the one person does: the Son of God was born, hungered, wept, died, and rose. Yet each nature keeps its own properties. As God he upholds all things; as man he grew in wisdom and slept in a boat.

This is the center of the gospel. Only a man could take the place of men and die; only God could bear infinite wrath, conquer death, and give eternal life. The Mediator had to be both, and in Jesus Christ he is.

In Scripture

• John 1:14

  John 1:14

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  The Word, who was God, became flesh and dwelt among us.

• Colossians 2:9

  Colossians 2:9

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  In Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.

• Philippians 2:5-8

  Philippians 2:5-8

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  Christ, existing in the form of God, took on the form of a servant in human likeness.

• Hebrews 2:14-17

  Hebrews 2:14-17

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  The Son shared our flesh and blood and was made like us in every way to make atonement.

• 1 Timothy 2:5

  1 Timothy 2:5

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  There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

• Romans 9:5

  Romans 9:5

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  From Israel came Christ according to the flesh, who is God over all, forever blessed.