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Scripture Topic Guide

Bible Verses About The Hypostatic Union

Early Christians did teach that Jesus Christ is one person who is fully divine and fully human, and they often said this by quoting John 1:14, Philippians 2:6-8, and Colossians 2:9. Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Novatian, and Gregory Thaumaturgus all speak of the Word becoming flesh and of the Son being truly God and truly man. The evidence is broad across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and several writers also reject views that would split Christ into two persons or turn his flesh into something unreal.

The clearest wording for the hypostatic union itself appears in Irenaeus and Gregory Thaumaturgus, while some other cards are only indirect or use related language about union, body, flesh, or divinity.

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Key Passages

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How to Study The Hypostatic Union

A tighter path from the primary text into context and application.

Start with the clearest command or anchor text Read the primary passage in context before building doctrine from supporting references.
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Scripture Map

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26 references

Foundation Texts

John 1:14 primary

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Core Bible verse for the topic

Supporting Passages

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Broad summary verse of incarnation and glory

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Supports the human side of the confession

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Useful Bible summary of bodily fullness

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Parallel passage for real human form

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Supports the real humanity and exaltation of Jesus

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Used in early writers to name Christ the man and mediator

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Supports divine status and sustaining power

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Supports Christ's divine side

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

I and my Father are one.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Used by early writers against denial of the flesh

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The same was in the beginning with God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.