--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The view, that Christ was not by nature…" description: "\"“The view, that Christ was not by nature divine but was adopted to be God’s son, emerged not out of Jewish Christianity, but from purely gentile stock...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/bart-d-ehrman-3928_christianity_the-view-that-christ-was-not-by-nature-d_1144429.png" --- # The view, that Christ was not by nature divine but was… ![“The view, that Christ was not by nature divine but was adopted to be God’s son, emerged not out of Jewish Christianity, but from purely gentile stock. This was a group known as the Theodotians, named after their founder, a shoemaker, who happened also to be an amateur theologian, named Theodotus…” quote by Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/bart-d-ehrman-3928_christianity_the-view-that-christ-was-not-by-nature-d_1144429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/bart-d-ehrman-3928_christianity_the-view-that-christ-was-not-by-nature-d_1144429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b9/bart-d-ehrman-3928_christianity_the-view-that-christ-was-not-by-nature-d_1144429.png) > ““The view, that Christ was not by nature divine but was adopted to be God’s son, emerged not out of Jewish Christianity, but from purely gentile stock. This was a group known as the Theodotians, named after their founder, a shoemaker, who happened also to be an amateur theologian, named Theodotus. Since they were centered in Rome, scholars sometimes refer to this group as the Roman Adoptionists.”” [Bart D. Ehrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-d-ehrman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adoptionist belief that Jesus became divine through adoption, not by nature, originated among Gentile Romans, not Jews. **In simple terms:** Some early Christians thought Jesus was made divine later, a view from Roman Gentiles. Key Takeaway Recognize diverse early Christian doctrines. Themes theology history Christology diversity early church Mood analytical inquisitive Type historical theological When to use this quote - academic study - religious education - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts adoptionism Christology historical development Questions to Reflect On - What does this view reveal about early Christian identity? - How might this belief affect modern theology? A Different Perspective Historical evidence for adoptionism is limited and contested. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [We need to be adopted by God through Jesus - that was what happened to me, and that's what changed my life so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-richard/we-need-to-be-adopted-by-god-through-jesus-that-was-what-happened-to/) [Cliff Richard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cliff-richard/) > [“You have been adopted. You are God’s beloved sons and daughters. Do you really think God is waiting to attack you on a technicality?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-fiensy/you-have-been-adopted-you-are-god-s-beloved-sons-and-daughters-do-you/) [David A. 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