Early Christian Controversies

noun The act or process of adopting or being adopted

adjective Pertaining to adoption or the act of adopting

• The adoptian of new policies by the government has led to significant changes in the economy.
• Our company is considering adoptian a new work-from-home policy.
• I heard they're adoptian a no-phones rule in the office now.
• The adoptian of a healthier lifestyle can lead to a longer and happier life.

noun a Christological doctrine that Jesus was born human and was later 'adopted' as God's son

• The theological debate surrounding adoptianism was a major point of contention in the early church.
• Some people got really worked up over that whole adoptianism thing back in the day.
• Adoptianism was like the original church drama, causing all kinds of arguments.
• The concept of adoptianism can be seen as a symbol of the struggle for power within the church hierarchy.

noun a Christian belief that Jesus was the adopted (not biological) son of God

• Adoptionism was a theological doctrine in early Christianity that attempted to explain the relationship between Jesus Christ and God.
• The debate over adoptionism among theologians was quite intense during the early days of Christianity.
• Some folks back in the day were all about that adoptionism theory.
• In a way, adoptionism can be seen as a way of understanding how we can all be children of a greater power.