A theological doctrine stating that Jesus became God's son through adoption rather than being born divine.
From 'adoptian' plus the suffix '-ism' (a doctrine or system of beliefs). The term formalizes a specific Christian theological position that emerged and was debated from the 2nd-9th centuries.
Adoptianism was especially strong in Spain, and the bitter fights over it show that early Christians couldn't agree on fundamental questions we might think were settled—it's a reminder that religious traditions are living, debated, and constantly evolving.
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