The Council of Chalcedon

The Council of Chalcedon, held in 451 AD, was a major gathering of Christian bishops to address theological disagreements about Jesus Christ’s nature. The main issue was whether Jesus was fully divine and fully human, and how these two natures coexist in one person. The council declared that Jesus has two complete natures, divine and human, united in one person “without confusion, change, division, or separation.” This doctrine became a cornerstone of mainstream Christianity, helping to clarify beliefs and resolve divisions, and its decisions are still influential in many Christian denominations today.