What Is the Hypostatic Union?

Summary

Doctrine Matters with Kevin DeYoung: What Is the Hypostatic Union?

Release Date: June 24, 2025

In the June 24, 2025 episode of Doctrine Matters, host Kevin DeYoung delves deep into the intricate theological concept of the Hypostatic Union. This episode serves as a comprehensive exploration of Christology, unpacking the union of divine and human natures in Jesus Christ—a foundational doctrine in Christian theology.

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1. Introduction to Doctrine Matters

Kevin DeYoung opens the discussion by outlining the podcast's mission:

“In this weekly podcast, we explore the rich doctrine of the Christian faith. We'll pull from the church's long history, complex debates, and over the course of the year, the hope is that we'll begin to frame out what is a clear, accessible, systematic theology.”
(00:05)

This sets the stage for an in-depth examination of theological topics, aiming to make complex doctrines understandable and relatable.

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2. Defining the Hypostatic Union

The episode centers on the Hypostatic Union, a term that might seem challenging but is broken down for clarity.

Unnamed Theologian explains:

“Hypostatic union refers to the union of two natures in one person, a human nature and a divine nature in the one person, Jesus Christ.”
(00:45)

This union asserts that Jesus possesses both a fully human nature and a fully divine nature without blending or separation.

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3. Understanding 'Nature' in Theology

To grasp the Hypostatic Union, it's essential to understand what "nature" signifies in this context.

Unnamed Co-Host prompts the discussion:

“Let's talk about some of these particular terms. Nature.”
(01:22)

Unnamed Theologian elaborates:

“By nature we mean the essential qualities of a thing... the dogginess of a dog is its nature. The nature of a thing refers to the substance possessed in common with the other things of that same nature.”
(01:25)

This analogy clarifies that "nature" pertains to the fundamental characteristics that define an entity, distinguishing essential traits from non-essential variations.

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4. Distinguishing Between Person and Nature

The conversation shifts to the term "person" and its role in the Hypostatic Union.

Unnamed Co-Host states:

“So let's talk about the word person. We've encountered this word before when talking about the Trinity. Here the stress is on the Incarnate Son.”
(02:38)

Unnamed Theologian clarifies:

“Christ has one self, you might say, not two selves. So we talk about human nature, divine nature, not two selves coming together, but one self, a unified person.”
(02:52)

This emphasizes that Jesus is one person with two distinct natures, avoiding the misconception of dual personalities.

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5. Clarifying Common Misconceptions

To prevent misunderstandings, the discussion addresses potential theological errors.

Unnamed Theologian warns:

“We put out of bounds any other conception, a heresy whereby God only reveals himself in modes of being or that Jesus only appeared to be human, or that Jesus was not God in the same way that the Father was.”
(14:27)

This safeguards the orthodox understanding that Jesus is fully God and fully man, not merely appearing or adopting divinity.

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6. Communication of Idiomata

A pivotal part of the episode discusses the Communication of Idiomata, a doctrine that explains how properties of both natures can be attributed to the single person of Christ.

Unnamed Co-Host introduces the concept:

“It's better to think of a communication of properties or communication of attributes.”
(09:46)

Unnamed Theologian provides examples:

“We can say Christ took a nap in the boat. We would not say the divine nature gets sleepy... we should not say the world was created through the human nature.”
(10:54)

This doctrine ensures that while Jesus operates as one person, His actions and attributes can be rightly ascribed to either nature without confusion.

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7. Theotokos and Mary’s Role

The discussion touches on the title Theotokos ("God-bearer") used for Mary, highlighting its significance in affirming the Hypostatic Union.

Unnamed Theologian explains:

“Mary was personalized in its union with the Logos. The Son of God took upon himself a human nature... Mary gave birth to a person in whom there is a union of two natures.”
(13:28)

This distinction clarifies that Mary bore Jesus, the God-man, rather than imparting divinity to Himself, preserving the integrity of both natures.

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8. The Mystery and Importance of the Hypostatic Union

Unnamed Co-Host summarizes the enigmatic nature of the Hypostatic Union:

“Here's the mystery of the hypostatic union... the union of human nature and divine.”
(14:24)

Unnamed Theologian adds:

“It's a wonderful mystery that the person of the Incarnate Son is visible and invisible, passable and impassable... mortal and immortal.”
(14:27)

This underscores the profound and paradoxical nature of Christ's dual natures coexisting seamlessly in one person.

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9. Guarding Against Heresies

The episode concludes by reaffirming the importance of maintaining orthodox beliefs about the Hypostatic Union and rejecting heretical views.

Unnamed Theologian states:

“We don't want to say Mary just gave birth to a nature, or she gave birth to part of the divine Son of God, but she gave birth to a person.”
(14:24)

This reinforces the necessity of upholding the doctrine that Jesus embodies both divinity and humanity fully and indivisibly.

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10. Conclusion and Encouragement

Kevin DeYoung wraps up the episode with a call to subscribe and engage further:

“Our hope and prayer is that this has been helpful to you as you look at Scripture and try to understand the best of our theological tradition as Christians.”
(16:03)

Listeners are encouraged to deepen their understanding through additional resources and continue exploring theological doctrines.

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Key Takeaways

• Hypostatic Union: The union of Jesus Christ's divine and human natures in one person.
• Nature vs. Person: Distinguishes between the essential characteristics (natures) and the unified self (person) of Christ.
• Communication of Idiomata: Allows for attributes of both natures to be ascribed to the single person of Christ without confusion.
• Theotokos: Affirming that Mary bore Jesus, the God-man, not imparting divinity to Himself.
• Orthodox Assurance: Emphasizes safeguarding against heresies that dilute or distort the true nature of Christ's dual natures.

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Doctrine Matters offers a profound and accessible exploration of the Hypostatic Union, reinforcing essential Christian doctrines about the nature of Jesus Christ. Through clear definitions, practical examples, and theological insights, Kevin DeYoung and his co-host guide listeners towards a deeper appreciation of this central mystery of the Christian faith.

For those seeking to further their understanding, consider exploring Kevin DeYoung's "Daily Doctrine" book or visiting Crossway.org for additional resources.

Transcript

[Kevin DeYoung]

Hello, I'm Kevin DeYoung, pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina, and you are listening to Doctrine Matters. Each week on Doctrine Matters, we explore.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

The rich doctrine of the Christian faith.

[Kevin DeYoung]

We'll pull from the church's long history, complex debates, and over the course of.

[Unnamed Theologian]

The year, the hope is that we'll.

[Kevin DeYoung]

Begin to frame out what is a.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Clear, accessible, systematic theology.

[Kevin DeYoung]

Be looking at different Christian doctrines and.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Their relationship to each other. And the hope, Lord willing, is we.

[Kevin DeYoung]

Will grasp more and more the riches and the beauty of God's word. Thanks for listening. Let's turn to this week's Doctrine Matters.

[Unnamed Theologian]

We're continuing this week with the topic of Christology. The person of Christ need to introduce an important term. Sounds hard to understand, but it's understandable. Hypostatic union. So just take those union. We understand that the coming together of two things and hypostatic, as we'll see in a moment, refers to person. So we're talking about the union of two natures in one person, a human nature and a divine nature in the one person, Jesus Christ. That's what we mean by the hypostatic union.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So let's talk about some of these particular terms. Nature.

[Unnamed Theologian]

By nature we mean the essential qualities of a thing. So the dogginess of a dog is its nature. The nature of a thing refers to the substance possessed in common with the other things of that same nature. So a dog can be brown or white or spotted. It can be big or tall, it can be shaggy or or short haired.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Those things are not essential.

[Unnamed Theologian]

That is, you can have varieties and.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

You still have a dog.

[Unnamed Theologian]

But there is a dogginess to a dog, whatever that might be.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

That is the nature, the thing it.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Shares with everything else that is rightly called a dog. Consequently, the hypostatic union affirms that Christ possesses a real and full humanness in common with other human persons. So that's the nature, same nature as ours, and possesses a real and full divinity in common with all other divine persons. So having a human nature shares in common with others with a human nature. And divine nature shares with all other divine persons.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So let's talk about the word person. We've encountered this word before when talking about the Trinity. Here the stress is on the Incarnate.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Son as one Person there with the.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Trinity, of course, one God, three persons here one person.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Christ has one self, you might say, not two selves. So we talk about human nature, divine nature, not two selves coming together, but one self, a unified person.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

That's the Word hypostasis or hypostasis, whichever.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Emphasis on whichever syllable, the hypostasis, that's what we mean by a person.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

And that person has two natures in.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Perfect union, such that there is a single agent in all that Christ did.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

And suffered and felt.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Certain qualities can be predicated, that is.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Can be said of one nature or the other.

[Unnamed Theologian]

But what Christ did, he always did as one person. So we might speak of certain things.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

We might say Christ took a nap according to his human nature, because a.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Divine nature doesn't nap. But we want to be clear. He's not toggling back and forth between like a Siamese twin or something. He. He is one person, one self, a union of two natures.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Now that the union of the divine.

[Unnamed Theologian]

And human nature in the incarnate Son is not like the oneness of the.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Three Persons of the Trinity, it's important.

[Unnamed Theologian]

To understand, lest we think, okay, one God, three persons. Yep, same way. One person, two natures. No, there is an I, thou relation in the Trinity. That is the. The Father we see all throughout the Gospels.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

The Father talks to the Son, the.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Son talks to the Father. There is. We don't want to think of them as people the way we think of a, you know, a father and a son and a brother. Three people standing in a circle that. So it's hard to come up with an analogy that works. But there is this I, thou, or I, you. They can talk to each other. We don't have the human nature, and nature doesn't talk to another nature. They. They don't act upon each other as the Father does with the Son. Francis Turretson puts it well, the union, talking about the Son, Jesus Christ, the union is personal, but not of persons, as the union of nature, not natural. So it's a personal union in one.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Person, but not of persons.

[Unnamed Theologian]

It's not a human person coming together with a divine person. So to just make this a little.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

More confusing, in the hopes of getting.

[Unnamed Theologian]

To some clarity, we need to steer.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Clear of some other theological problems related to this.

[Unnamed Theologian]

So the first term here, we've been talking about hypostatic union, hypostasis, meaning a person. So in order to understand what we do and do not mean by this, two other terms. The first, an hypostasia, that prefix an or a is a prefix in Greek.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Which often acts as a negation.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Think of an atheist, is someone who.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Does not believe in God, is not atheist.

[Unnamed Theologian]

So here an hypostasia means that the Logos, talking about the second person of.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

The Trinity, the word became flesh. That Greek word Logos, the divine Logos was not united with a human person.

[Unnamed Theologian]

But with a human nature. That's what we mean by an hypostasia. That this, this union was not with another person. That's the negation there.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Jesus Christ is the name of the incarnate Son of God.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Jesus is not the name of a.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Free floating human person who is joined to a deity.

[Unnamed Theologian]

We need to be really clear on this thought that there was, okay, you got the divine Logos and then here's a first century Jewish man named Jesus. We'll grab Jesus and we'll put him together with God and now this Jesus is God man. No, the union was not of persons. There was not a human person who then was infused with the divine.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

The human nature received from the Virgin.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Mary was personalized in its union with the Logos. The Son of God took upon himself a human nature, not an individual hypostasis. Hypostasis that, that's what we mean by anhypostasia. That this union was not with an individual person. It was not some guy named Jesus just waiting at the bus stop. All right, you're going to be made one with the Son of God. It's not what happened. The second term necessary following on this one is the term in hypostasia.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So en, in hypostasia, this affirms that the human nature of Christ only ever subsisted in the single person, person of Christ. That is, there was no independent existence.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Of Christ's human nature that would entail some form of adoptionism. So here we're saying that again, to put it crassly. So an hypostasia is saying that the union of human divine is not, here's a guy named Jesus, let's give him a divine nature. Bada boom, bada bing.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

This in hypostasia is saying the human.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Nature was only ever made personal in the union. So it, to use a crass concrete metaphor, it's not like the divine Logos is looking through a closet of human natures. All right, I'm gonna just get this.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Human nature that's here. As if natures just sort of exist.

[Unnamed Theologian]

No, the human nature was in personal.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

While we must say that Christ's human nature was an hypostasia, we must also be clear that the human nature never existed as a generic nature.

[Unnamed Theologian]

So an hypostasia is saying it wasn't a person, Jesus that got co opted.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Into being the Son of God. And this in hypostasia is saying, well.

[Unnamed Theologian]

It'S not that the generic nature was just existing somewhere. You just went into a cave where all the natures hang out.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Christ's human nature was never impersonal. If an hypostasia safeguards that the Logos.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Was not united to a human person, then en hypostasia safeguards that the Logos was not united to humanity in general.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Put simply, and I know nothing here.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Is very simple, the humanity of Christ.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Exists only as the humanity of the.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Son in the Incarnation. Now, we've talked about how we can.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Speak of the human and the divine nature. There's another phrase, yes, lots of phrases.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Here called the communication of idioms. Communicatio idiomatum in Latin, communication of idioms. Idioms is a word that doesn't really register with us.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

It's better to think of a communication.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Of properties or communication of attributes. And this goes all the way back to the early church. Cyril of Alexandria in particular. Calvin made great use of it.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

And this doctrine helps us to think.

[Unnamed Theologian]

How can we speak of each nature? And it gets very complicated. But in basic form, the communication of.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Idioms provides a way of thinking about the two natures.

[Unnamed Theologian]

And according to this doctrine, the communication of properties, let's call it what can.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Be said about either nature can be.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Said about the person of Christ.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

But what can be said about the person of Christ cannot necessarily be said about either nature. And what can be said about one nature cannot necessarily be said about the other.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Now, this is really key as we try to talk about the person and the nature.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So, for example, it's easiest to understand.

[Unnamed Theologian]

This with some examples. We can say Christ took a nap in the boat. We would not say the divine nature gets sleepy.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

We can say the world was created through Christ. We should not say the world was created through the human nature. What Christ did, he did as a.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Single person, the union of two natures. What we can say about either nature, we can say about the person. So if you're just thinking of a crude diagram, you have person, and then going down, you have two lines going to nature's.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

What you can say about the natures can go up to the person.

[Unnamed Theologian]

But what you can say about the person doesn't necessarily go down to both natures. So we say the Son of God died on the cross. Because the Son of God is the.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Name for Jesus Christ. It's a title.

[Unnamed Theologian]

And in a way, since he is the Son of God, he is God.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

You could say God died on the.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Cross, God being the title in the name of the second Person, the divine Logos.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So long as we don't mean the.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Divine nature ceased to exist or the divine nature died on the cross. So you think of Anne. Can it be that Thou, my God.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Should die for me? Some hymnals have even changed it to say that Thou my Lord should die for me. And it is a little risky to.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Say God died on the cross. And yet there is a proper way to say God died on the cross. If we're saying not that one person of the Trinity spun out into oblivion.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

But we're saying the incarnate Son of.

[Unnamed Theologian]

God, whom we call God certainly died a real death on the cross. Think of Acts 20:28 speaks of the blood of God. Now God as God does not have blood, but God that is the incarnate Son of God, that divine being, that divine human being called by a divine title. Then we can speak of the blood of God by the same reasoning, the term Theotokos, which means God bearer, some translated it as Mary the mother of God, which is problematic. But really, Mary Theotokos, the one who bore God, that this was a early controversy in the Church. Can we say that Mary gave birth to God? You can understand why some people would say, ah, I don't know really, she gave birth to Jesus or gave birth.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

To maybe one part of his nature.

[Unnamed Theologian]

But no, she. She gave birth to a divine human being, to a theanthropos, to. To a. To the God man. Now that does not make Mary divine. To say Mary the. Then Mary is somehow God as the mother of God. But I. And even mother is not really the best translation for Theotokos. But bearer, she's the one who gave birth to. So we mean to communicate. And that's why the. The Church ultimately, through Cyril and others, defended that Theotokos language. Because we don't want to say Mary just gave birth to a nature, or she gave birth to part of the divine Son of God, but she gave birth to a person. And in this person, in the hypostatic union, it is the union of these two natures.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

So here's the mystery of the hypostatic.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Union, a wonderful mystery that the person of the Incarnate Son is visible and.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Invisible, passable and impassable, mutable and immutable.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Temporal and eternal, mortal and immortal, the coming together of human nature and divine. And so we put out of bounds any other conception, a heresy whereby God.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Only reveals himself in modes of being.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Or that Jesus only appeared to be human, or that Jesus was not God in the same way that the Father.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Was, was God, or that he was.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Merely adopted or later infused by the Spirit with some kind of divine presence, or that Christ only has one nature.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Or that he only has one will.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Because will is a property of nature.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

And therefore there are two wills.

[Unnamed Theologian]

He can say, nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. God worked through the Scriptures in the.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Early church to shape and refine and and even these heresies to help provide.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Greater clarity for the truth in order.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

That we might ultimately know and see.

[Unnamed Theologian]

And savor and worship Jesus Christ for who he is and who he is for his people.

[Kevin DeYoung]

Thanks again for joining us on Doctrine Matters. I'm your host Kevin DeYoung. Our hope and prayer is that this.

[Unnamed Theologian]

Has been helpful to you as you.

[Kevin DeYoung]

Look at Scripture and try to understand the best of our theological tradition as Christians. Please consider subscribing to doctor Matters and if this has been encouraging, consider passing it on to others.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

If you'd like to learn more about.

[Kevin DeYoung]

This week's doctrine can ask your pastor for good resources or check out my.

[Unnamed Co-Host]

Year long mini systematic theology book called.

[Kevin DeYoung]

Daily Doctrine to Available in print or audio from Crossway.org the doctrine matters podcast is produced by Crossway. To learn more, visit Crossway.org.