What was the Council of Chalcedon?
Quick answer
The Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) was a fourth ecumenical council that defined the doctrine of the incarnation: Jesus Christ is one Person in two natures, fully God and fully man, "without confusion, change, division, or separation."
It corrected two errors: Nestorianism (splitting Christ into two persons) and Eutychianism (mixing the two natures into a third).
The Chalcedonian Definition is still the standard the church uses to test Christology. It is the boundary line within which all orthodox Christology must speak.
Without Chalcedon, the cross collapses. Only a real man could die for men; only the real God could save them. Jesus is both.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.