Adoption Controversy
Preserved but no longer current.
Elipand, Arch- bishop of Toledo, and Felix, Bishop of Urgel (in the 8th century), maintained that Christ in his human nature was the son of God by adoption only (Rom. viii, 29), though m tus pre-existing state he was the "begotten Son of God" in the ordinary catholic acceptation. Duns Scotus, Durandus, and Calixtus were among the Adoptionists who supported this view, which was condemned by the Council of Frankfort in 794.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Adoption Controversy” mean?
Elipand, Arch- bishop of Toledo, and Felix, Bishop of Urgel (in the 8th century), maintained that Christ in his human nature was the son of God by adoption only (Rom. viii, 29), though m tus pre-existing state he was the "begotten Son of God" in the ordinary catholic acceptation. Duns Scotus, Durandus, and Calixtus were among the Adoptionists who supported this view, which was condemned by the Council of Frankfort in 794.
Is “Adoption Controversy” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.