Becker Bible Teacher Resources

Teaches that Jesus Christ had two natures but only one will. This is contrary to the orthodox interpretation of Christology, which teaches that Jesus Christ has two wills (human and divine) corresponding to his two natures. Sergius, patriarch of Constantinople in the early seventh century, developed this doctrine by first expressing a concern of Monophysites belief that Christ should have a single "will" or faculty of volition, and thus, one nature. He reasoned that Christ had two natures but only one "will" located within his person. Sergius had intended the doctrine to mean that the human and the divine in Christ cooperated perfectly. This idea proved amenable to Emperor Heraclius, and he imposed the doctrine of Monotheletism ("one will") upon the church in his famous decree called Ekthesis. Although many Byzantine theologians agreed, some interpreted this position as teaching that Christ was a divine person masquerading as a human being, and was not properly human. Pope John IV condemned Monotheletism as Monophysitism in disguise, both heretical teachings. (Hill, 139)

Reference:

Hill, Jonathan. "Early Christianity: A World Religion." Handbook to the History of Christianity. Zondervan, 2006.