Heresies in the History of the Church: Nestorianism

Throughout the history of the Church, it has struggled to reach a state of unity. A challenge that has presented itself is the teachings of heresies. Through the centuries, many different heresies have threatened the unity of the Church, one significant heresy being Nestorianism, named after its teacher Nestorious. It claims that Jesus was only human when born to Mary, denying Mary to be the Mother of God, and therefor jeopardizing the unity of the Church.
A heresy is defined as “the obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same” (CCC 2089). The teaching must involve a substantial truth dealing with God's revelation or a doctrine specifically characterized by the Church itself. A heresy is different from apostasy, the complete rejection of the Christian faith, or a schism. It must oppose examples such as the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Trinity, the Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, or the Resurrection of Jesus. They break the unity of the Body of Christ, and teachings among heretics can lead to division among the members of the Church. Once the Church has questioned the teachings and declared them false, and the heretics proceed in teaching, it causes confusion and broken unity throughout the Church and its members. To be a true heretic, one must refuse to be corrected, and must also be baptized. One who is not baptized, or does not know their teachings are against the Church is not a heretic. They must be an active member of the Church, who is fully aware of their false teachings and dis unifying words.
Nestorius, the bishop of Constantinople during the fifth century, was the teacher of the heresy Nestorianis...

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...sus, the Church was able to demolish Nestorius contradicting teachings of the Church.

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