What Is Docetism? Did Early Christians Think Jesus Only Seemed Human?

What exactly is Docetism—and was it really a “heresy” in the early church? In this episode, Dr. Robyn Faith Walsh explains where the term comes from, what it actually means, and why labeling it as a single, organized heretical movement may be historically misleading. Drawing on New Testament passages like Romans 1 and the baptism scene in Mark, she shows how early Christian texts themselves wrestle with Jesus’ humanity, suffering, and divine status. Rather than a fringe belief imported from apocryphal gospels, so-called “docetic” ideas reflect broader first- and second-century debates about flesh, spirit, and what it meant for Jesus to suffer and die. The episode also explores how later church figures—such as Ignatius of Antioch and Marcion—used accusations of docetism as polemical tools in theological disputes. Get 10% Off Earliest Christian Heresies with coupon code Robyn at https://bartehrman.com/RobynHeresies Sign up for a 14-day free trial with BSA at https://bartehrman.com/bsalearning Dr. Robyn Faith Walsh is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Gabelli Senior Scholar at the University of Miami, specializing in early Christianity and Greco-Roman literary culture. She is the author of The Origins of Early Christian Literature (Cambridge, 2021) and a frequent contributor to both academic and public-facing publications. #Jesus #Christianity #BibleStudy #NewTestament #EarlyChurch