Soon after the Arian controversy, another conflict arose over the person of Christ. The question here was whether the divine nature of Christ absorbed the human, or whether the two remained apart in his person. Again the West was content with the teaching of Tertullian that both natures were complete, but the East was divided by differences of interpretation in the rival schools of Alexandria and Antioch. The Alexandrian school explained the two natures as fused in a single personality; Antioch stressed the separateness of the two natures. Apollinaris, Bishop at Laodicea, thought the true explanation of Christ’s nature was that his body and mind were human, but that his spirit was replaced by the Logos.
Impact: Since Apollinaris’ doctrine marred the perfection of his humanity, it was condemned at the Council of Constantinople in 381. This same Council asserted the divinity of the Holy Spirit. From that time the Athanasian doctrine of the Trinity has held the orthodox position in Christianity.