Page "Adoptionism" Paragraph 10

The first known exponent of Adoptionism in the 2nd century is Theodotus of Byzantium.

According to Hippolytus of Rome ( Philosophumena, VII, xxiii ) Theodotus taught that Jesus was a man born of a virgin, according to the Council of Jerusalem, that he lived like other men, and was most pious ; but that at his baptism in the Jordan the " Christ " came down upon the man Jesus in the likeness of a dove.

Therefore wonders ( Greek dynameis ) were not wrought in him until the Spirit ( which Theodotus called Christ ) came down and was manifested in Him.

( Philosophumena, VII, xxiii ) The belief was declared heretical by Pope Victor I.