adoptionism

thumb|upright=1.2|Francesco Albani's The Baptism of Christ, when Jesus became one with God according to adoptionism

Adoptionism, closely associated with dynamic monarchianism, is an early Christian nontrinitarian theological doctrine, subsequently revived in various forms. Adoptionism is a theology about relationship, which does not affirm the virgin birth and holds that Jesus was adopted as the Son of God at his baptism, his resurrection, or his ascension. Dynamic Monarchianism does not hold Jesus' sonship was through adoption. Dynamic monarchianism is a theology about divinity, and holds there is one God, the Father, and Jesus was a man, born of virgin birth, empowered by God's own divinity through the Holy Spirit, and raised to unity with God, but not a pre-existent distinct divine person. How common adoptionist views were among early Christians is debated, but it appears to have been most popular in the first three centuries. Some scholars see adoptionism as the belief of the earliest followers of Jesus, based on the epistles of Paul and other early literature. However, adoptionist views sharply declined in prominence in the fourth and fifth centuries, as Church leaders condemned it as a heresy.