noun
also adop·tian·ism -shəˌnizəm
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: adoption or adoptian + -ism
: the doctrine that Jesus of Nazareth became son of God by exaltation to a status that was not his by birth: as
a. : any of various theories in the first three centuries A.D. holding that Jesus was adopted to sonship at the time of his baptism or resurrection
b. : an 8th century doctrine of dual sonship holding that Christ as God is son by generation and nature but as man is son by adoption and grace