Arianism

Christian councils were forced to respond to the heresies of Arianism and Sabellianism, whose views on the Trinity were unacceptable to many Christians. As a response, the councils composed creeds such as the Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed. In current times, philosophers Jeff Brower and Michael Rea try to explain the doctrine of the Trinity through analogies. I will discuss the two heresies and creeds, as well as the analogies presented. Arianism denies the true divinity of Christ as seen by many Christians

It may have been good in the short and long run by allowing the Church to clarify itself, but there was no major impact. Sure, it had enough power and size to go up against Arianism, its leader killed quite a bit of people who disagreed with his beliefs, and it clearly challenged the Catholic faith, but it was a small blip on the radar of Catholicism. Merely a distraction from the real goal which is to glorify and worship The

In the 4th and 5th centuries, the early church was going through change. After a period of persecution against Christians, the Edict of Milan established a policy for the toleration of Christianity under Constantine. Constantine was the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity and he himself became a Christian. The Ecumenical Councils were encouraged by Constantine. The gatherings included church leaders and others who met to affirm the teachings of the church and to tackle heresy. The topic

In the year 325 A.D., the Council of Nicaea met and addressed the question of who Christ is. The council revolved around a belief known as Arianism, which was started by a priest named Arius. Arius denied that Jesus is divine. He claimed that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are nothing more than God’s creatures. The Council of Nicaea, however, rejected Arianism and affirmed that Jesus was not created like all other things were. They said that Jesus and God share the same divine substance, which means

Defender of the Faith INTRODUCTION It was 312 A.D. the period of the Persecuted Church was coming to an end. Constantine dream in which “he claimed to have seen in the sky a shining cross bearing the motto, “Hoc Signo Vinces – “ By this sign thou shalt conquer,” (Hurlbut 58, 59) proved true. At the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, Constantine defeated his archenemy Maxentius, “In 313 A.D. Constantine’s Edict of Toleration officially put an end to the persecutions” (Hurlbut 59). The edict brought

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, also referred to as Athanasius the Great, led Alexandria as the twentieth bishop for forty-five years during the fourth century. Although Athanasius is regarded as serving as bishop for almost fifty years, the saint spent over seventeen of those years in exile for various reasons. A renowned Christian theologian, Athanasius was known for his defense of the Trinity, and his deep-rooted hatred for Arius and his followers, the Arians. Around 356, after Athanasius was

Arianism identified the Word of God and Jesus as one being, which made three distinct persons with different substances. The main problem with Arianism is if the Word is man, he cannot be God. Consequently, Jesus is not God, and God did not die for our sins. Additionally, Jesus was begotten by God in terms of creation. Arianism portray Jesus as the highest of all creatures. As a Hellenistic ideal, Arianism the Word and the Holy Spirit are medial beings from the creation and divine nature. However

Christianity’s attachment to underlying principles and beliefs are centered on the devotion of the Holy Trinity. The perception of the trinity has shaped controversy by finding a solution from a reliable origin. Deliberation on the true entity of God is unavoidable and contrasting opinions emerge by human endeavor. Debate on the trinity largely was derived by disagreement on the concepts ousia (common essence) and hypostasis (substance). These concepts became distinctive by The Cappadocian Fathers:

fight it. The heresy of Arianism started in the early 300s. It was starting to gain followers, so the Church called for the Council of Nicea. The Nicene Creed was made during this Council, and it rebuked the teachings of Arianism, which made it an heresy. Arianism soon rose back from the ashes, and many Church members were turning to it out of fear or corruption. St. Athanasius stayed strong throughout all of this, continuing to preach and write of the heresies of Arianism. He survived five exiles

not possible for humanity to reach salvation, which results in diminishment of the purpose of Christian faith. Thus, it is acceptable to assume that the Nicene Creed’s assertion of the homoousious relationship of God and Jesus, as a rejection of Arianism, was essential to early Christian theology because it provided certainty for the establishment of the faith. Although the consubstantial nature of Jesus and God was confirmed at Nicaea, it wasn’t definitively defined because Arians responded with