Arianism Powerpoint

8/10/2019 Arianism Powerpoint

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Not But


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Arianism got its start with Arius, and isconsidered by some to be the greatest heresy inthe history of Christianity

The problem arose because the gospels refer toGod the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but

they do not explicitly refer to how they relate toone another

The concept of the trinity emerged as the bestway to explain their relationship, but there wereother theories that arose to explain them.

Arius challenges that if God created Jesus, thenGod would have some sort of standing over Jesus,and believed that there was a point where Godexisted and Jesus did not.


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This allowed the idea of polytheism into Christianity, andcaused major controversy, leading to the Bishop of Alexandriadismissing the Arius.

In response to Arius, Constantine calls the Council of Nicaea in325.

At the council of Nicaea Ariuss view is condemned, with the

emperor Constantine himself residing over many of thediscussions at the council. They further declare that theFather and son are of the same substance. (Homo-ousios)

Even though condemned by the Council of Nicaea, Arianismwas still a controversial issue. Arius was brought back fromexile, and by the middle of the century, Arianism had becomefavoured among Christian circles. Many positions in thechurch were held by Arian bishops.

During this time other theories pop up; some believed theFather was of similar substance to the Son (homoi-ousios),while others said he was like Him(homoios).

Nice Occasion


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After the death of Arius and Constantine, tworival groups emerged representing theopposing positions.

The Eusebians, led by Eusebias of Nicomedia

were pro-Arianism while the orthodox partyled by Athanasius was pro-Trinity.

Athanasius was exiled multiple times by theimperial despots, and spent twenty years ofhis life in exile.

This gave rise to the phrase Athanasiuscontra mundum which means Athanasiusagainst the world.


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The orthodox positioncame to a tipping point in379. Gregory of Nazismuspreached on the deity ofChrist in Constantinople in379, where reportedlyonly one congregation wasnot Arian.

His sermons were veryinfluential in the revival ofthe orthodox position, andearned him the title of

The Theologian. Basil theGreat and Gregory ofNyssa also were key inreviving the orthodoxposition.


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Theodosius the Great, aSpaniard, removed the Ariansfrom power and substitutedthe orthodox position. He thenconvened the Council ofConstantinople.

The Nicene orthodox positionfinally triumphed at the Councilof Constantinople in 381,which condemned many of theTrinitarian heresies.

From then on, the Arianposition was not widely

recognized and only existed insmall theological groups


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Arianism wasnt completely shut down afterthe council in 381. It continued in smallercircles and still exists today.

It thrived mainly among the Germanic tribes

in the 5th

and 6th

century. Including theOstrogoths, the Visigoths, and the Vandals.

Justinian, an emperor in Constantinople,fought against Arianism during this time.

The Arian view still exists today. This can beseen among the doctrine of JehovahsWitnesses.


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They believed that Jesus (Son of God) wasmerely a creation of God, rather than a partof the Trinitarian Godhead.

Assume a literal meaning of Jesus being theincarnation of the Word (or Logos) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...

John 1:14 ESV

They believe that the Son of God is neithereternal nor omnipotent.


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According to Arius: The Logos was acreature. And God himself could not createthe material world; indeed, Arius consideredGod so far removed from men that it

was impossible to know him or to havefellowship with him[he] satisfied the deep-rooted Greek idea that God cannot be thecreator of the material universe.

Arius believed that Jesus was Gods greatestcreation


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The Arian view of Jesus was like that of alesser god, or demigod. However, the worshipof the Son was never abandoned.

This implied polytheism, which was acceptedby many Greek pagans.

Converts from paganism found Arius ideaseasier to understand than Christian belief of

Christ being one with the Father. They saw Jesus as a divine hero, rather than

an essence of God himself.


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Obviously, Arianism was not accepted byEmperor Constantine and the ChristianRoman Empire Declared heretic

if any writing composed by Arius shouldbe found, it should be handed over to theflames, so that not only will the wickednessof his teaching be obliterated, but nothingwill be left even to remind anyone of him.- Constantine I, circa AD 333


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"HISTORY OF ARIANISM." HISTORY OF ARIANISM.

N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014. "Biography of Arius." Biography of Arius. N.p., n.d.

Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language.

4th ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2013. Print. pp.107-108

"Trinity: Arius and the Nicene Creed." Trinity: Ariusand the Nicene Creed. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct.

2014. Part of an Edict Against Arius and His Followers.

Wisconsin Lutheran College, 2014. Web. 15 Oct.2014.

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