Defending the Divinity of Christ: The Church’s Battle Against Arianism – Part 4

In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

In the previous blog, we delved into the early heretical movement of Gnosticism, a significant threat to early Christian doctrine. Gnosticism’s emphasis on secret knowledge, dualism, and a distinct interpretation of Christ’s nature prompted the Church to formulate clear statements of faith, such as the Apostles’ Creed, to safeguard orthodox beliefs. We will examine the core aspects of Gnostic beliefs, the Church’s robust responses, and the vital contributions of Church Fathers like Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Athanasius in combating Gnostic heresies and reaffirming orthodox Christian teachings.

We learned that the development of the Apostles’ Creed was a crucial response, providing a clear and authoritative summary of the faith handed down by the apostles. By affirming the goodness of creation, the true humanity and divinity of Christ, and the reality of His suffering, death, and resurrection, the Creed effectively countered Gnostic distortions and upheld orthodox Christian teaching.

Let us now turn our focus onto another heresy which proved a significant threat to early Christian Church – Arianism.

The Beginning of Arianism

Arianism, a significant early Christian heresy, emerged in the early 4th century and is named after Arius, a presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt. Arius’s teachings challenged the traditional understanding of the nature of Christ and his relationship to God the Father. This theological controversy sparked intense debates within the early Christian community and led to one of the most critical crises in the history of the Church.

Arius began propagating his views around 318 AD, arguing that Jesus Christ, while divine, was not co-eternal with God the Father. According to Arius, there was a time when the Son did not exist; hence, the Son was a created being, distinct and subordinate to the Father. This idea was contrary to the established belief in the consubstantiality of the Father and the Son, which held that both were of the same substance and eternal. Arianism thus questioned the fundamental nature of the Trinity, suggesting a hierarchy within the Godhead that undermined the unity and equality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Arius’s teachings gained a substantial following, especially in the eastern regions of the Roman Empire. The controversy grew so severe that it threatened the unity of the Church, prompting Emperor Constantine to intervene. In 325 AD, Constantine convened the First Council of Nicaea, seeking to resolve the theological dispute and restore harmony within the Christian community.

Principles of Arianism contradicting Orthodox beliefs

Arianism is characterized by several core principles that distinguish it from orthodox Christian doctrine. The fundamental tenet of Arianism is the belief in the created and subordinate nature of the Son in relation to the Father. This principle led to several key assertions:

1. Subordinationism:
   • Arian Belief: Arians believed that the Son (Jesus Christ) was subordinate to the Father, implying that the Son was not equal in divinity or eternity.
   • Orthodox Belief: Orthodox Christianity asserts the equality of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit within the Trinity, where each Person is co-equal and co-eternal.
2. Creation of the Son:
   • Arian Belief: Arius taught that the Son was a created being, brought into existence by the Father. This meant there was a time when the Son did not exist.
   • Orthodox Belief: The Orthodox Church holds that the Son is begotten, not made, and has existed eternally with the Father, affirming the Son’s co-eternity and co-essential nature with the Father.
3. Nature of Christ’s Divinity:
   • Arian Belief: Arians argued that while Jesus was divine, He was not divine in the same sense as the Father. They saw Him as the highest of all created beings, but still a creation.
   • Orthodox Belief: Orthodox Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is fully divine, of the same substance (homoousios) as the Father, fully sharing in the divine essence.
4. Rejection of Homoousios:
   • Arian Belief: Arianism rejected the term “homoousios” (of the same substance) to describe the relationship between the Father and the Son. They preferred “homoiousios” (of a similar substance), suggesting a qualitative difference.
   • Orthodox Belief: The Orthodox Church uses the term “homoousios” to affirm that the Father and the Son are of the same essence, emphasizing their unity and equality within the Trinity.
5. Impact on the Doctrine of the Trinity:
   • Arian Belief: By denying the full divinity of the Son, Arianism introduced a hierarchy within the Trinity, undermining the concept of three co-equal and co-eternal Persons.
   • Orthodox Belief: The Orthodox Church maintains that the Trinity is a unity of three co-equal and co-eternal Persons, each fully divine, without any subordination or hierarchy in their essence.
6. The Incarnation and Redemptive Work of Christ
   • Arian Belief: Arians believed that because Christ was a created being, His role in the Incarnation and redemption was fundamentally different. They saw Jesus as an intermediary who bridges the gap between God and humanity due to His created nature.
   • Orthodox Belief: Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Incarnation involves the full divinity and full humanity of Christ, making Him uniquely capable of redeeming humanity. The belief in Christ’s dual nature (fully God and fully man) is central to the doctrine of salvation.
7. Role of the Holy Spirit
   • Arian Belief: Arians often extended their subordinationist views to the Holy Spirit, treating the Holy Spirit as a created being or as subordinate to both the Father and the Son.
   • Orthodox Belief: The Orthodox Church teaches that the Holy Spirit is fully divine, co-equal, and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. This belief is integral to the doctrine of the Trinity, as affirmed in the Nicene Creed, which was later expanded to explicitly state the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
8. Christ’s Ability to Save
   • Arian Belief: Given that Arians viewed Christ as a created being, it called into question His ability to provide complete salvation. If Christ were not fully divine, His sacrifice might be seen as insufficient for the full redemption of humanity.
   • Orthodox Belief: Orthodox Christianity holds that Christ’s full divinity is essential for His redemptive work. Only a fully divine Christ can bridge the gap between God and humanity, providing perfect atonement for sin.
9. Eternal Generation of the Son
   • Arian Belief: Arians rejected the concept of the eternal generation of the Son, asserting that the Son was generated or created at a specific point in time.
   • Orthodox Belief: The doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son is a key tenet of orthodox Trinitarian theology. This belief asserts that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, meaning there was never a time when the Son did not exist.
10. Unity of Essence and Distinction of Persons
    • Arian Belief: By denying the full divinity of the Son and the Holy Spirit, Arianism effectively disrupted the unity of essence and distinction of Persons within the Trinity, leading to a hierarchical and disjointed view of the Godhead.
    • Orthodox Belief: Orthodox Christianity upholds the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that God is one in essence but three distinct Persons. This doctrine preserves both the unity and the distinctiveness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
11. Pre-existence of Christ
    • Arian Belief: While Arians acknowledged the pre-existence of Christ, they saw this pre-existence as part of His created nature, rather than as an eternal attribute of His divine nature.
    • Orthodox Belief: Orthodox Christianity teaches that Christ’s pre-existence is an aspect of His eternal divinity, affirming that He is co-eternal with the Father and not a part of creation.

These principles fundamentally challenged the orthodox understanding of the Trinity and the nature of Christ, leading to significant theological conflict within the early Church. The conflict led to the eventual condemnation of Arianism by the early Church, particularly through the Nicene Creed, which reaffirmed the orthodox understanding of the Trinity and the full divinity of Christ.

Core Principles of Christian Faith

The core principles of Christian faith, particularly as articulated in response to Arianism, emphasize the nature of God, the Trinity, and the divinity of Jesus Christ. These principles are foundational to orthodox Christian doctrine:

1. The Trinity: Central to Christian faith is the doctrine of the Trinity, which posits that God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—but is one in essence. This concept emphasizes the co-equality and co-eternality of all three persons.
2. Consubstantiality: The Nicene Creed, formulated in response to Arianism, asserts the consubstantiality (homoousios) of the Father and the Son. This means that Jesus Christ is of the same substance as God the Father, affirming his full divinity.
3. Incarnation: The doctrine of the Incarnation holds that the Son of God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. This underscores the belief in Jesus as both fully divine and fully human.
4. The Eternal Generation of the Son: Orthodox Christianity teaches that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father, meaning that the Son’s generation is an eternal relationship within the Godhead, without beginning or end.
5. Redemption: Central to Christian faith is the belief in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus provides salvation and reconciliation with God for humanity.
6. The Nature of Christ: Orthodox Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is one Person with two distinct natures, fully divine and fully human, united without confusion or division. This doctrine is known as the hypostatic union.
7. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. The Spirit is fully divine and proceeds from the Father, and is worshipped and glorified along with the Father and the Son without distinction.
8. Christ’s Role in Creation: Orthodox Christianity teaches that Christ, as the Word (Logos) of God, was instrumental in creation. All things were made through Him and for Him (John 1:1-3; Colossians 1:16).
9. Scriptural Authority: Christianity holds the Bible as the authoritative word of God, guiding faith and practice. The Nicene Creed and other early creeds are rooted in the biblical witness to the nature of God and the person of Christ.

These core orthodox Christian beliefs emphasize the full divinity, eternal nature, and redemptive role of Jesus Christ, as well as the unity and equality within the Trinity. By affirming these doctrines, the early Church effectively countered the Arian heresy and upheld the integrity of apostolic teaching.

Church’s Defence Against Arianism

The Church’s defence against Arianism was robust and multifaceted, culminating in the formulation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The council, convened by Emperor Constantine, sought to address the theological discord caused by Arian teachings and to restore unity within the Church.

• The Council of Nicaea: Over 300 bishops from across the Christian world gathered at Nicaea to debate and settle the issue. Key figures included Alexander of Alexandria and his deacon Athanasius, who were staunch opponents of Arianism. The council ultimately rejected Arianism and affirmed the full divinity of the Son.
• The Nicene Creed: The outcome of the council was the Nicene Creed, a definitive statement of faith that articulated the orthodox understanding of the Trinity. The creed explicitly declared that the Son is “begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” This declaration was a direct refutation of Arianism, affirming the Son’s co-eternity and co-equality with the Father.
• Ecumenical Councils: Following the Council of Nicaea, the Church continued to convene ecumenical councils to address ongoing theological disputes and reinforce the decisions made at Nicaea. The First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, for example, reaffirmed the Nicene Creed and further elaborated on the doctrine of the Trinity, explicitly condemning Arianism and other heresies.
• Patristic Writings: The Church Fathers played a crucial role in defending orthodox Christianity against Arianism. Through their extensive writings, they provided theological arguments, scriptural interpretations, and pastoral guidance to counter Arian beliefs. Their works not only addressed the immediate controversies but also laid the foundation for the development of Christian theology.
• Excommunication and Condemnation: Arius and his teachings were formally condemned by the council, and Arius was excommunicated. This established a clear demarcation between orthodox Christian belief and heretical Arianism.
• Role of Emperors: Constantine and subsequent emperors played a crucial role in enforcing the decisions of the Council of Nicaea. Constantine’s involvement underscored the importance of theological unity for the stability of the empire. Later, Emperor Theodosius I would further consolidate this stance by making Nicene Christianity the official state religion and actively suppressing Arianism.
• Educational Initiatives: The Church emphasized the importance of educating the clergy and laity in orthodox doctrine. This included the establishment of theological schools, the dissemination of creeds and catechisms, and the promotion of liturgical practices that reinforced the teachings of the Nicene Creed. By ensuring that the faithful were well-informed, the Church sought to prevent the spread of heretical ideas.
• Pastoral Care: The Church provided pastoral care to those affected by the Arian controversy, offering guidance, reconciliation, and support to those who had been led astray by heretical teachings. This pastoral approach helped to heal divisions within the Christian community and restore unity.

The combined efforts of ecumenical councils, patristic writings, imperial support, educational initiatives, and pastoral care ensured that Arianism was effectively countered and that orthodox Christian doctrine was upheld.

Role of Key Church Fathers in Combating Arianism

The Church Fathers played a pivotal role in defending the divinity of Christ and combating Arianism. Their theological writings, debates, and pastoral efforts were instrumental in preserving the integrity of Christian doctrine. Some of the key figures in this struggle include:

1. Athanasius of Alexandria: Known as the “champion of orthodoxy,” Athanasius was one of the most prominent opponents of Arianism. His work “On the Incarnation” provided a robust defence of the divinity of Christ, emphasizing the necessity of the incarnation for human salvation. Athanasius argued that only God could reconcile humanity to Himself, thus affirming the full divinity of Christ. He also participated in the Council of Nicaea and continued to defend its decisions throughout his life, often facing exile for his staunch opposition to Arianism.
2. Basil of Caesarea: Basil was a key figure in the Cappadocian Fathers, a group of theologians who played a significant role in the development of Christian doctrine. In his writings, Basil defended the divinity of the Holy Spirit and articulated a comprehensive theology of the Trinity. His work “On the Holy Spirit” addressed the Arian denial of the Spirit’s divinity, reinforcing the unity and equality of the Trinity.
3. Gregory of Nazianzus: Gregory, another member of the Cappadocian Fathers, was a prominent theologian and orator. His theological orations, particularly the “Five Theological Orations,” provided a detailed refutation of Arianism and a defence of the Nicene Creed. Gregory’s eloquent arguments and deep theological insights helped to clarify the orthodox understanding of the Trinity and Christ’s divinity.
4. Hilary of Poitiers: Often referred to as the “Athanasius of the West,” Hilary was a staunch defender of the Nicene Creed in the Western Church. His work “De Trinitate” (On the Trinity) offered a comprehensive defence of the doctrine of the Trinity, addressing both Arian and semi-Arian positions. Hilary’s efforts were crucial in promoting the Nicene faith in the Western Roman Empire.
5. John Chrysostom: Known for his eloquent preaching and pastoral care, John Chrysostom also contributed to the defence of orthodox doctrine. His homilies and writings addressed the practical implications of theological disputes, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the true faith in everyday Christian life. Chrysostom’s pastoral approach helped to reinforce the teachings of the Nicene Creed among the laity.

These Church Fathers, through their theological insights, pastoral care, and unwavering commitment to the truth, played a critical role in combating Arianism and upholding the divinity of Christ.

Conclusion: The Legacy of the Nicene Creed in Upholding Orthodoxy

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the battle against Arianism was a defining moment in the history of the early Church. The formulation of the Nicene Creed at the Council of Nicaea was a decisive response to the challenges posed by Arianism, affirming the full divinity of Christ and the unity of the Trinity. This creed not only addressed the immediate theological crisis but also laid the foundation for orthodox Christian doctrine for centuries to come.

The Nicene Creed continues to serve as a vital statement of faith, guiding and uniting Christians across denominations. Its clear and concise articulation of the core tenets of Christianity provides a benchmark for orthodoxy, ensuring that the true faith handed down by the apostles is preserved and proclaimed.

The legacy of the Nicene Creed is evident in the continued commitment of the Church to uphold doctrinal purity and combat heretical teachings. The efforts of the early Church Fathers, the decisions of ecumenical councils, and the ongoing work of theologians and pastors all contribute to maintaining the integrity of Christian doctrine.

As we reflect on the Church’s battle against Arianism, we are reminded of the importance of defending the truth of the Gospel and preserving the unity of the faith. The Nicene Creed stands as a testament to the Church’s unwavering commitment to the divinity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity, guiding believers in their faith journey and ensuring that the light of orthodox Christianity continues to shine brightly in the world.

In the next blog, let us try and reflect on how the Roman Emperors in the early years influenced and safeguarded the Orthodox Christian teachings of the Church.

Your brother in Christ

Jobin George

Sources:

1. Primary Sources:
   • “On the Incarnation” by Athanasius.
   • “Four Discourses Against the Arians” by Athanasius.
   • “The Nicene Creed” (325 AD)
   • “On the Holy Spirit” by Basil the Great.
   • “Five Theological Orations” by Gregory of Nazianzus.
   • “De Trinitate” (On the Trinity) by Hilary of Poitiers.
   • Various homilies and sermons by John Chrysostom.
2. Secondary Sources:
   • The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine by Eusebius.
   • The Early Church by Henry Chadwick.
   • The Formation of Christian Doctrine by Malcolm B. Yarnell III.
   • The Rise of Christianity: History, Documents, and Key Questions by Rodney Stark.
   • “The Arian Controversy and the Nicene Creed” by Lewis Ayres, found in The Cambridge History of Christianity, Volume 1: Origins to Constantine.
   • “Athanasius and the Nicene Creed” in the Journal of Early Christian Studies.
   • “The Role of the Cappadocian Fathers in the Trinitarian Controversies” in Church History and Religious Culture.
   • “Arianism” in The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, edited by F.L. Cross and E.A. Livingstone.
   • “Nicene Creed” in the Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, edited by Everett Ferguson.

These sources provide a well-rounded foundation of primary texts from key figures involved in the Arian Controversy and the formation of the Nicene Creed, as well as secondary analyses from reputable historians and theologians.