1. Church History and Historical Theology
Week 3
Third and Fourth Centuries

2. Church in Society and Politics
Opponents of Christianity : 1. Celsus (c.180) 2. Porphyry (c.280) – Plotinus’ Neoplatonism 3. Emperor Decius (250) – a. systematic persecution for Christians not sacrificing to the gods – this allowed Gothic invasions – libellus required b. martyred the bishops of Rome, Jerusalem, and Antioch

3. Church in Society and Politics
Opponents of Christianity : 4. Emperor Diocletian (303) a. false oracles were caused by Christians b. edicts – 1.) destroy all churches 2.) confiscate all Bibles and liturgies and sacred vessels 3.) worship meetings banned 4.) arrest all clergy 5.) sacrifice to the gods or die

4. Emperor Constantine AD 312
Political background – map Gonzalez, p.103
p.114
2. Personal background – pro-Christian policies
synergistic with pagan worship
Political accomplishments – militarily with
Maxentius at Rome, Licinius at Milan
“Christian” accomplishments –Edict of Milan
AD 313

5. Arius the Presbyter: AD 325-336
Bishop Alexander of Alexandria Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria Arius’ political war and maneuvering Jesus the Son was a created inferior god (to preserve the Platonic or Jewish single God?)

6. Arian Controversy Persons: Arius of Alexandria – only a presbyter
Eusebius of Nicomedia – Arius’ voice
Eusebius of Caesarea – compromising scholar
Alexander of Alexandria – bishop defender
Athanasius of Alexandria – deacon defender
“the black dwarf” but a theological giant
Constantine – added homoousios
Cappadocian Fathers – Basil of Caeserea,
Gregory Nazianzum, Gregory Nyssan

7. Nicene Council AD 325
1. Unique in all of history – attendees/purpose 2. Political versus religious motivations 3. Decisions of the council 4. Problems with the council

8. Nicene Council AD 325 Issues: Persecution – readmitting the lapsed
Offices of the clergy – bishops and presbyters
Hierarchy of holy sees – “pecking order”
Arian Controversy – the Son as a created being

9. Nicene Council AD 325 Parties: Arians – Son less than god the Father
Orthodox – Son equal to the Father
3. Patripassians – later condemned
4. Western bishops – Tertullian’s formula alone
5. Majority – peace after persecution
compromise is possible

10. Nicene Creed AD 325
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of the Father, that is, from the substance of the Father, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance [homoousias] with the Father, through whom all things were made, both in heavens and on the earth, who for us humans and for our salvation descended and became incarnate, becoming human, suffered and rose again on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and will come to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Spirit. But those who say that there was time when He was not, and that before being begotten He was not, or that He came from that which is not, or that the Son of God is of a different substance [hypostasis] or essence [ousia], or that He is created, or mutable, these the catholic church anathematizes.

11. Nicene Creed AD 325
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of the Father, that is, from the substance of the Father, God of God, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance [homoousias] with the Father, through whom all things were made, both in heavens and on the earth, who for us humans and for our salvation descended and became incarnate, becoming human, suffered and rose again on the third day, ascended to the heavens, and will come to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Spirit. But those who say that there was time when He was not, and that before being begotten He was not, or that He came from that which is not, or that the Son of God is of a different substance [hypostasis] or essence [ousia], or that He is created, or mutable, these the catholic church anathematizes.

12. Arian Controversy AD
Nicene Council to Constantine’s death
a. Eusebius of Nicomedia manipulates Constantine
b. Athanasius’ repeated exiles/returns
Constantius II
a. Antioch Council 341 with Constantius – condemned Marcellus
b. Athanasius returns to Alexandria 346 celebration
c. Constantius II Arian proponent – in 353, threatened bishops who would not condemn Athanasius
d. Athanasius flees to desert for 5 years
e. Blasphemy of Sirmium – rejected Nicene Creed by “state decree”
3. Julian to Theodosius I
a. Julian tries to silence Athanasius
b. Jovian supports then Valens opposes Athanasius (d. 373)
c. Arianism rejected 381 2nd Ecumenical Council Constantinople
97 Greek bishops met

13. Athanasius AD 328-373 The “black dwarf” was a theological giant
Insight to see that Arianism destroyed the Gospel
Rejected speculation, adhered to Scripture
Christ’s Incarnation as fully God was paramount
Godly life and respect of commoners/monks
Endured relentless persecution to ultimately win
(5 exiles over 17 years by 4 emperors – Constantine, Constantius II, Julian, Valens)
“Athanasius contra mundum”
Defended Trinitarianism and 26 NT book canon
Perhaps the greatest hero of Christianity
Letters to Serapion about the Holy Spirit as God

14. Factors in the Arian Controversy
Politics – autonomy of sees
Rome as final apostolic authority v. Eastern
2. Geography – East versus West
Alexandria/Rome v. Constantinople/Antioch
3. Language – Greek v. Latin
hypostases v. substantiae (Tertullian one substance)
Theology – Neoplatonic v. Christian
single god of Sabellianism/Monarchianism v. Trinity
homoousias (same) v. homoiousias (like)
Macedonians/Pneumatomachi v. Trinitarian
Apollinarius of Laodicea 360s – Logos replaced the human mind
Hypostasis – that which exists in its own right
Dynamic Monarchiansim = Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians
Modal Monarchianism = Oneness Pentecostals (United Pentecostal and United Apostolic Churches)
Apoliinarius – extreme Anti-Arian position

15. The Great Cappadocians 350-390
Eastern Orthodoxy highly reveres these men Basil “the Great” of Caeserea – highly educated Gregory “the Theologian” of Nyssa - contemplation Macrina – “The Teacher” sister of Basil/Gregory Gregory of Nazianzus – friend of Basil Eastern monasticism learned from Egypt

16. Ambrose of Milan Bishop of Milan AD 373 – 397
Classically trained statesman
Best of Christian values and leadership
Sold the Church’s gold to help the poor
Trained in Neoplatonism
Opposed Emperors with truth
Opposed Empress Justina’s (Arian) troops
Risked his life refusing communion to Emperor Theodosius for murdering 7000 in Thessalonica