The church has battled throughout its history with assorted Unorthodoxies and contentions, which in kernel have partially defined the way that the church has taken. A perfect illustration is Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria and his bold base against Arianism. Without which today ‘s Orthodox religion may hold drifted into pagan religion and found itself more of a doctrine than a life salvaging faith The message of redemption was on the line.
The Arians believed that Jesus was non God, but alternatively a created being, where Athanasius knew that for redemption to be realised, Jesus must be both to the full God and to the full human, of the same substance as God, and ever being, non created. The importance of this stance could non be overstated as it would impact all facets of Christian belief and society.
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Athanasius ‘ base cost him in a heartfelt way passing many old ages in expatriate on 5 different occasions, but his finding to stand for what he believed was absolute truth finally triumphed. His base maintained the church as an instrument of redemption, separate from the control of secular power. It is through the illustration of Athanasius ‘ life and dearly-won battle for truth that we learn the importance of placing today ‘s critical issues and standing house in this present hard age.
Introduction
To to the full understand the Arian Controversy and the deepness of engagement for Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria[ 1 ], one merely has to follow his life narrative, as the history of the Arian Controversy is entwined throughout it.[ 2 ]The life of Athanasius is so dominated by the combat of this unorthodoxy, that the rise and autumn of the Arian Controversy was a contemplation of the life and security of this theological giant.
In this essay the Author shall try to analyze the relationship between Athanasius and his passionate battle against the Arian unorthodoxy. In so making one must foremost understand the Controversy, secondly have cognition of the Key participants, and what they so passionately believed and fought for, and eventually to see how acquisitions from these past conflicts can be applied today.
Section1: The Arian Controversy
The Arian Controversy was birthed through a adult male named Arius ( 250[ 3 ]-336AD )[ 4 ]born in Libya.[ 5 ]A really popular and esteemed presbyter of the Baucalis Church,[ 6 ]in the metropolis of Alexandria.[ 7 ]Arius ‘ purpose was to protect the position of a alone God, the merely being to hold ever been and neither has another of all time existed with the same standing nor made of the same affair.[ 8 ]However the contention finds an earlier construct through Origen,[ 9 ]likely the greatest Christian theologist of the early church.[ 10 ]
Origen ‘s apprehension of the Trinity was three distinguishable existences steadfastly united into one, God the Creator of all, the ageless Son Christ and the Holy Spirit. However it was his remarks sing the subordination of both Christ[ 11 ]and the Holy Spirit to the Father, which influenced some of those who followed him to accept subordinationism[ 12 ]and eventually Arianism. This belief along with a figure of other popular unorthodoxies and splits built a foundation and lead into to what is now known as the Arian contention.
Around the twelvemonth 318AD[ 13 ]Arius began to distribute his positions on the relationship between God and Christ,[ 14 ]one being the uncreated Father without a beginning, who bore a Son with a beginning.[ 15 ]The Word ( Logos ) became flesh as the adult male Jesus Christ ( John 1:14 ) , but Arius argued, He was non made of the same nature nor substance as God the Father, “ neither ageless nor almighty, and hence was a lesser being ” .[ 16 ]In Arius ‘ entreaty to the extremely influential Eusebius, the bishop at Nicomedia[ 17 ]he wrote “ The Son has a beginning, but God is without get downing ” .[ 18 ]Arius postulated that Jesus Christ was a created Being, the first and the greatest of all time created,[ 19 ]but still merely a signifier of creative activity, non the Creator.[ 20 ]This is farther seen in a common phrase that would finally go the Arian slogan,
“ There was, when He was non ”
At this clip ( early in the 4th century ) in church history, the theory ‘s and thoughts environing the deity of Christ were still “ up in the air ” so to talk, and the church had no set manner to ‘officialise ‘ philosophy or find what was an acceptable belief.[ 21 ]So it was, when Alexander the bishop of Alexandria clashed over several issues with Arius, the most of import being whether the ‘Word of God ‘ , was co-eternal with God.[ 22 ]
In 320AD Alexander took decisive action, clearly declaring his belief in the Son ‘s, being ‘consubstantial and coeternal with the Father ‘ ,[ 23 ]following which he brought together a council of local bishops, reprobating the positions of Arius[ 24 ]and force outing him in 321AD.[ 25 ]Arius, appealed both to the local public and some outstanding bishops[ 26 ]from the eastern side of the imperium,[ 27 ]who in bend supported him. Arius ‘ return to Alexandria,[ 28 ]resulted in presentations and public violences in the streets,[ 29 ]farther endangering a division of the ‘entire eastern church ‘ ,[ 30 ]doing Constantine ; the first to the full attested Christian Emperor,[ 31 ]to step in.
In 325AD[ 32 ], Constantine called the first Ecumenical ( Universal or worldwide ) Council in Nicea[ 33 ]to settle the affair of the Arian Debate.[ 34 ]This historic meeting non merely had the Emperor Constantine nowadays but it is besides claimed in antediluvian histories that 318 bishops[ 35 ]were besides in attending.[ 36 ]The Arian party was led by Eusebius of Nicomedia[ 37 ]and the resistance was headed by Alexander bishop of Alexandria notably supported by a immature deacon named Athanasius[ 38 ]his eventual replacement and title-holder of Nicene orthodoxy.[ 39 ]
The Arian argument was distilled to the add-on or minus of one shred. Was Christ ‘Homousios ‘ ( i.e. of the same kernel as God ) or the Arian base ‘Homoiousios ‘ ( i.e. of similar kernel with God ) ?[ 40 ]In what has been described as a ‘decision of unmeasurable importance in the history of the church ‘ ,[ 41 ]Arianism was rejected,[ 42 ]in the clearest manner possible,[ 43 ]and after argument, the disapprobation of Arius pronounced by the bishop Alexandria was upheld,[ 44 ]ensuing in Arius being ‘anathematized and banished with two comrades to Illyria ‘ .[ 45 ]Furthermore for lucidity of belief, and complete rejection of Arianism, it was decided that a common credo needed to be developed and nem con agreed upon.[ 46 ]Eusebius of Caesarea presented his ain credo,[ 47 ]which was adopted with some alterations beef uping the rejection of the Arianism unorthodoxies.[ 48 ]This credo known as the ‘Creed of Nicaea ‘[ 49 ]became the footing of the ‘Nicene Creed ‘ still used in today ‘s churches.[ 50 ]
This should hold ended the Arian contention but it shortly reappeared with the emperor telling the church to change by reversal Arius ‘ disapprobation, and readmit him. This introduced a new church issue, the intervention of the province ( emperor ) in church personal businesss. Alternatively of persecution, the church had to cover with direction from a secular authorization. We besides start to see the true grit of Athanasius, and his willingness to stand for truth despite the negative effects to his ain life.
Section 2: Athanasius, “ The Black Dwarf ” Champion of Nicene Orthodoxy.
Athanasius ( 296 – 373 AD ) ,[ 51 ]seemed to be a adult male surrounded by contention. In his clip as archbishop of Alexandria,[ 52 ]he was exiled no less than five times. His controversial standing centred around his usage of Episcopal authorization,[ 53 ]every bit good as the celebrated alleged blackwash of a fellow bishop of a rival group[ 54 ]which was dramatically found to be false.[ 55 ]It was Athanasius ‘ batch, that his lucks would sit the moving ridges of rejection and popularity of the cause ( The Arian contention ) he so diligently fought against throughout his life. His stance against the unorthodoxy that plagued his defense mechanism of Christianity fashioned his life. He is credited in history[ 56 ]as one who “ stood entirely for the truth, against the forces of unorthodoxy ” ,[ 57 ]and is to hold stated his celebrated rebelliousness, “ Athanasius Against the World ” .[ 58 ]
Athanasius who was noted as being so dark and short of stature, was known to his enemies as “ The Black Dwarf ” ,[ 59 ]the adult male seen above all others as being opposed to Arianism and to be feared the most.[ 60 ]He was besides known as the title-holder of Nicene orthodoxy, seen as one of the ‘great male parents of the 4th century ‘ ,[ 61 ]and is besides credited as one of the most renown theologists of the early church,[ 62 ]amongst other greats such as Clement and Origen.[ 63 ]
Three cardinal issues of concern for Athanasius were within the ‘religious, societal, and political ‘ kingdoms. His gravest concern was the Arian nucleus statement sing the full divinity of Jesus Christ and the divinity of the Trinity. Athanasius ‘ stance on the three, was profoundly rooted upon his beliefs on creative activity and redemption, efficaciously concentrating argument on a scriptural and theological footing maneuvering it off from philosophical guess.[ 64 ]In the Arian argument, Athanasius could clearly see that Christianity was at the threshold of going a signifier of pagan religion.[ 65 ]If Jesus was non declared ‘Homousios ‘ , so Christianity would hold worshiped two Supreme beings, and Jesus would non hold been a worthy forfeit for our wickednesss.[ 66 ]Athanasius saw Salvation was on the line,[ 67 ]Jesus needed to be both to the full human to expiate for the wickedness of adult male, and to the full divine, as none other could hold the power to salvage humanity. This duel nature of Christ was paramount, as without it the Salvation of humanity would be impossible.[ 68 ]
The 2nd major issue was in the kingdom of political relations. At this clip Christianity had merely emerged from a period of major persecution by the secular powers[ 69 ]to a clip in which it was the dominant faith. However, Christianity had in world moved from secular persecution to secular control by the Emperor[ 70 ]of the twenty-four hours.[ 71 ]The Arian contention was a great illustration of a displacement in focal point with Athanasius now happening himself opposing the Emperor over spiritual issues. This resulted in five periods of expatriate and reinstatement,[ 72 ]based on either a alteration in emperor or the cliche cupboard to the emperor at the clip.[ 73 ]Subsequently the church found its function degraded off from its existent function of indicating world to redemption in Christ, instead going a tool of the emperor used to accomplish his ain terminals. Consequently, church issues and philosophies were non being decided by the spiritual elect debating each issue, alternatively cardinal determinations ( e.g. Arian contention ) were made by secular swayers under request.[ 74 ]Furthermore, church determinations were capable to being over ruled by the province to accommodate the caprices of the emperor.[ 75 ]Throughout this period Athanasius established and fought for the rule of church separation from the province, retaining the church ‘s focal point and mission on the good intelligence of Christ.
The 3rd issue faced by Athanasius was in the societal domain This arose through the emperor Constantine ‘s legitimate concerns with the volatility of the Arian difference, its magnitude and potency to rupture apart the full eastern church.[ 76 ]Constantine recognised the importance and function of a united church keeping together the cloth of a disintegrating Roman society. This was his hope and agencies of guaranting Rome ‘s endurance, but a divided and embittered church would seal the destiny of weary imperium.[ 77 ]So it was that Constantine called together the first worldwide assembly of Christian bishops to cover with these issues amongst other things.[ 78 ]His stance sing the societal impact of a divided church was clear as he addressed the bishops before the council saying “ Division in the church was worse than war ” .[ 79 ]
Athanasius refused to excuse force to accomplish his ends. This was shown during a confrontation with rival bishop Gregory which escalated into force. Athanasius ‘ response was to take himself from the metropolis in order to avoid farther bloodshed.[ 80 ]Athanasius ‘ pastoral bosom recognised the danger Arianism would convey to society, and that those who opposed Arianism would one time once more face persecution,[ 81 ]( merely this clip it would come from within ) . Athanasius besides realised that Christianity ‘s end point under Arianism was pagan religion taking to the death of both societal and moral criterions as the Christian religion decayed to the deepness of other heathen faiths.[ 82 ]
Section 3: Using these lessons in today ‘s society
The issues which arose in Athanasius ‘ twenty-four hours are seen once more today, disputing Christians across all states to changing grades. The three chief countries of struggle faced by Athanasius and Christians today, are as follows.
The first issue Christians face today is that of spiritual unorthodoxy. The many denominations now found under the Protestant streamer demonstrates the chip of the church into multiple denominations, farther giving rise to cults hardly related to the original Christian message.[ 83 ]Even the Arian contention itself has re-surfaced in a modified signifier with the outgrowth of the Jehovah Witnesses.[ 84 ]One learns from Athanasius that even with unsurmountable odds, person must stand in the spread for truth, despite the cost it may hold on your really being. Athanasius showed that one must prevail until the terminal, to non merely guarantee truth is winning, but that integrity of the organic structure of Christ is achieved. Looking at Athanasius ‘ base, it is observed that he ne’er gave up on the church organic structure, despite overpowering odds opposing him. Athanasius worked within the bing church construction, defying the enticement to get down his ain spiritual theological group. This resulted in the endurance of the ancient church, giving Christians of this present twenty-four hours a functional theological base to construct upon.
Today ‘s 2nd issue encompasses the relationship between church and province. This conflict is being played out across the universe. Christians in many western states have formed specifically Christian political parties,[ 85 ]based upon the Christian stance and influencing authorities policy where possible.[ 86 ]Globally we see states like Communist China and the old Russia where the authorities took an active function in seeking to discredit and extinguish faith[ 87 ]through persecution and unfair Torahs. Unable to get the better of the church of Christ some adopted a policy of offering spiritual “ freedom ” with rough limitations under the tight control of the authorities.[ 88 ]We learn through Athanasius tests, the dangers of blending political relations and faith, with the corruptness and abuse of the church which can come from such a brotherhood. Today we face the seeds of secular intercession in Christian belief and activity with Australia ‘s recent favoritism and smear Torahs holding the possible to hush the church.
The concluding lesson trades with the society or community in which Christians live. Constantine saw that the integrity of the Christians could keep the cloth of the Roman Empire together, and Christians may exercise a similar influence today. The gradual decay of present society towards a prostration in its societal moral character is apparent with the increasing happening of debatable behaviors ( in societal footings ) such as abortion, kid and spousal maltreatment, and mercy killing ( in some western states ) . From a Christian stance, moral indexs such as divorce, self-destruction and job gestations are besides increasing in frequence. Some indexs show a diminishing difference between secular society and the Christian community as Christian beliefs are influenced and eroded. The past reveals that to debar societal catastrophe, Christians need to be unified, offering stable criterions and clear beliefs tempered with peace, hope and love to the communities and states in which they live: Offer Jesus as the existent option to modern pagan religion. Athanasius demonstrates that the church must acquire back to its roots and be a vas of good intelligence, offering Redemption to mankind.
Decision
The church would make good to look back on the life of Athanasius and learn from the lessons that this great adult male of God Teachs. Although the plants of Athanasius hold an of import topographic point in the history of Christianity, it is more the Life and stance of Athanasius which speaks volumes to Christians throughout the ages. It was Athanasius ‘ tireless and unafraid base against the Arianism which earned him the rubric “ Champion of Nicene orthodoxy ” . Against apparently unsurmountable odds, Athanasius opposed dissident alteration, combating both the hierarchy of church and province.
The doggedness and vision of one adult male, declining to abjure his theological stance on Christ ‘s divinity and the function of the church, established and impacted the church ‘s way to this twenty-four hours. In most Western states the Protestant church is independent of the province ‘s influence[ 89 ]with a primary focal point stayed true around the message of Christ conveying redemption through his divinity and subsequent efficaciousness of his substitutionary forfeit.
