“But increasing freedom transformed our character to arrogance and sloth; we began envying and abusing each other, cutting our own throats, as occasion offered, with weapons of sharp-edged words; rulers hurled themselves at rulers and laymen waged party fights against laymen, and unspeakable hypocrisy and dissimulation were carried to the limit of wickedness. At last, while the gatherings were still crowded, divine judgement, with its wonted mercy, gently and gradually began to order things its own way, and with the Christians in the army the persecution began. But alas! realizing nothing, we made not the slightest effort to render the Deity kindly and propitious; and as if we had been a lot of atheists, we imagined that our doings went unnoticed and unregarded, and went from wickedness to wickedness. Those of us who were supposed to be pastors cast off the restraining influence of the fear of God and quarrelled heatedly with each other, engaged soly in swelling the disputes, threats, envy, and mutual hostility and hate, frantically demanding the despotic power they coveted.” – History of the Church, 8.1 (HT to Looney in a previous comment)
Jan 25 2010
Eusebius on the Results of Christian Political Freedom
Nov 12 2009
4th Century Christianity: Damasus and Theodosius, 381
As we close the 4th Century, at least in this aspect (we must remember that Augustine did his fair share of doctrinal development regarding the Trinity) we find that in the end, a young Emperor used the force of Rome to settle the councils and their questions.
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Nov 12 2009
4th Century Christianity: Marcellus’ Fight
Continuing our look at the 4th Century and doctrinal development.
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Nov 11 2009
4th Century Christianity: Arian Councils and a Pagan Emperor
The best part of the 4th Century of Christianity was the intervening years between 325 and 381. Here, Roman almost slipped back into Paganism at the most and a pluralistic society as the least:
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Nov 10 2009
4th Century Christianity: The Council of Nicaea
This was part of a presentation given on the development of the Doctrine of the Trinity earlier this year. I focuses on the history of it. Here is the portion of the First Ecumenical Council. Personally, St. Nicolas is still a hero of mine.
The 4th Century of Christianity is by far the most exiting. With the end of Roman persecutions, when the Empire, and thus the world, stopped turning on the Christians, they started to do it to themselves. First, of course, was the Council of Nicaea which was brought about by Arius’s disputation that Christ was a creature, begotten of God, higher in rank than all others, but in the end, a mere creature. The Emperor stepped in. At the First Ecumenical Council, a creed was produced which was ambivalent enough for both sides to agree to it (except Arius and two of his generals, one of which would later baptize Constantine on his death bed). While many assume that the intervening years between that council and the council of 381 were quiet, in the end, it simply wasn’t. It saw the great Athanasius accused of murder, exiled, and eventually restore back to his bishopric. It also saw the parting of ways begin which would eventually split Christendom into the East and West. (Even today, the West focuses on the unity of the Godhead while the East focuses on the triunity.)
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Nov 09 2009
4th Century Christianity: The Trinity in Pictures
As we explore the development of the Doctrine of the Trinity in the 4th Century, I thought that I might show the various takes on it by artists across the spectrum.
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Aug 27 2009
Fragments of a letter from Alexander of Alexandria to Sylvester of Rome
We are continuing our look at the Arian documents of the Fourth Century. For those of just joining us, this is an exercise for me, although I hope others feel free to join in.
This Sylvester was the Bishop of Rome during Nicea. He didn’t attend, but did send legates. It is rightly said that the Arian controversy concerned the East, rather, played out in the East, but Rome kept an eye on it, and eventually would be the See which offered the compromise which because standarized in 381.
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Aug 26 2009
Letter of Alexander of Alexandria Sent to Melitius and All Bishops
As the debate intensified across the Empire, Alexander began to appeal to more for help in stemming the tide of Arianism.
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Aug 25 2009
Letter from Alexander of Alexandria to his Clergy
The Fourth Century is the most interesting time in the development of Christian doctrines. For me, we can find heroes of the Faith, Athanasius, Marcellus, Julius, and evil scoundrels – Arius, the various Eusebius’, the Roman Emperors. Here is a short letter from the great Bishop of the city of Alexander to his clergy. By this time, the local church had evolved from the house church in Acts, to actual church buildings, to a central building with satellites throughout the city or area. What had evolved from a few in leadership, with one surrounded by a council gave away to the council having their own independent parishes.
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Jul 28 2009
Letter of Alexander of Alexandria to all Bishops
For all of those just joining us, I am, for myself, reading through the Arian documents of the 4th century – the most wonderful century in Church history. If you thought that the Reformation was political…
According to several scholars, it is possible that Athanasius had a strong hand in writing this. Remember, Athanasius succeeded Alexander as Bishop of Alexandria, facing expulsion and exile many times because he maintained the doctrine presented here. I am reminded that during this time, the See of Alexandria was powerful, competing only with Rome (the canons at Nicaea gave special recognition to both Rome and Alexandria).
This letter is clear on the divinity of the Word from the very beginning.
Alexander, to our beloved and most honored fellow-ministers of the Catholic Church everywhere. Greetings in the Lord!
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