Podcasts about Arius

The word “heretic” gets bandied about online so much these days that it has become almost meaningless, but it remains an important theological concept with serious implications for the life of the church.   In this unexpectedly sobering Trivia Challenge, Rachel quizzes Erin and Sarah on the meanings and history of major heresies in the church, from Gnosticism to modernism and beyond.  What even is “heresy,” anyway? Where is heresy mentioned in the Bible? How were the ecumenical creeds specifically formulated to combat heresy? What are good and bad ways to respond to heresy in the church? And is heresy still something we actually struggle with today?   Resources referenced in this episode include the following:   Journey through Church History: Student Book - Concordia Publishing House (highly recommended for families and educators!)  Journey through Church History: Leader Guide - Concordia Publishing House  Lutheran Witness: May 2025 – The Lutheran Witness: Councils and Conventions  Lutheran Witness: August 2023 – The Lutheran Witness: Heresies Ancient and Modern  Other sources mentioned include:  Jakob Wendesten (@jakobwendesten) | TikTok  HETERODOX Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster  DOXOLOGY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster  36 Bible verses about Heresies  Arianism | Definition, History, Christology, & Controversy | Britannica  Bishop Nicholas Loses His Cool ::: St. Nicholas Center  Did St. Nicholas punch Arius at the Council of Nicaea?  Ecumenical council - Wikipedia  Albigensian Crusade - Wikipedia  Gnosticism | Definition, Texts, Movements, & Influence | Britannica  Connect with the Lutheran Ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies' Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and on Instagram @lutheranladieslounge. Follow Sarah (@hymnnerd), Rachel (@rachbomberger), and Erin (@erinaltered) on Instagram! Sign up for the Lutheran Ladies' Lounge monthly e-newsletter here, and email the Ladies at lutheranladies@kfuo.org.

Fr Joseph continues his series on the Council of Nicaea, looking at the figure of Athanasius and how the truth, championed by the Church and her saints, never loses its relevance. Fr Joseph Hamilton is the Rector of the Domus Australia in Rome, and a priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney Australia. Prior to his appointment at Domus, he served as private secretary to George Cardinal Pell, until the Cardinal's untimely death. Fr Joseph completed his doctoral studies in Patristics at Christ Church, University of Oxford, and his license at the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum” in Rome. Prior to entering seminary he worked as an investment banker. Having left the economy of Mammon for that of Salvation, he studied at the Pontifical North American College. A native of Ireland, he is a keen but mediocre (his words) surfer, and enjoys reading and cooking.

One of the greatest theologians and most influential thinkers of the Church was Origen of Alexandria. In this episode of Patristic Pillars Fr Joseph Hamilton begins looking at the Council of Nicaea and how a false reading of that great thinker may have led to some of the errors of Arius and his followers.Fr Joseph Hamilton is the Rector of the Domus Australia in Rome, and a priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney Australia. Prior to his appointment at Domus, he served as private secretary to George Cardinal Pell, until the Cardinal's untimely death. Fr Joseph completed his doctoral studies in Patristics at Christ Church, University of Oxford, and his license at the Patristic Institute “Augustinianum” in Rome. Prior to entering seminary he worked as an investment banker. Having left the economy of Mammon for that of Salvation, he studied at the Pontifical North American College. A native of Ireland, he is a keen but mediocre (his words) surfer, and enjoys reading and cooking.

Was Jesus a divine agent who was created? Arius and fellow subordinationists say, “yes.” Michael Horton, Bob Hiller, Walter Strickland, and Justin Holcomb break down why “of one substance with the Father” is essential for the gospel—and how some modern evangelical views seem to be on a slippery slope in critiquing the Nicene view. GET YOUR COPY OF "THE QUESTION OF CANON" Michael Kruger challenges the modern assumption that the Bible was chosen arbitrarily. With clarity and care, he explores the historical, theological, and cultural evidence that the canon wasn't imposed, but emerged within the early Christian community. https://solamedia.org/offers/questionofcanon/ FOLLOW US YouTube | Instagram | X/Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter WHO WE ARE Sola is home to White Horse Inn, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, and Theo Global. Our mission is to serve today's global church by producing resources for reformation grounded in the historic Christian faith. Our vision is to see reformation in hearts, homes, and churches around the world. Learn more: https://solamedia.org/

The Truth Matters This homily explores why truth is essential—in logic, relationships, and faith. It examines the unique role of religion, the danger of distorting truth (like Arius did), and the deep meaning of Christ's incarnation, resurrection, and ascension. Standing on the Rock of Christ, we're called to live in love and invite others to the truth God gives as a gift.  Enjoy the show!

This video discusses the Council of Nicaea in 325AD and seeks to explore what it meant to those who were there. I mention Constantine the Great, Constantius II, Alexander of Alexandria, Athanasius of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Eusebius of Caesarea, Eusebius of Nicomedia, Marcellus of Ancyra, Eustathius of Antioch, Michael Servetus, Arius, Kegan Chandler, RPC Hanson, Richard Rubenstein, Rowan Williams, Timothy Barnes, and more. Richard Rubenstein - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6c0lEZAh-E&t=3800sChurch Fathers Series - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYTaO3sATSg&list=PLfbTO0X5BDHlZN12ONC_CYVBWPBPyZ_Op

2025晨鐘課－每天，都是新的起點 以歷史智慧滋養生活，點亮2025每一天！ 借鑑過去，活在當下，展望未來！ 粵語廣播網站 (時兆出版社授權錄製) https://soundcloud.com/mediahk Podcast@靈修廣播站 5月20日 因為上帝本性一切的豐盛都有形有體地居住在基督裡面。 歌羅西書 2：9   許多神學的爭論和誤解，都是因人類總是過分強調事物的某一面而忽略了另一面而引起的。古代教會對於基督的爭論就是如此。許多人都不明白，基督怎麼可能既是上帝又是人呢？祂的神性佔了多少，而人性的部分又有多少？ 阿利烏（Arius，256–336）是埃及亞歷山大的一位長老，他認為基督雖然超越了人類，但也不能稱之為神，這一觀點使人們對基督的認識更加模糊。阿利烏認為，在遙遠的永恆之中，是上帝創造了聖子，而聖子又創造了世間萬物。西元325年5月20日召開的尼西亞大公會議，最困難的問題就是如何處理「阿利烏異端」。在會議進行了一個月後，大會頒佈了原本的《尼西亞信經》，肯定了耶穌基督是「受生，而非被造，與父同質」，並且對那些認為「有一段時間還沒有聖子」 的人除籍。 按照改革宗傳統，1647年的《西敏信條》表示，「上帝是獨一的上帝，但祂裡面有三個位格，同屬一個本質，權能相同，同樣永恆，這三個位格就是：父、子、聖靈上帝。父既不屬於、也不受生於、更不出於任何其他來源；子在永恆裡為父所生；聖靈在永恆裡由父和子而出。」 但我們能說我們的主耶穌基督是「在永恆裡為父所生」的嗎？ 在〈約翰福音〉第3章16節中，希臘原文「monogenēs」被錯誤地翻譯為「獨生子」，而其真正的含義其實是「唯一」或「獨一無二的」。由於祂本身就有生命且生命一直在祂裡頭，所以基督可以自稱為生命的源頭（約 14：6）。在〈以賽亞書〉第9章6節中，祂被稱為「全能的上帝」和「永在的父」。保羅說，「因為上帝本性一切的豐盛都有形有體的居住在基督裡面。」（西2：9）懷愛倫也證實，「在基督裡有生命，這生命是他自己本來就有的，不是借的，也不是衍生出來的。」 我們的救主是多麼奇妙而偉大啊！作為永恆而崇高的神，祂能重新掌管 「天上地下所有的權柄」，並且應許我們，「我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。」（太28：18，20）祂的照顧和引導是我們可以完全信任的。

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 271The Saint of the day is Saint AthanasiusSaint Athanasius' Story Athanasius led a tumultuous but dedicated life of service to the Church. He was the great champion of the faith against the widespread heresy of Arianism, the teaching by Arius that Jesus was not truly divine. The vigor of his writings earned him the title of doctor of the Church. Born of a Christian family in Alexandria, Egypt, and given a classical education, Athanasius became secretary to Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, entered the priesthood and was eventually named bishop himself. His predecessor, Alexander, had been an outspoken critic of a new movement growing in the East—Arianism. When Athanasius assumed his role as bishop of Alexandria, he continued the fight against Arianism. At first, it seemed that the battle would be easily won and that Arianism would be condemned. Such, however, did not prove to be the case. The Council of Tyre was called and for several reasons that are still unclear, the Emperor Constantine exiled Athanasius to northern Gaul. This was to be the first in a series of travels and exiles reminiscent of the life of Saint Paul. After Constantine died, his son restored Athanasius as bishop. This lasted only a year, however, for he was deposed once again by a coalition of Arian bishops. Athanasius took his case to Rome, and Pope Julius I called a synod to review the case and other related matters. Five times Athanasius was exiled for his defense of the doctrine of Christ's divinity. During one period of his life, he enjoyed 10 years of relative peace—reading, writing, and promoting the Christian life along the lines of the monastic ideal to which he was greatly devoted. His dogmatic and historical writings are almost all polemic, directed against every aspect of Arianism. Among his ascetical writings, his Life of St. Anthony achieved astonishing popularity and contributed greatly to the establishment of monastic life throughout the Western Christian world. Reflection Athanasius suffered many trials while he was bishop of Alexandria. He was given the grace to remain strong against what probably seemed at times to be insurmountable opposition. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. He defended the true faith for his flock, regardless of the cost to himself. In today's world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

 23 And when they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another. Amen I say to you, you shall not finish all the cities of Israel, till the Son of man come.Cum autem persequentur vos in civitate ista, fugite in aliam. Amen dico vobis, non consummabitis civitates Israel, donec veniat Filius hominis. 24 The disciple is not above the master, nor the servant above his lord.Non est discipulus super magistrum, nec servus super dominum suum : 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the goodman of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household?sufficit discipulo ut sit sicut magister ejus, et servo, sicut dominus ejus. Si patremfamilias Beelzebub vocaverunt, quanto magis domesticos ejus? 26 Therefore fear them not. For nothing is covered that shall not be revealed: nor hid, that shall not be known.Ne ergo timueritis eos. Nihil enim est opertum, quod non revelabitur : et occultum, quod non scietur. 27 That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light: and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops.Quod dico vobis in tenebris, dicite in lumine : et quod in aure auditis, praedicate super tecta. 28 And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell.Et nolite timere eos qui occidunt corpus, animam autem non possunt occidere : sed potius timete eum, qui potest et animam et corpus perdere in gehennam.Bishop of Alexandria, St Athanasius opposed Arius with admirable zeal. He has left us several works in defense of the divinity of Christ. He suffered frequent persecution. He died A.D. 373.

Rabbi Tovia Singer is an Orthodox Rabbi living in Jerusalem. He is the founder and director of Outreach Judaism. William Lane Craig, Ignatius of Antioch, Tertullian, Origen of Alexandria, Constantine the Great, John Calvin, Michael Servetus, Martin Luther, Philo of Alexandria, Maimonides, Michael Heiser, Tim Mackie (  @bibleproject  ), Lee Strobel, John Nelson Darby, Paul of Samosata, Athanasius of Alexandria, Arius of Alexandria, William Hasker, Beau Branson, Dale Tuggy (  @khanpadawan  ) , Gavin Ortlund (  @TruthUnites  ), Albert Einstein, and more. Rabbi Tovia Singer's Youtube Channel :  @ToviaSinger1 

This is my message to the Jews. It follows up on my video about Christian/Muslim relations. I mention Elon Musk, Philo of Alexandria, Caligula, Suetonius, Claudius, Prescilla, Aquila, Gallio, Sosthenes, Jusitn Martyr, Trypho, Simon Bar Kokhba, Polycarp, Constantine, Athanasius of Alexandria, Caiaphas, Paul of Samosata, Photinus of Galatia, Arius, Constantius II, Gregory of Nyssa, Hank Kruse, Theodosius the Great, Ambrose of Milan, Julian the Apostate, Aphrahat the Persian Sage, Nestorius of Constantinople, Justinian the Great, John Calvin, Michael Servetus, Marian Hillar, Lelio and Fausto Sozzini, Malcolm Collins, John Locke, Andrzej Wiszowaty, Samuel Przypkowski, Isaac Newton, John Milton, Benedict Spinoza, Pierre Bayle, Voltaire, David Hume, Joseph Priestly, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, Hannah Adams, Mordecai Noah, The Apostle Paul, and more.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ENCOUNTERED TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AUDIO IN THE RECORDING OF THIS EPISODE. AS A RESULT, IT DOES SOUND GLITCHY. WE APOLOGIZE. What is unique and distinctive about the Christian identity, perception of reality, and our experience of what it is to be a human being? How do we experience human sexuality and understand how it is shaped by the grace of God or how it can be distorted by sin or demonic provocation?  If we are honest, we would have to say that it is the popular culture, modern psychology, and politics that shape our understanding of these things rather than an encounter with the living God. It is Christ who reveals to us what it is to be a human being made in the image and  likeness of God. Beyond this, it is the Grace that comes to us through baptism, the Eucharist, and the gift of the Holy Spirit that shapes are perception of reality most fully. The ascetic life, driven by our desire for God, seeks to remove the impediments to our understanding what it is to be a human being and “fully alive.” We are not simply seeking psychological peace of mind or self understanding. Rather, we are seeking to understand the mystery of our existence and our dignity and destiny in Christ.  These realities should sharpen and intensify our sensibilities and how we engage in our day-to-day life and relationships. The writings and actions of the desert fathers may seem distorted, masochistic or misogynistic.  Yet, upon deeper reflection we discover they had a fuller experience and understanding of life. One Saint said: “HE who ceases to pray is no longer a human being.” In other words, when we turn away from God, we lose sight of ourselves and the truth. Our focus and our vision is turned downward, like animals, only seeing what is before us and what can be consumed or used to satisfy our own desires. The life and the writings of the fathers cry out to us saying: “See your dignity, O man. See your glory in Christ your Redeemer and embrace your true identity in Him.” --- Text of chat during the group: 00:11:32 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 220, paragraph starting "After these words...." 00:27:32 Sr. Charista Maria: So true Fr. Thank you for your vulnerable sharing regarding social media even if it's ministry; how important it is to be ever vigilant and conscienceous 00:36:27 Anthony: There are some special considerations regarding Arsenius. He fled imperial Rome to enter the Desert. And, he might have in mind the role women played in puffing up Arius. 00:44:39 Julie: This can be both ways. 00:44:55 Julie: For a women 00:49:09 Maureen Cunningham: Was this because it  is the early church. And it would have never lasted all these years. 00:49:18 Maureen Cunningham: Had they compromised 00:52:46 Kate : I don't know if this is the proper use of the word “gluttony”, but curiosity seems to lead to a certain kind of gluttony for information. 00:53:22 Nypaver Clan: Reacted to "I don't know if this..." with

In today's episode, Dr. John begins a series on the Nicene Creed in honor of its 1,700th anniversary. While some may view creeds with skepticism, he explains their role in safeguarding biblical truth against false teaching. Looking at John 1:3, he unpacks why early Christian leaders gathered to affirm the deity of Christ, countering the heresy of Arius, who denied Jesus' eternal existence. Dr. John reminds us that while Scripture alone is our ultimate authority, statements of faith help us articulate and defend the core truths of Christianity.Understanding the Nicene Creed: For 1,700 years, the Nicene Creed has helped Christians hold onto the core truths of their faith. In this series, Dr. John explores its biblical foundation and why it still matters today. From the deity of Christ to the unity of the Church, he shows how this statement of faith helps guard against false teaching and keeps us rooted in truth. While the Bible is our ultimate authority, creeds like this help us clearly express what we believe—and why it's important.

In AD 324 the controversy over Arianism was dividing Emperor Constantine's recently-unified Roman Empire. Constantine had converted a mere decade ago and achieved spectacular success on the battlefield over his rival Licinius , but was dismayed to return and find that the religion and church he had come to love to was torn apart with squabbling, division, and dissensions. So what happened? Did the church realize their need for clarity on the divinity of the Son and come together at Nicea because they knew they had to hammer out these doctrines? Did Alexander and Arius sit down willingly for the good of the church? Nope. Instead of the church leading the way, Emperor Constantine issued an imperial summons to the warring bishops of the East and West, demanding they convene at Nicea. The result of that month long council was the Nicene creed, a creed that has stood the test of time and is the foundational confession of practically all Christian traditions 1700 years later. This happened again under Emperor Theodosius I & II at Constantinople and Ephesus, under Marcian at Chalcedon, under Justinian again at Constantinople, and on and on. This pattern plays out again and again and again. The church wars, divides, errs, and even apostatizes, and the means of correction that God uses is often the State. This causes us Americans to bristle and protest but it is undeniable that the bulk of church reform has been initiated, carried out, and completed at the hand of the sovereign. Perhaps for all of our spirituality and airtight systematic theology we have forgotten the ordinary, practical means that God uses to save, purify, and protect his church. This episode is brought to you by our premier sponsors, Armored Republic and Reece Fund, as well as our Patreon members and donors. You can join our Patreon at patreon.com/rightresponseministries or you can donate at rightresponseministries.com/donate.Today we are going to defend the forgotten and controversial historical pattern that God uses the State to correct his often erring bride. Tune in now.*MINISTRY SPONSORS:*ENTER TO WIN 2 FREE TICKETS TO OUR APRIL 2025 CONFERENCE BY Signing Up For Private Family Bankings Email List1. Email Banking@privatefamilybanking.com2. Use Subject Line: April Ticket Giveaway3. Provide Your Full Name & Contact Phone Number4. Private Family Banking will be in touch for the winner of the tickets.*Private Family Banking*How to Connect with Private Family Banking:1. FREE 20-MINUTE COURSE HERE: ⁠https://www.canva.com/design/DAF2TQVcA10/WrG1FmoJYp9o9oUcAwKUdA/view⁠2. Send an email inquiry to ⁠chuck@privatefamilybanking.com⁠3. Receive a FREE e-book entitled "How to Build Multi-Generational Wealth Outside of Wall Street and Avoid the Coming Banking Meltdown", by going to ⁠https://www.protectyourmoneynow.net⁠4. Set up a FREE Private Family Banking Discovery call using this ⁠link: https://calendly.com/familybankingnow/30min⁠5. For a Multi-Generational Wealth Planning Guide Book for only $4.99, use this link for my affiliate relationship with "Seven Generations Legacy": ⁠https://themoneyadvantage.idevaffiliate.com/13.html⁠*Reece Fund: Christian Capital - Boldly Deployed⁠https://www.reecefund.com/*Dominion: Wealth Strategists* is a full-service financial planning and wealth management firm dedicated to putting more money in the hands of the church. With an education focused approach, they will help you take dominion over your finances.https://reformed.money/

This 80s classic solidified Eddie Murphy as a superstar. Beverly Hills Cop was the top-grossing film of 1984 and earned an Oscar nomination for its screenplay. What became one of AFI's Top 100 comedies almost turned into a very different film with Sylvester Stallone, more action, and less humor. Directed by Martin Brest, the film introduced Axel Foley, a street-smart Detroit cop who investigates a murder in Beverly Hills. With its perfect mix of humor, action, and Murphy's charm, the film reshaped the action-comedy genre. Join Tim Williams and returning guest co-host, Chris McMichen, as they dive into Beverly Hills Cop on this episode of the 80s Flick Flashback Podcast.Here are some additional behind-the-scenes trivia we were unable to cover in this episode: Throughout the production, the screenplay underwent constant revisions, which sometimes resulted in actors receiving their lines just before they were expected to deliver them. This posed a challenge for actor Stephen Elliott, who was caught holding a rolled-up script while portraying Police Chief Hubbard. Fortunately, the director believed this detail enhanced his performance, so Elliott is seen holding those script pages in the film. The Beverly Hills Police Department uses a "satellite tracking system" to locate Foley and Rosewood. Although this system was fictional when the story was created, it later inspired the development of modern satellite technology, including the Global Positioning System (GPS). The mansion used in the final shootout between Foley and Maitland is the same mansion seen in the final shootout between Matrix and Arius in "Commando" (1985). Coincidentally, both Foley and Matrix were trying to rescue somebody named Jenny in that mansion in their respective films.Sources:Wikipedia, IMDB, https://www.cracked.com/article_44671_40-trivia-tidbits-about-beverly-hills-cop-on-its-40th-anniversary.htmlhttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60484/15-things-you-may-not-have-known-about-beverly-hills-copSome sections were composed or edited by ChatGPT We'd love to hear your thoughts on our podcast! You can share your feedback with us via email or social media. Your opinions are incredibly valuable to us, and we'd be so grateful to know what you enjoyed about our show. If we missed anything or if you have any suggestions for 80s movies, we'd love to hear them too! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can even become a subscription member through "Buy Me A Coffee". For more details and other fun extensions of our podcast, check out this link. Thank you for your support! https://linktr.ee/80sFlickFlashback

Sir Isaac Newton was an English polymath active as a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author. Newton was a key figure in the Scientific Revolution and the following Enlightenment. His book Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, first published in 1687, achieved the first great unification in physics and established classical mechanics. While Newton pioneered the laws of motion and universal gravitation that formed the dominant scientific viewpoint for centuries, his first love was religious studies, specifically the issue of The Trinity, which he vehemently opposed in his secret writings. Peer down the telescope as Joel focuses on the hidden side of Isaac Newton's battle with the Catholic Church and what he deemed as the false doctrine of The Trinity. He then lays out the conflict between Athanasius and Arius, in which Newton took the side of Arius, who rejected the view of the Three in One. Joel then breaks down the Johannine Comma, which is the Trinity's most clear-cut verse, and whether or not it should have been included in the Bible. Buy Me A Coffee: Donate Website: https://linktr.ee/joelthomasmedia Follow: Instagram | X | Facebook Watch: YouTube | Rumble Music: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music Films: merkelfilms.com Email: freetherabbitspodcast@gmail.com Distributed by: merkel.media Produced by: @jack_theproducer INTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Free The Rabbits YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify OUTRO MUSIC Joel Thomas - Spinning YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the foundational beliefs of Christianity, affirming that God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—yet is one in essence. However, misconceptions abound regarding its origins, particularly concerning the role of the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), Emperor Constantine, and the Arian controversy. Some claim the Trinity was invented at Nicaea or imposed by Constantine, but history tells a different story.Watch the conversation between Mike Winger and Wes Huff.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the foundational beliefs of Christianity, affirming that God exists as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—yet is one in essence. However, misconceptions abound regarding its origins, particularly concerning the role of the Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325), Emperor Constantine, and the Arian controversy. Some claim the Trinity was invented at Nicaea or imposed by Constantine, but history tells a different story.1. Was the Trinity Invented at Nicaea?A common myth is that the doctrine of the Trinity was created at the Council of Nicaea. In reality, the core concept of God's triune nature existed long before the fourth century. The early church fathers, including Tertullian (A.D. 160–225) and Origen (A.D. 185–253), wrote extensively about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as distinct persons sharing one divine essence. The Council of Nicaea did not introduce the idea but clarified it in response to the Arian controversy.2. The Arian Controversy: Was Jesus a Created Being?Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, taught that Jesus was not eternally God but a created being who was exalted above all creation. This view directly contradicted Scripture, which presents Jesus as fully divine (John 1:1, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3). Arianism gained traction, prompting a theological crisis that led Emperor Constantine to convene the Council of Nicaea. The council decisively rejected Arianism, affirming that Christ is "of the same essence" (homoousios) as the Father. This was not a new doctrine but a reaffirmation of what the church had always believed.3. Did Constantine Impose the Trinity?Another misconception is that Emperor Constantine imposed the doctrine of the Trinity for political reasons. While Constantine did call the council to promote unity in the empire, he did not dictate its theological outcome. He initially leaned toward Arian sympathies but ultimately accepted the Nicene Creed, which was formulated by church leaders based on Scripture, not imperial decree. The council's decision reflected the consensus of bishops from across the Christian world, not a political mandate.4. The Trinity: A Biblical Doctrine, Not a Man-Made OneDespite arguments that the Trinity is a later theological development, the doctrine is firmly rooted in Scripture. Passages such as Matthew 28:19 (“baptizing them in the name of...

I think video I give a presentation titled "Participation in the Perfected Humanity of Christ : A Unitarian Atonement Theory". I discuss the idea of whether or not Jesus needed to be God in order to save us. I mention Dr. Andrew Perriman, William Ellery Channing, Dale Tuggy, Paul of Samosata, David Bentley Hart, Athanasius of Alexandria, Arius of Alexandria, Photinus of Sirmium, and more. Andrew Perriman on Philippians 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNTHSASs47YWilliam Ellery Channing 'Likeness unto God' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLK0ZIvsjgw&t=2143sDBH "Light of Tabor" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3irRxu7E4W4&t=853sMy Commentary of DBH - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7bh6_p2a6U&t=1795sDBH Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyNBBEXiW2c&t=141s

This video is the first in a series of commentary videos on David Bentley Hart's ( @leavesinthewind7441 ) lecture series at Cambridge entitled "The Light of Tabor : Towards a Monistic Chrisology". I mention Rowan Williams, Nestorius, Arius of Alexandria, the Ascension of Isaiah, Origen of Alexandria, Thomas Aquinas, Gregory Palamas, Karl Barth, Aristotle, Fr John Behr, Herbert McCabe, Paul of Samosata, Robert Jensen, Justin Martyr, Thomas Aquinas, Maximus the Confessor and more. DBH's Lecture 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3irRxu7E4W4My ascension to heaven video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgB3MNK-VLM

Saint Athanasius, pillar of Orthodoxy and Father of the Church, was born in Alexandria in 275, to pious Christian parents. Even as a child, his piety and devotion to the Faith were so notable that Alexander, the Patriarch of the city, took Athanasius under his protection. As a student, he acquired a thorough education, but was more interested in the things of God than in secular learning, and withdrew for a time into the desert to sit at the feet of Saint Anthony (January 17), whose disciple he became and whose biography he later wrote. On returning to Alexandria, he was ordained to the diaconate and began his public labors for the Church. He wrote his treatise On the Incarnation, when he was only twenty. (It contains a phrase, still often quoted today, that express in a few words some of the depths of the Mystery of the Incarnation: God became man that man might become god.)   Just at this time Arius, a priest in Alexandria, was promoting his enticing view that the Son and Word of God is not of one essence with the Father, but a divine creation of the Father. This view, which (as Athanasius realized) strikes at the very possibility of mankind's salvation, gained wide acceptance and seemed for a time to threaten the Christian Faith itself. In 325, the Emperor Constantine the Great convoked a Council of the Church at Nicaea to settle the turmoil that the Arian teaching had spread through the Church. Athanasius attended the Council, and defended the Orthodox view so powerfully that he won the admiration of the Orthodox and the undying enmity of the Arians. From that time forth his life was founded on the defense of the true consubstantiality (homoousia) of the Son with the Father.   In 326, not long before his death, Patriarch Alexander appointed Athanasius to be his successor, and Athanasius was duly elevated to the patriarchal throne. He was active in his pastoral role, traveling throughout Egypt, visiting churches and monasteries, and working tirelessly not only to put down the Arian heresy, but to resolve various schisms and moral declines that affected his territory.   Though the Arian heresy had apparently been condemned once and for all at Nicea, Arius had many powerful allies throughout the Empire, even in the Imperial court, and Athanasius was soon subjected to many kinds of persecution, some local, some coming from the Imperial throne itself. Though he was Patriarch of Alexandria for more than forty years, a large amount of that time was spent in hiding from powerful enemies who threatened him with imprisonment or death. Twice he fled to Rome for protection by the Pope, who in the early centuries of the Church was a consistent champion of Orthodoxy against its various enemies. From his various hiding places, Athanasius issued tracts, treatises and epistles which helped to rally the faithful throughout Christendom to the Orthodox cause.   In 366, the Emperor Valens, fearing a revolt of the Egyptians on behalf of their beloved Archbishop, officially restored Athanasius to favor, and he was able to spend the last seven years of his life in peace. Of his forty-seven years as Patriarch, about seventeen were spent in hiding or exile. He reposed in peace in 373, having given his entire adult life, at great suffering, to the defense of the Faith of Christ. With St Athanasius, the Church commemorates St Cyril (Kyrillos), also Archbishop of Alexandria (412-44). His lot was to defend the Faith against the heretic Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who denied that Christ in his Incarnation truly united the divine with the human nature. Cyril attempted in private correspondence to restore Nestorius to the Christian faith, and when this failed he, along with Pope Celestine of Rome, led the defense of Orthodoxy against Nestorius' teaching. Saint Cyril presided at the Third Ecumenical Council in 431, at which the Nestorian error was officially overthrown. After guiding his flock for thirty-two years, he reposed in 444.

*00:00 – 00:00* Intro *00:06 – 00:09*  *CES & AI Everywhere*  Discussion of new tech at CES (Consumer Electronics Show).  Joking about AI ovens, AI guitars, and the feeling that everything is suddenly “smart.”*00:09 – 00:12*  *NVIDIA Supercomputers & Exaflops*  Awe at how new hardware can process “the entire internet.”  Talk of energy consumption, fossil fuels vs. nuclear, and whether AI will force an energy revolution.*00:12 – 00:15*  *Industrial Revolution Parallel*  Comparing AI's potential impact to the Industrial Revolution.  Concern about environmental strain, greed, and unstoppable progress.*00:15 – 00:18*  *Vonnegut's *Player Piano & Self-Driving Cars**  Reading a Kurt Vonnegut quote on technology replacing humans.  Rant about driverless cars, personal autonomy, and why society resists better public infrastructure.*00:24 – 00:27*  *Roman Empire & Modern Parallels*  Drawing lines from Ancient Rome's “bread and circuses” to today's consumer culture.  Government structures modeled on Greek/Roman systems.*00:33 – 00:36*  *New “Religion” Idea: PFG*  “Powerful People for Good”—recognizing your decisions have a ripple effect.  A playful framework for making better choices that benefit yourself and others.*00:36 – 00:39*  *Council of Nicaea & Jesus' Divinity*  A quick historical aside about the year 325 CE, Arianism, and the “election” of Christ's divine status.  Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) allegedly slapping Arius—fun historical tidbit.*00:39 – 00:42*  *Cheese Heist at Neal's Yard Dairy*  News of a massive cheddar cheese theft.  Speculation on how thieves offload that much specialty cheese.

Dr. Beau Branson is a professor of philosophy at Brescia University. We discuss monarchical trinitarians and the theology of Gregory of Nyssa. We also discuss the recent book "One God, Three Persons, Four Views" book. We mention Luke Thompson (  @WhiteStoneName  ), Hank Kruse, Athanasius of Alexandria, Arius of Alexandria, Julian the Apostate, Gregory of Nyssa, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, Scott Williams, Eunomius, Gregory Thermaturgos, Origen of Alexandria, Tertullian of Carthage, Rowan Williams, David Bentley Hart, Irenaeus of Lyon, Marcellus of Ancyra, Photinus of Galatia, Nestorius, Aristotle, John of Damascus, William Lane Craig, Michel René Barnes, Fr John Behr, Richard Swinburne, Dale Tuggy, Michael Servetus, Bart Ehrman, and more.

In this rebroadcast, Steve, Dana, and Lee discuss the often-memed subject of Saint Nicholas punching the heretic Arius at the Council of Nicea. Is that a true story? What is its relevance? Why are creeds important? We tackle all of this on this episode.*********************************************************************Library Ladder Links: "The One True God: A Biblical Study of the Doctrine of God" by Paul Washer: https://a.co/d/8Zye2FV"Christ & Creed: The Early Church Creeds & their Value for Today" by Nate Pickowicz: https://a.co/d/5bZNasg"The Need for Creeds Today" by J.V. Fesko: https://a.co/d/1fdSj4O"The Temple" by George Herbert: https://a.co/d/d3VD7NE*********************************************************************Website: rbcbellefontaine.comIntro Music: “Thunder” by Telecasted

The Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian writing outside the Bible. It is time that we get to know it.

The Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian writing outside the Bible. It is time that we get to know it.

Dr. Ryan Mullins talks about the recently published "One God, Three Persons, Four Views" book. He is the curator of the book series that is publishing this book. We mention Dr. Dale Tuggy (  @khanpadawan  ), Dr. William Hasker, Dr. William Lane Craig, Dr. Beau Branson, Dr. Chad McIntosh, Michaelangelo, Arius of Alexandria, Jake Brancatella the Muslim Metaphysician (  @JakeBrancatella  ), Julius Caesar, Octavian Augustus, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and more. The book - https://www.amazon.com/Three-Persons-Four-Views-Philosophical/dp/1666719056 The reluctant theologian podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-reluctant-theologian-podcast/id1455521623 Dr. RT Mullins Twitter - https://x.com/theRTMullins?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

A Christadelphian Video: # Summary This PRESENTATION delves into the historical evolution of the doctrine of the Trinity, contrasting the beliefs of the first-century apostles with those established in the fourth century. It highlights the development of theological ideas from the time of Jesus through the early church fathers, culminating in the establishment of the Trinity as the official doctrine of the Roman Empire. The presentation critiques the philosophical influences that shaped these beliefs and asserts that the original teachings of the apostles have been obscured over time. # Highlights -

Our beloved holy Father Nicholas is, along with St George (and second to the All-holy Theotokos), probably the best-loved Saint of the Church. His numberless miracles through the ages, on behalf of the countless Christians who have called on him, cannot be told.   He was born in Lycia (in Asia Minor) around the end of the third century, to pious Christian parents. His love of virtue, and his zeal for observing the canons of the Church, were evident from his infancy, when he would abstain from his mother's breast every Wednesday and Friday until the evening. From early youth he was inclined to solitude and silence; in fact, not a single written or spoken word of the Saint has come down to us. Though ordained a priest by his uncle, Archbishop Nicholas, he attempted to withdraw to a hermit's life in the Holy Land; but he was told by revelation that he was to return home to serve the Church publicly and be the salvation of many souls.   When his parents died, he gave away all of his inheritance to the needy, and thereafter almsgiving was his greatest glory. He always took particular care that his charity be done in secret. Perhaps the most famous story of his open-handedness concerns a debt-ridden man who had no money to provide dowries for his daughters, or even to support them, and in despair had resolved to give them into prostitution. On three successive nights the Saint threw a bag of gold into the window of the man's house, saving him and his daughters from sin and hopelessness. The man searched relentlessly to find and thank his benefactor; when at last he discovered that it was Nicholas, the Saint made him promise not to reveal the good deed until after he had died. (This story may be the thin thread that connects the Saint with the modern-day Santa Claus).   God honored his faithfulness by granting him unparalleled gifts of healing and wonderworking. Several times he calmed storms by his prayers and saved the ship that he was sailing in. Through the centuries he has often done the same for sailors who call out to him, and is considered the patron of sailors and all who go to sea.   He was elected Bishop of Myra not long before the great persecutions under Diocletian and Maximian (c. 305), and was put in prison, from which he continued to encourage his flock in the Faith. When the Arian heresy wracked the Church not long after Constantine came to the throne, St Nicholas was one of the 318 Bishops who gathered in Nicea in 325. There he was so incensed at the blasphemies of Arius that he struck him on the face. This put the other bishops in a quandary, since the canons require that any hierarch who strikes anyone must be deposed. Sadly, they prepared to depose the holy Nicholas; but in the night the Lord Jesus and the most Holy Theotokos appeared to them, telling them that the Saint had acted solely out of love for Truth, not from hatred or passion, and that they should not act against him.   While still in the flesh, he sometimes miraculously appeared in distant places to save the lives of the faithful. He once saved the city of Myra from famine by appearing to the captain of a ship full of grain, telling him to take his cargo to the city. He appeared in a dream to Constantine to intercede for the lives of three Roman officers who had been falsely condemned; the three grateful soldiers later became monks.   The holy bishop reposed in peace around 345. His holy relics were placed in a church built in his honor in Myra, where they were venerated by throngs of pilgrims every year. In 1087, after Myra was conquered by the Saracens, the Saint's relics were translated to Bari in southern Italy, where they are venerated today. Every year, quantities of fragrant myrrh are gathered from the casket containing his holy relics.

The Nicene Creed may be the most important Christian writing outside the Bible. It is time that we get to know it.

This is another episode in Sam and Hank's church father's series. This episode is about Gregory of Nyssa and his book “On the human image of God”. We mention Fr John Behr, Origen of Alexandria, Basil the Great, Eustathius, Constantine, Julian the Apostate, Macrina, Valens, Arius of Alexandria, Charles Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Plato, Philo of Alexandria, Elon Musk, John Calvin, Martin Luther, David Bentley Hart, Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and many more. Fr. John Behr's translation: https://www.amazon.com/Gregory-Nyssa-Human-Oxford-Christian/dp/0192843974

The Nicene Creed is one of the most significant statements of faith in Christian history. But have you ever wondered how it came to be? This video reveals the historical events, people, and controversies that led to its formation. We'll look at the turmoil of the Roman Empire at the time of Constantine and survey the fierce theological disagreements about Jesus' divinity. You'll meet key figures like Athanasius, Alexander, Arius, and learn how their competing views brought about the need for a creed.We'll also explore why the Nicene Creed still matters, from its role in uniting the early church to its relevance in understanding core Christian doctrine. Whether you're familiar with the Creed or hearing about it for the first time, this episode will give you a clear and engaging look at a defining moment in church history.00:00:39 - What is a Creed?00:01:22 - The Historical Cycle: Controversy, Council, Creed00:02:29 - The Role of Constantine00:04:58 - The Controversy and Key Players00:07:41 - The Council of Nicaea00:10:57 - The Creed of Nicaea00:12:22 - Post-Creed Controversy00:15:06 - The Death of Arius00:17:13 - Post-Nicaea Drama and Controversy00:18:02 - Council of Constantinople00:20:52 - The Importance of the Nicene Creed Today00:21:33 - Theological Issues in Today's Church_______________________________Want to memorize the Nicene Creed? This song can help!_______________________________✉️ Subscribe to the Newsletter

The Decree of the Holy, Great, Ecumenical Synod, the Second of Nice (787 AD). 549   (Found in Labbe and Cossart, Concilia. Tom. VII., col. 552.)   THE holy, great, and Ecumenical Synod which by the grace of God and the will of the pious and Christ-loving Emperors, Constantine and Irene, his mother, was gathered together for the second time at Nice, the illustrious metropolis of Bithynia, in the holy church of God which is named Sophia, having followed the tradition of the Catholic Church, hath defined as follows: Christ our Lord, who hath bestowed upon us the light of the knowledge of himself, and hath redeemed us from the darkness of idolatrous madness, having espoused to himself the Holy Catholic Church without spot or defect, promised that he would so preserve her: and gave his word to this effect to his holy disciples when he said: “Lo! I am with you always, even unto the end of the world,” which promise he made, not only to them, but to us also who should believe in his name through their word. But some, not considering of this gift, and having become fickle through the temptation of the wily enemy, have fallen from the right faith; for, withdrawing from the traditions of the Catholic Church, they have erred from the truth and as the proverb saith: “The husbandmen have gone astray in their own husbandry and have gathered in their hands nothingness,” because certain priests, priests in name only, not in fact, had dared to speak against the God-approved ornament of the sacred monuments, of whom God cries aloud through the prophet, “Many pastors have corrupted my vineyard, they have polluted my portion.” And, forsooth, following profane men, led astray by their carnal sense, they have calumniated the Church of Christ our God, which he hath espoused to himself, and have failed to distinguish between holy and profane, styling the images of our Lord and of his Saints by the same name as the statues of diabolical idols. Seeing which things, our Lord God (not willing to behold his people corrupted by such manner of plague) hath of his good pleasure called us together, the chief of his priests, from every quarter, moved with a divine zeal and brought hither by the will of our princes, Constantine and Irene, to the end that the traditions of the Catholic Church may receive stability by our common decree. Therefore, with all diligence, making a thorough examination and analysis, and following the trend of the truth, we diminish nought, we add nought, but we preserve unchanged all things which pertain to the Catholic Church, and following the Six Ecumenical Synods, especially that which met in this illustrious metropolis of Nice, as also that which was afterwards gathered together in the God-protected Royal City. We believe…life of the world to come. Amen.535 We detest and anathematize Arius and all the sharers of his absurd opinion; also Macedonius and those who following him are well styled “Foes of the Spirit” (Pneumatomachi). We confess that our Lady, St. Mary, is properly and truly the Mother of God, because she was the Mother after the flesh of One Person of the Holy Trinity, to wit, Christ our God, as the Council of Ephesus has already defined when it cast out of the Church the impious Nestorius with his colleagues, because he taught that there were two Persons [in Christ]. With the Fathers of this synod we confess that he who was incarnate of the immaculate Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary has two natures, recognizing him as perfect God and perfect man, as also the Council of Chalcedon hath promulgated, expelling from the divine Atrium [αὐλῆς] as blasphemers, Eutyches and Dioscorus; and placing in the same category Severus, Peter and a number of others, blaspheming in divers fashions. Moreover, with these we anathematize the fables of Origen, Evagrius, and Didymus, in accordance with the decision of 550 the Fifth Council held at Constantinople. We affirm that in Christ there be two wills and two operations according to the reality of each nature, as also the Sixth Synod, held at Constantinople, taught, casting out Sergius, Honorius, Cyrus, Pyrrhus, Macarius, and those who agree with them, and all those who are unwilling to be reverent. To make our confession short, we keep unchanged all the ecclesiastical traditions handed down to us, whether in writing or verbally, one of which is the making of pictorial representations, agreeable to the history of the preaching of the Gospel, a tradition useful in many respects, but especially in this, that so the incarnation of the Word of God is shown forth as real and not merely phantastic, for these have mutual indications and without doubt have also mutual significations. We, therefore, following the royal pathway and the divinely inspired authority of our Holy Fathers and the traditions of the Catholic Church (for, as we all know, the Holy Spirit indwells her), define with all certitude and accuracy that just as the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross, so also the venerable and holy images, as well in painting and mosaic as of other fit materials, should be set forth in the holy churches of God, and on the sacred vessels and on the vestments and on hangings and in pictures both in houses and by the wayside, to wit, the figure of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, of our spotless Lady, the Mother of God, of the honourable Angels, of all Saints and of all pious people. For by so much more frequently as they are seen in artistic representation, by so much more readily are men lifted up to the memory of their prototypes, and to a longing after them; and to these should be given due salutation and honourable reverence (ἀσπασμὸν καὶ τιμητικὴν προσκύνησιν), not indeed that true worship of faith (λατρείαν) which pertains alone to the divine nature; but to these, as to the figure of the precious and life-giving Cross and to the Book of the Gospels and to the other holy objects, incense and lights may be offered according to ancient pious custom. For the honour which is paid to the image passes on to that which the image represents, and he who reveres the image reveres in it the subject represented. For thus the teaching of our holy Fathers, that is the tradition of the Catholic Church, which from one end of the earth to the other hath received the Gospel, is strengthened. Thus we follow Paul, who spake in Christ, and the whole divine Apostolic company and the holy Fathers, holding fast the traditions which we have received. So we sing prophetically the triumphal hymns of the Church, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Rejoice and be glad with all thy heart. The Lord hath taken away from thee the oppression of thy adversaries; thou art redeemed from the hand of thine enemies. The Lord is a King in the midst of thee; thou shalt not see evil any more, and peace be unto thee forever.” Those, therefore who dare to think or teach otherwise, or as wicked heretics to spurn the traditions of the Church and to invent some novelty, or else to reject some of those things which the Church hath received (e.g., the Book of the Gospels, or the image of the cross, or the pictorial icons, or the holy reliques of a martyr), or evilly and sharply to devise anything subversive of the lawful traditions of the Catholic Church or to turn to common uses the sacred vessels or the venerable monasteries,536 if they be Bishops or Clerics, we command that they be deposed; if religious or laics, that they be cut off from communion. [After all had signed, the acclamations began (col. 576).]   The holy Synod cried out: So we all believe, we all are so minded, we all give our consent and have signed. This is the faith of the Apostles, this is the faith of the orthodox, this is the faith which hath made firm the whole world. Believing in one God, to be celebrated in Trinity, we salute the honourable images! Those who do not so hold, let them be anathema. Those who do not thus think, let them be driven far away from the Church. For we follow the most ancient legislation of the Catholic Church. We keep the laws of the Fathers. We anathematize those who add anything to or take anything away from the Catholic Church. We anathematize the introduced novelty of the revilers of Christians. We salute the venerable 551 images. We place under anathema those who do not do this. Anathema to them who presume to apply to the venerable images the things said in Holy Scripture about idols. Anathema to those who do not salute the holy and venerable images. Anathema to those who call the sacred images idols. Anathema to those who say that Christians resort to the sacred images as to gods. Anathema to those who say that any other delivered us from idols except Christ our God. Anathema to those who dare to say that at any time the Catholic Church received idols. Many years to the Emperors, etc., etc. 535 Anastasius in his Interpretatio (Migne, Pat. Lat., Tom. CXXIX., col. 458), gives the word, “Filioque.” Cardinal Julian in the Fifth Session of the Council of Florence gave evidence that there was then extant a very ancient codex containing these words; and this MS., which was in Greek, was actually shown. The Greek scholar Gemistius Pletho remarked that if this were so, then the Latin theologians, like St. Thomas Aquinas would long ago have appealed to the Synod. (Cf. Hefele, Hist. Councils, Vol. V., p. 374, Note 2.) This reasoning is not conclusive if Cardinal Bellarmine is to be believed, who says that St. Thomas had never seen the Acts of this synod. (De Imag. Sanct., Lib. ii., cap. xxii.) 536 Constantine Copronymus turned many monasteries into soldiers' barracks. In this he has been followed by other crowned enemies of Christ. Epitome of the Definition of the Iconoclastic Conciliabulum held in Constantinople, A.D. 754.530   The Definition of the Holy, Great, and Ecumenical Seventh Synod. 543   THE holy and Ecumenical synod, which by the grace of God and most pious command of the God-beloved and orthodox Emperors, Constantine and Leo,531 now assembled in the imperial residence city, in the temple of the holy and inviolate Mother of God and Virgin Mary, surnamed in Blachernæ, have decreed as follows. Satan misguided men, so that they worshipped the creature instead of the Creator. The Mosaic law and the prophets cooperated to undo this ruin; but in order to save mankind thoroughly, God sent his own Son, who turned us away from error and the worshipping of idols, and taught us the worshipping of God in spirit and in truth. As messengers of his saving doctrine, he left us his Apostles and disciples, and these adorned the Church, his Bride, with his glorious doctrines. This ornament of the Church the holy Fathers and the six Ecumenical Councils have preserved inviolate. But the before- mentioned demi-urgos of wickedness could not endure the sight of this adornment, and gradually brought back idolatry under the appearance of Christianity. As then Christ armed his Apostles against the ancient idolatry with the power of the Holy Spirit, and sent them out into all the world, so has he awakened against the new idolatry his servants our faithful Emperors, and endowed them with the same wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Impelled by the Holy Spirit they could no longer be witnesses of the Church being laid waste by the deception of demons, and summoned the sanctified assembly of the God-beloved bishops, that they might institute at a synod a scriptural examination into the deceitful colouring of the pictures (ὁμοιωμάτων) which draws down the spirit of man from the lofty adoration (λατρείας) of God to the low and material adoration (λατρείαν) of the creature, and that they, under divine guidance, might express their view on the subject. Our holy synod therefore assembled, and we, its 338 members, follow the older synodal decrees, and accept and proclaim joyfully the dogmas handed down, principally those of the six holy Ecumenical Synods. In the first place the holy and ecumenical great synod assembled at Nice, etc. After we had carefully examined their decrees under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we found that the unlawful art of painting living creatures blasphemed the fundamental doctrine of our salvation—namely, the Incarnation of Christ, and contradicted the six holy synods. These condemned Nestorius because he divided the one Son and Word of God into two sons, and on the other side, Arius, Dioscorus, Eutyches, and Severus, because they maintained a mingling of the two natures of the one Christ. Wherefore we thought it right, to shew forth with all accuracy, in our present definition the error of such as make and venerate these, for it is the unanimous doctrine of all the holy Fathers and of the six Ecumenical Synods, that no one may imagine any kind of separation or mingling in opposition to the unsearchable, unspeakable, and incomprehensible union of the two natures in the one hypostasis or person. What avails, then, the folly of the painter, who from sinful love of gain depicts that which should not be depicted—that is, with his polluted hands he tries to fashion that which should only be believed in the heart and confessed with the mouth? He makes an image and calls it Christ. The name Christ signifies God and man. Consequently it is an image of God and man, and consequently he has in his foolish mind, in his representation of the created flesh, depicted the Godhead which cannot be represented, and thus mingled what should not be mingled. Thus he is guilty of a double blasphemy—the one in making an image of the Godhead, and the other by mingling the Godhead and manhood. Those fall into the same blasphemy who venerate the image, and the same woe rests upon both, because they err with Arius, Dioscorus, and Eutyches, and with the heresy of the Acephali. When, however, they are blamed for 544 undertaking to depict the divine nature of Christ, which should not be depicted, they take refuge in the excuse: We represent only the flesh of Christ which we have seen and handled. But that is a Nestorian error. For it should be considered that that flesh was also the flesh of God the Word, without any separation, perfectly assumed by the divine nature and made wholly divine. How could it now be separated and represented apart? So is it with the human soul of Christ which mediates between the Godhead of the Son and the dulness of the flesh. As the human flesh is at the same time flesh of God the Word, so is the human soul also soul of God the Word, and both at the same time, the soul being deified as well as the body, and the Godhead remained undivided even in the separation of the soul from the body in his voluntary passion. For where the soul of Christ is, there is also his Godhead; and where the body of Christ is, there too is his Godhead. If then in his passion the divinity remained inseparable from these, how do the fools venture to separate the flesh from the Godhead, and represent it by itself as the image of a mere man? They fall into the abyss of impiety, since they separate the flesh from the Godhead, ascribe to it a subsistence of its own, a personality of its own, which they depict, and thus introduce a fourth person into the Trinity. Moreover, they represent as not being made divine, that which has been made divine by being assumed by the Godhead. Whoever, then, makes an image of Christ, either depicts the Godhead which cannot be depicted, and mingles it with the manhood (like the Monophysites), or he represents the body of Christ as not made divine and separate and as a person apart, like the Nestorians. The only admissible figure of the humanity of Christ, however, is bread and wine in the holy Supper. This and no other form, this and no other type, has he chosen to represent his incarnation. Bread he ordered to be brought, but not a representation of the human form, so that idolatry might not arise. And as the body of Christ is made divine, so also this figure of the body of Christ, the bread, is made divine by the descent of the Holy Spirit; it becomes the divine body of Christ by the mediation of the priest who, separating the oblation from that which is common, sanctifies it. The evil custom of assigning names to the images does not come down from Christ and the Apostles and the holy Fathers; nor have these left behind them any prayer by which an image should be hallowed or made anything else than ordinary matter. If, however, some say, we might be right in regard to the images of Christ, on account of the mysterious union of the two natures, but it is not right for us to forbid also the images of the altogether spotless and ever-glorious Mother of God, of the prophets, apostles, and martyrs, who were mere men and did not consist of two natures; we may reply, first of all: If those fall away, there is no longer need of these. But we will also consider what may be said against these in particular. Christianity has rejected the whole of heathenism, and so not merely heathen sacrifices, but also the heathen worship of images. The Saints live on eternally with God, although they have died. If anyone thinks to call them back again to life by a dead art, discovered by the heathen, he makes himself guilty of blasphemy. Who dares attempt with heathenish art to paint the Mother of God, who is exalted above all heavens and the Saints? It is not permitted to Christians, who have the hope of the resurrection, to imitate the customs of demon-worshippers, and to insult the Saints, who shine in so great glory, by common dead matter. Moreover, we can prove our view by Holy Scripture and the Fathers. In the former it is said: “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth;” and: “Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath;” on which account God spoke to the Israelites on the Mount, from the midst of the fire, but showed them no image. Further: “They changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man,…and served the creature more than the Creator.” [Several other passages, even less to the point, are cited.]532 The same is taught also by the holy Fathers. [The Synod appeals to a spurious passage from Epiphanius and to one inserted into the writings of Theodotus of Ancyra, a friend of St. Cyril's; to utterances—in no way striking—of Gregory of 545 Nazianzum, of SS. Chrysostom, Basil, Athanasius of Amphilochius and of Eusebius Pamphili, from his Letter to the Empress Constantia, who had asked him for a picture of Christ.]533 Supported by the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers, we declare unanimously, in the name of the Holy Trinity, that there shall be rejected and removed and cursed out of the Christian Church every likeness which is made out of any material and colour whatever by the evil art of painters. Whoever in future dares to make such a thing, or to venerate it, or set it up in a church, or in a private house, or possesses it in secret, shall, if bishop, presbyter, or deacon, be deposed; if monk or layman, be anathematised, and become liable to be tried by the secular laws as an adversary of God and an enemy of the doctrines handed down by the Fathers. At the same time we ordain that no incumbent of a church shall venture, under pretext of destroying the error in regard to images, to lay his hands on the holy vessels in order to have them altered, because they are adorned with figures. The same is provided in regard to the vestments of churches, cloths, and all that is dedicated to divine service. If, however, the incumbent of a church wishes to have such church vessels and vestments altered, he must do this only with the assent of the holy Ecumenical patriarch and at the bidding of our pious Emperors. So also no prince or secular official shall rob the churches, as some have done in former times, under the pretext of destroying images. All this we ordain, believing that we speak as doth the Apostle, for we also believe that we have the spirit of Christ; and as our predecessors who believed the same thing spake what they had synodically defined, so we believe and therefore do we speak, and set forth a definition of what has seemed good to us following and in accordance with the definitions of our Fathers. If anyone shall not confess, according to the tradition of the Apostles and Fathers, in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost one godhead, nature and substance, will and operation, virtue and dominion, kingdom and power in three subsistences, that is in their most glorious Persons, let him be anathema. If anyone does not confess that one of the Trinity was made flesh, let him be anathema. If anyone does not confess that the holy Virgin is truly the Mother of God, etc. If anyone does not confess one Christ both God and man, etc. If anyone does not confess that the flesh of the Lord is life-giving because it is the flesh of the Word of God, etc. If anyone does not confess two natures in Christ, etc. If anyone does not confess that Christ is seated with God the Father in body and soul, and so will come to judge, and that he will remain God forever without any grossness, etc. If anyone ventures to represent the divine image (χαρακτήρ) of the Word after the Incarnation with material colours, let him be anathema! If anyone ventures to represent in human figures, by means of material colours, by reason of the incarnation, the substance or person (ousia or hypostasis) of the Word, which cannot be depicted, and does not rather confess that even after the Incarnation he [i.e., the Word] cannot be depicted, let him be anathema! If anyone ventures to represent the hypostatic union of the two natures in a picture, and calls it Christ, and thus falsely represents a union of the two natures, etc.! If anyone separates the flesh united with the person of the Word from it, and endeavours to represent it separately in a picture, etc.! If anyone separates the one Christ into two persons, and endeavours to represent Him who was born of the Virgin separately, and thus accepts only a relative (σχετική) union of the natures, etc. If anyone represents in a picture the flesh deified by its union with the Word, and thus separates it from the Godhead, etc. If anyone endeavours to represent by material colours, God the Word as a mere man, who, although bearing the form of God, yet has assumed the form of a servant in his own person, and thus endeavours to separate him from his 546 inseparable Godhead, so that he thereby introduces a quaternity into the Holy Trinity, etc. If anyone shall not confess the holy ever-virgin Mary, truly and properly the Mother of God, to be higher than every creature whether visible or invisible, and does not with sincere faith seek her intercessions as of one having confidence in her access to our God, since she bare him, etc. If anyone shall endeavour to represent the forms of the Saints in lifeless pictures with material colours which are of no value (for this notion is vain and introduced by the devil), and does not rather represent their virtues as living images in himself, etc. If anyone denies the profit of the invocation of Saints, etc. If anyone denies the resurrection of the dead, and the judgment, and the condign retribution to everyone, endless torment and endless bliss, etc. If anyone does not accept this our Holy and Ecumenical Seventh Synod, let him be anathema from the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, and from the seven holy Ecumenical Synods! [Then follows the prohibition of the making or teaching any other faith, and the penalties for disobedience. After this follow the acclamations.] The divine Kings Constantine and Leo said: Let the holy and ecumenical synod say, if with the consent of all the most holy bishops the definition just read has been set forth. The holy synod cried out: Thus we all believe, we all are of the same mind. We have all with one voice and voluntarily subscribed. This is the faith of the Apostles. Many years to the Emperors! They are the light of orthodoxy! Many years to the orthodox Emperors! God preserve your Empire! You have now more firmly proclaimed the inseparability of the two natures of Christ! You have banished all idolatry! You have destroyed the heresies of Germanus [of Constantinople], George and Mansur [μανσουρ, John Damascene]. Anathema to Germanus, the double-minded, and worshipper of wood! Anathema to George, his associate, to the falsifier of the doctrine of the Fathers! Anathema to Mansur, who has an evil name and Saracen opinions! To the betrayer of Christ and the enemy of the Empire, to the teacher of impiety, the perverter of Scripture, Mansur, anathema! The Trinity has deposed these three!534 In this epitome of the verbose definition of the council, I have followed for the most part Hefele. (Hist. of the Councils, Vol. V., p. 309 et seqq.) Now four years old. These are Hefele's words. These are Hefele's words. These are not given in full but are sufficient to give the true gist.

Send us a textThe REAL History of Nicaea You Never Knew.In an era of doctrinal confusion and church scandals, many believers are questioning the very foundation of Christian faith. Can the Nicene Creed offer clarity and stability?In this episode, we dive deep into the history and significance of the Nicene Creed, established at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D., which has served as a cornerstone of Christian belief for centuries. We'll unpack its core affirmations about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, exploring how it provides a resilient framework for faith amid modern challenges.But why was the Council of Nicaea so pivotal? Is there biblical support for such councils, or do they risk adding human error to Scripture's sufficiency? Together, we'll examine biblical precedents, such as the early church gatherings in Acts 11 and 15, and look at how councils like Nicaea sought to safeguard Christian doctrine and address critical issues facing the church.From Constantine's political influence to Arius's divisive teachings, we'll trace how the debates and decisions of the Nicene bishops shaped the bedrock of Christian orthodoxy. Join us as we explore the timeless relevance of the Nicene Creed, discovering how it can strengthen and steady us through personal and collective crises of faith.✨Episode Sponsored by Logos Bible Software - The all new Logos is now easier to use and more accessible than ever with monthly plans starting at $9.99. Visit https://www.logos.com/remnant to get started for FREE with an exclusive extended free trial of up to 60-days!

This episode we take a look at Trinitarian thinking in Churches of Christ in our hymnody.

We dispel common myths about the Council of Nicaea and express gratitude for the Church successfully defending the deity of Yeshua in the face of a very influential heretic named Arian. We also talk about the decision to disconnect Easter and Passover (which I think is okay!). 00:00 - Introduction 3:15 - What did NOT happen at the Council of Nicaea 5:42 - Historical Context of the Council of Nicaea 7:39 - Who was Emperor Constantine? 12:43 - About the Council of Nicaea 17:00 - The Council Disconnecting Passover and Easter 31:22 - Who was Arius? 34:12 - Arguing with Arius 42:12 - The Nicene Creed 46:50 - A Messianic Jewish take on the Nicene Creed 49:20 - What is the Trinity? 57:18 - The Beauty of the Nicene Creed and the Shema; The Church and Messianic Judaism 1:04:25 - We should appreciate the Church You can also watch on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Social Media:     ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you are looking for a way to support us and gain early access to our content, you can become a monthly supporter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribestar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    

Arius, having gotten served in a dance battle, welcomes the development to just a battle battle. The enemies are persistent, but can't do much to us. We move into a library where we learn some bombshell info before aggravating an impressive fossil.Get more great MNmaxed and PF2E content on our YouTubeTalk to us and other MNmaxed listeners in DiscordTo support MNmaxed, check out our PatreonAdditional audio is provided by TabletopAudio.comSupport the show

This video is a respond to Gavin Ortlund (  @TruthUnites  ) regarding his recent video about the Trinity being Apostolic and therefore not an accretion. I mention Paul Vanderklay (  @PaulVanderKlay  ), Dr. Jordan B Cooper (  @DrJordanBCooper  ), Remnant Radio (  @TheRemnantRadio  ), Justin Martyr, Athanasius of Alexandria, Tertullian of Carthage, Origen of Alexandria, John Vervaeke (  @johnvervaeke  ), Jonathan Pageau (  @JonathanPageau  ), Jordan Peterson (  @JordanBPeterson  ), Constantine the Great, Jacob Faturechi (  @faturechi  ), Rabbi Tovia Singer (  @ToviaSinger1  ), Trent Horn (  @TheCounselofTrent  ), Plato, Aristotle, Bethel McGrew, Tripp Parker, Megan Basham, Shepherds for Sale, Austin Suggs (  @GospelSimplicity  ), Larry Hurtado, Richard Bauckham, Francis Watson, Beau Branson, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Dale Tuggy, James White, Arius of Alexandria, RPC Hanson, Alexander of Alexandria, Hilary of Poitiers, Augustine of Hippo, John Calvin, Eusebius of Caesarea, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa, James Dunn, and many more. Gavin's original video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYIBb5SDybg&t=2706s Gavin and PVK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMgeekKddfY&t=159s Sam on Trent Horn - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaoH4sjp58c&t=25s Sam, Bethel, Tripp on Megan Basham - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K85U9l_bfSw&t=1980s Gavin on Gospel Simplicity - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1xpxyzq92g&t=3488s Jesus and the Divine Name - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLJ3GGI8Ie8 Development of Christology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQt_QO4ASAQ&t=3641s Tertullian's Christology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB4fja4GQsU&t=930s Did the Early Christians Worship Jesus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsKU9YRS8KI&t=2473s Theological Triage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWkYm3hSPEw&t=1750s

St Alexander took part in the First Ecumenical Council as delegate of Patriarch Metrophanes, who was too frail to attend; and succeeded Metrophanes on the Patriarchal throne. By his prayer to God that the Church might be spared the schemings of Arius, Arius was struck dead.   St John is, by one account, St John the Faster (Sept. 2), who reposed in 595; by another, St John Scholasticus (Feb. 21), who reposed in 577.   St Paul was Patriarch for five years, then renounced the Patriarchal throne to take the Great Schema.

This week, we're honored to share an incredibly powerful and heartfelt interview with Arius Davis, a transgender woman who navigated the complexities of the foster care system during her teen years. Arius bravely recounts her journey through multiple foster homes, her discovery of self-identity, and the importance of advocacy for the LGBTQ community within the foster system. This episode is not just a story of resilience, but a beacon of hope for anyone feeling marginalized or alone. Arius's journey is a testament to the power of finding your true self and the importance of a supportive community. Whether you're connected to the foster care system, the LGBTQ community, or simply seeking inspiration, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now and let Arius's story empower you! https://www.thefutureisfoster.com/ https://www.raiseachild.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Tim Mackie is the creative director of "The Bible Project" and a Professor at Western Seminary. We talk about hermeneutics, the doctrine of the Trinity, the development of doctrine, and how Christians who disagree about Christology can relate to each other. We mention Philo of Alexandria, Constantine, Arius of Alexandria, George Guthrie, and more.

While Kix races to save Shaira, Arius and SD race to kill some fuckers. Not everything goes well, though, and we find ourselves low on resources and HP. Later, we plan our next move and decide to go on the attack.Get more great MNmaxed and PF2E content on our YouTubeTalk to us and other MNmaxed listeners in DiscordTo support MNmaxed, check out our PatreonAdditional audio is provided by TabletopAudio.comSupport the Show.

Right now, there is a 50% vacancy in the chaplain positions in the Oregon Air National Guard. Sadly, it's indicative of the absence of chaplains nationwide.  According to Brigadier General David Unruh, a regular listener to Generations Radio and the commander of 2,400 Airmen in Oregon, he sees a great opportunity for ministry. He hopes Generations listeners who are pastors will prayerfully consider serving one weekend per month in the Oregon National Guard -- or the National Guard of their home state -- as a chaplain.  After listening to the July 4th podcast about The Black Robed Regiment of 18th century pastors who boldly challenged the men in their church to fight for American independence, he emailed me, Adam McManus, and shared that he has passed out dozens of copies of Pastor Jonas Clark's sermon  following the Battle of Lexington to Christian officers. On May 2, 1778, General George Washington issued a unique order for the Continental Army at Valley Forge. It read, “The Commander-in-Chief directs that divine services be performed every Sunday at 11 o'clock on each brigade which has chaplains. While we are duly performing the duty of good soldiers, we are not to be inattentive to the highest duties of religion.”   Brigadier General Unruh said, “The role of ministers serving as military chaplains is older than our nation and is as foundational as any other dearly-held principle of liberty upon which our nation was founded. I personally believe all the other principles of liberty rest on Gospel freedom.” He added, “I am surprised that conservative and reformed Christians do not understand that the Dominion Mandate in Genesis and the Great Commission in Matthew necessarily imply risk and sacrifice.” He cited great historical role models who were willing to take a stand in their day like chaplains should take a stand for Christ today. * Athinasius – who boldly spoke out against the heresy of Arianism, the view that Jesus was not divine as taught by Arius. Athinasius declared, “If the world is against the truth, then I will be against the world.”   * John Knox, the Scottish reformer, who stood for Biblical truth, famously said, “The man who stands with God is always in the majority.” Brigadier General Unruh said, “Knox understood the nature of pastoral mathematics.” * The Apostle Paul who boldly preached the Gospel to Agrippa (Acts 25:13-26:32) and to Caesar. Rear Admiral Gregory Todd, chief of Navy chaplains, urged the church to help find chaplain candidates. He said, “The bulk of our ‘flock' are 18- to 25-year-olds, often faced with adult challenges for the first time in their lives. It involves seeing people through some of their most joyful moments to their most personally challenging.” The soldiers most connected to their faith “are 50%-80% less likely to die by suicide, 60% less likely to suffer depression, 80% less likely to suffer addiction, and 70% less likely to participate in risky behaviors.” So, your work as a chaplain could literally save lives and ensure that Airmen stay on the straight and narrow. If you are younger than the age of 42, have your MDiv or at least 72 hours of graduate work toward a Master of Divinity, can spare one weekend a month which would compensate you $1,200/month, then visit the website www.airforce.com/chaplain, call 240-612-7753, or email ngb.hc.hc.chaplain.corps.org@us.af.mil  To reach Brigadier General David Unruh directly, email david.unruh.4@us.af.mil  This program includes: 1. The World View in 5 Minutes with Adam McManus (Tony Perkins not pleased with new GOP Platform, Military chaplains needed ASAP, Church of England endorses sexual perversion) 2. Generations with Kevin Swanson (Guest-hosted by Adam McManus)

We leave the ghast warren and make camp, as we are pretty injured and low on resources, except for Arius who always has a million harms. We head towards a cave one of the ghasts told us about, where we find another group of living intruders. We play like we're going to be nice, but soon a huge combat breaks out.Get more great MNmaxed and PF2E content on our YouTubeTalk to us and other MNmaxed listeners in DiscordTo support MNmaxed, check out our PatreonAdditional audio is provided by TabletopAudio.comSupport the Show.

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda wrap up their coverage of "Lady of Starfire," book 5 in Melissa Roehrich's Lady of Darkness series. The trio's feelings are still mixed on the series, but they weren't mixed on that that scene. IYKYK - the author definitely delivered with that couple.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Bridget, Caitlin, and Hilda give you part 1 of their discussion on "Lady of Starfire," the fifth and final book in Melissa Roehrich's Lady of Darkness series. Even though the series is about to end, there's still secrets and plans being uncovered, and they're all a little lost and not entirely sure they know what's going on. But what they do know is that they need Razik and his "mai dagrocen" to  bang it out already.  Join our Patreon for exclusive behind-the-scenes content and let's be friends!Instagram > @Booktokmademe_podTikTok > @BooktokMadeMe

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Lectionary: 288The Saint of the day is Saint AthanasiusSaint Athanasius' Story Athanasius led a tumultuous but dedicated life of service to the Church. He was the great champion of the faith against the widespread heresy of Arianism, the teaching by Arius that Jesus was not truly divine. The vigor of his writings earned him the title of doctor of the Church. Born of a Christian family in Alexandria, Egypt, and given a classical education, Athanasius became secretary to Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria, entered the priesthood and was eventually named bishop himself. His predecessor, Alexander, had been an outspoken critic of a new movement growing in the East—Arianism. When Athanasius assumed his role as bishop of Alexandria, he continued the fight against Arianism. At first, it seemed that the battle would be easily won and that Arianism would be condemned. Such, however, did not prove to be the case. The Council of Tyre was called and for several reasons that are still unclear, the Emperor Constantine exiled Athanasius to northern Gaul. This was to be the first in a series of travels and exiles reminiscent of the life of Saint Paul. After Constantine died, his son restored Athanasius as bishop. This lasted only a year, however, for he was deposed once again by a coalition of Arian bishops. Athanasius took his case to Rome, and Pope Julius I called a synod to review the case and other related matters. Five times Athanasius was exiled for his defense of the doctrine of Christ's divinity. During one period of his life, he enjoyed 10 years of relative peace—reading, writing, and promoting the Christian life along the lines of the monastic ideal to which he was greatly devoted. His dogmatic and historical writings are almost all polemic, directed against every aspect of Arianism. Among his ascetical writings, his Life of St. Anthony achieved astonishing popularity and contributed greatly to the establishment of monastic life throughout the Western Christian world. Reflection Athanasius suffered many trials while he was bishop of Alexandria. He was given the grace to remain strong against what probably seemed at times to be insurmountable opposition. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. He defended the true faith for his flock, regardless of the cost to himself. In today's world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Arianism was the fourth century evolution of adoptionism, in which Arius made a concession to the mainstream by accepting a quasi-divinity in Jesus Christ. But this was an acquired divinity, an earned divinity, and a divinity that was less than that of the Father. The controversy led to the first worldwide (ecumenical) council of bishops, the Council of Nicaea, in the year 325 AD, and it ultimately led to the crafting of the Nicene Creed, as the Church's definitive statement of orthodox faith. Links To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 23 on Alexander of Alexandria: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-23-alexanders-lagtime-stand/ To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 24 on Athanasius of Alexandria: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-23athanasius-against-world/ To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 2.2 on The Council of Nicaea: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/22-council-nicaea-first-and-foremost/ To listen to Mike Aquilina's episode 33 on Ambrose of Milan: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/33ambrose-milan-how-church-regards-state/ To read the letter from Alexander of Alexandria to Alexander of Byzantium (Constantinople): https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=1823&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2393434 For an introduction to Athanasius' many writings against Arianism: https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/fathers/view.cfm?recnum=3085&repos=8&subrepos=0&searchid=2393444 To listen to the full text of St. Augustine's On Christian Doctrine as an audio book: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-augustine-de-doctrina-christiana-full/   For more on the Arian controversy in its historical context, see the book:  Reading the Church Fathers: A History of the Early Church and the Development of Doctrine: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/reading-the-church-fathers/ For a line by line explanation of the Nicene Creed (with cameo appearances by Batman and Superman), see the book: Trinity 101: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: https://www.liguori.org/trinity-101.html   SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter:  https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at:  http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio To connect with Dr. James Papandrea, On YouTube - The Original Church:  https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Join the conversation in the Original Church Community on Locals:  https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/ Dr. Papandrea's Homepage:  http://www.jimpapandrea.com Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed:  https://www.ccwatershed.org/  

Patrick dives into the heart of struggle and faith, sharing Emma's inspiring journey of 14 and a half years of sobriety, revealing the power of perseverance and the serenity prayer.   Emma - I'm an alcoholic and my sponsor would say, “you can drink tomorrow, but just don't drink today.” Michael - We don't have any Catholic camps in my area. There are other protestant camps. Should I send him to those camps? Stephanie - I asked St. Anthony's intercession to find something. I wanted to find my water bottle. I thought it was one place, but it was on my fridge the whole time. Matt - In the 4th century, when Arius was teaching heresy, how culpable would the local peasants have been? How much would an individual conscience play into knowing the truth in that situation? Teresa – How can I encourage my mom to go to the Roman Rite Mass? Liz – My daughter fell away from the Church and thinks reincarnation is real Patrick talks more about reincarnation after the 2nd break David – In the 'evidence of things unseen' passage, what does this mean and is the placebo effect connected to religion? Kathy - We need to give St. Anthony some time to find stuff and we must have patience.

A few years ago, my colleague Dr. Glenn Sunshine wrote an introduction to one of the greatest works of Christian antiquity, Athanasius' On the Incarnation of the Word. Athanasius (born in Alexandria in the 290s) is best known for defending the divinity of Christ against the heresy of Arius, who taught that Jesus was not equal with God the Father but a lesser, created being. Arianism had gained significant ground in the Church, but Athanasius fought to preserve the biblical view that Jesus is “in very nature God.” In the process, he became known as Athanasius Contra Mundum: “Athanasius Against the World.”   In his introduction, Dr. Sunshine describes Athanasius' teaching:  "[T]he Image of God made it possible for us to know the Word of God; with sin the Image was defaced, and we lost the knowledge of God. But since the Word is the perfect Image of God (Col. 1:15), He was able to renew that Image in us, and by His life, works, and teaching to renew and restore true knowledge of God. His works of power revealed Him as the Word of God, the Lord of all Creation and thus the one through whom true knowledge of God comes."  That the Word of God came, not just to live, but to die for our sins is another important theme of On the Incarnation:   "How could He have called us if He had not been crucified, for it is only on the cross that a man dies with arms outstretched? Here, again, we see the fitness of His death and of those outstretched arms: it was that He might draw His ancient people with the one and the Gentiles with the other and join both together in Himself. Even so, He foretold the manner of His redeeming death, 'I, if I am lifted up, will draw all men to Myself.'" By becoming fully human, the incarnate Word of God draws fallen human beings to Himself, forging them into a new humanity:  "He manifested Himself by means of a body in order that we might perceive the Mind of the unseen Father. He endured shame from men that we might inherit immortality. He Himself was unhurt by this, for He is impassable and incorruptible; but by His own impassability He kept and healed the suffering men on whose account He thus endured. In short, such and so many are the Savior's achievements that follow from His Incarnation, that to try to number them is like gazing at the open sea and trying to count the waves. One cannot see all the waves with one's eyes, for when one tries to do so those that are following on baffle one's senses."  On the Incarnation can speak to the heresies of our time, too. For example, Arianism lives on in Mormonism, the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, and any teaching that denies the Trinity. It also is reincarnated among those who label Jesus as merely a good teacher who came as an example for us, but not as our Savior.  C.S. Lewis famously encouraged his readers to balance the reading of new books with old ones. As Dr. Sunshine reminds us in his introduction to On the Incarnation, Lewis wrote this in his own introduction to Athanasius' work:   "Naturally, since I myself am a writer, I do not wish the ordinary reader to read no modern books. But if he must read only the new or only the old, I would advise him to read the old. And I would give him this advice precisely because he is an amateur and therefore much less protected than the expert against the dangers of an exclusive contemporary diet. A new book is still on its trial and the amateur is not in a position to judge it. It has to be tested against the great body of Christian thought down the ages, and all its hidden implications (often unsuspected by the author himself) have to be brought to light."   So, Lewis said,  “The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books.”   On the Incarnation of the Word is an especially helpful read during Advent and Christmastide, when we celebrate again the coming of the Incarnate Word of God, who became flesh and dwelt among us.  This Breakpoint was co-authored by Kasey Leander and Dr. Glenn Sunshine. For more resources to live like a Christian in this cultural moment, go to breakpoint.org.