Lesson 14:

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Lesson 14
Splitting Important Hairs
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I. The Setting of the Controversy
The deity of Christ is professed in the oldest
surviving Christian sermon, in the
oldest surviving report of the death of a
Christian martyr, in the oldest pagan report of a
church service, and in the oldest surviving
liturgical prayer.

Jaroslav Pelikan, The Christian Tradition
1194
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is
now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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Subordinationism
Monarchianism / modalism
Tertullian trinity substance person
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II. The Controversy Stated
If the Father begot the Son, then he who was
begotten had a beginning in existence, and thus
it follows there was a time when he was not
a third thing tertium quid
Arius
The Arian Christ was an incarnation of what is
not God in what is not man J. C. Wan
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Arius of Alexandria, Im the talk of all the
town,
friend of saints, elect of heaven, filled
with learning and renown If you want the
Logos-doctrine, I can serve it steaming hot God
begat him and before he was begotten he was not.
320 Council of Bishops
Why was Arius views well received?

• Influence of Origin
• Limited theological discernment

Constantine inherited a mess!
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III. The Council Called
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(No Transcript)
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And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
begotten of the Father, only begotten, that is,
from the substance of the Father, God from God,
Light from Light, very God from very God,
begotten not made, of the same substance as the
Father.
homoousios
The begetting of God must be honored by silence.
It is a great thing for you to learn that He was
begotten. But the manner of His generation we
will not admit that even angels can conceive,
much less you Gregory of Naziansas
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Athanasius

1. Closing of the canon
2. Promotion of monasticism
3. The doctrine of the full deity of Christ