The Arians of the fourth century

Front matter

OF THE

U N I VER.S ITY OF ILLINOIS

273.4-

Section I. — The Church of Antioch

i

i.

Historical connexion of Arianism with the Antiochene School : —

Paulus, Bishop of Antioch, deposed for heresy

The Martyr Lucian. ......

His disciples the first Arians .....

Judaism of Antioch : —

Revival of the fortunes of the Jews ....

IO

Patronized by successive Emperors.

Their influence upon the populace and the Schools

IO

of Syria .... ...

ii

Quarto-decimans : —

Of the Proconsulate ......

Of Syria

Of central Asia Minor ......

Betraying or encouraging a Judaistic spirit .

Judaizers indirectly leading to Arianism : —

Mosaic rites . . . .

Cerinthians and Ebionites

Nazarenes . ......

Corroborative facts

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Section II. — The Schools of the Sophists . . . . 25

1. Disputative skill of Arians : —

As of Paulus of Samosata 27

And of the disciples of Aristotle .... 29

2. Disputation cultivated in the Christian Schools : —

Axioms taken from logic and mathematics . . 33

School of Artemas. 34

3. Tradition losing force : —

Contempt of predecessors . . . . . 36

Symbol of faith indispensable ..... 36

Unwillingness of the Church to impose it . . 36

Section III. — The Church of Alexandria ... 39

1. Its missionary and political character : — . . 41

Its local position 41

Its exoteric teaching ...... 42

Catechetical system 44

Public preaching ....... 45

Relative influence of separate Gospel truths . . 46

Example of Scripture to guide us . . . .46

2. The Disciplina Arcani, or secret teaching : —

Scripture the storehouse, not the organ of teaching. 50 Nor Apologists an organ, as not authoritative . 51 The secret teaching consistent with the rudimental. 53

Not arbitrary, but an apostolical tradition . . 54

Not derogatory to the authority of Scripture . . 55

Terminating with the rise of the Councils . . 55

3. The Allegorical method : —

National with the Egyptians . . . . . 57

Adopted by Greek philosophy . . . . 57

Natural to the human mind . . . , . 57

Familiar to inspired writers 58

Scripture uses of it 59

Safeguards necessary, canons for its use. . . 60

Caution of Scripture as to it 61

Traditionary keys for it 62

Alexandrian use of it . . . . .62

4. The Economy : —

Used by Alexandrians in Scripture difficulties . 64

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ix.

Sanctioned by St. Paul .....

PAGE

• 65

Exemplified by the Fathers ....

. 66

Theory and dangerousness of it f

. 72

As leading to deceit . .

• 73

Divine economies

• 74

Scripture economies .....

. 76

False economies ......

• 77

The Dispensation of Paganism : —

Paganism in one aspect divine

• 79

As found in Genesis and Job .

. 81

And so taught by the Fathers

• 83

Corollaries from this doctrine ....

. 84

As regards infidelity and apostasy .

• 85

And the cultivation of pagan literature .

. 86

Abuse of the doctrine

. 87

Platonism : —

Its influence on the language of theology

. 89

Pagan tradition of a Trinity ....

. 90

Platonic Trinity ......

. 90

How far adopted by the School of Philo.

. 92

By the Alexandrian Fathers ....

• 93

Instances .......

. 94

Apology for them ......

• 95

For Origen .......

• 97

Section IV. — The Eclectic Sect

1. Its characteristics : —

Its principle and origin .

Ammonius, its founder .

Its connexion with neologism .

Its contrast with it .

Later than Origen .

Though an excrescence of his school

2. Its uncongeniality with Arianism

As mystical

As not disputative ....

As not Judaic

As Platonistic . . . ...

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IOI

109 no no in

X.

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Its serviceableness to Arianism, as opposed to theological mysteries .....

And to formal dogmas, &c

No historical evidence of its aiding Arianism .

Its success in Syria. ......

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1 14

Section V. — Sabellianism

1. Its history : —

Its characteristic doctrine In Proconsular Asia : Noetus.

In Rome : Praxeas .....

In Africa : Sabellius .

In Phrygia : Montanists.

First form, Patripassian ....

Second form, Emanative

2. Its influence on the language of Catholics : — Of Dionysius of Alexandria .

Of Gregory of Neocsesarea On the use of the Homoiision .

Recapitulation of the whole Chapter . .

117 117

118 118 121

Chapter II

THE TEACHING OF THE ANTE-NICENE CHURCH IN ITS RELA- TION TO THE ARIAN HERESY.

Section I. — On the principle of the formation and imposition of Creeds . . . . . . 133

I. Knowledge of the Christian doctrine a privilege to be sought after : —

As being not a subjective opinion, but the truth . 134

And reserved and concealed by the early Church . 135

From reverence . . . . . . .135

Unlike the present state of religion . . . . 137

2. Contrary temper of heresy : —

For instance, in the Gnostics ..... 138

And still more, in the Arians ..... 139

Defenceless state of Catholics . . . . .141

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3. Text of Scripture not a sufficient protection to the revealed dogma : —

Implicit faith 143

Action of the intellect upon it 144

The mind tranquillized thereby .... 146

Attempted comprehensions 147

Fail to secure the truth 148

And to make it a bond of fellowship . . . 149

Hence the necessity of Creeds, with what limitations 150

Section II. — The Scripture doctrine of the Trinity . . 151 The position of the matter of evidence

In the Old Testament commenced .... 153

Completed in the New . . . . 153

Inference to be made thence ..... 155

The word Person 155

Section III. — The Ecclesiastical doctrine of the Trinity . 156

1. Our Lord considered as the Son of God : —

The term “ Son” denotes His derivation. . . 158

And therefore His dissimilarity to all creatures . 159

Passages from the Fathers . . . . .160

He who is born of God is God . . . .161

In like manner He is “ Radiance from the Sun” . 162

Hence, on the other hand, a subordination of the

Son to the Father 163

As explained by Bull and Petavius. . * .164

Ministration of the Son and Spirit . . , .166

Abuse of the term “ Son” . 167

Leading to materiality and ditheism . . .167

2. Our Lord considered as the Word of God : —

The term “ Word” corrects the abuse of the term

“ Son,” as teaching His co-eternity with God . 169

And His office of mediation 169

Passages from the Fathers 170

Abuse of the term “Word” . . . . *171

3. Our Lord considered “of God” and “in God 171-2

Passages from the Fathers 173

The “in God” is the “co-inherence” . . *173

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Passages.

The “of God” is the “ monarch ia”

Passages ,

Section IV. — Variations in the Ante-Nicene Theological Statements

1. The term “ Ingenerate: ” —

Applied to God ; whether to be predicated of the Son The Anomoean controversy

2. The “ Unoriginate —

Whether to be predicated of the Son «

Passages from the Fathers in illustration

3. The “ Consubstantial :” —

The meaning of “ substance” or “ being”

Of “ Consubstantial ” .

Early use of the term ...»

Doctrine of Emanation ....

Imposed an heretical sense on the term .

The history of the term “offspring”

Rejection of the term “consubstantial” by the

Council against Paulus The Alexandrians keep it

4. The “ voluntary generation :” —

Its relation to the doctrine of Emanation How it was understood in relation to our Lord

5. The “Word Internal ” or “ External :” —

A term of the Stoics and Platonists.

Used by the Fathers

The Word’s change from Internal to External a

the creation .....

A kind of “ generation” ....

Five Fathers accused of a misconception Passages from them in illustration .

Section V. — The Arian Heresy

I. Contrasted with other heterodox beliefs : — As to its fundamental tenet With that of the Five Fathers.

PAG*

175 '77

'83

187 189

199 199 199 f

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Viz. with that of the Eclectics ....

Of Gnosticism ........

Of Paulianism. .......

And of Sabellianism ......

2. Its doctrine that : —

What has an origin has a beginning

What has a beginning is a creation

What God willed to be is a creation

What is not ingenerate is a creation

What is material is a creation. ....

“ -begotten ” means “immediately”

“Not one of the creatures” is “not like other

creatures”

“ Before all time ” is “ before all creation” .

All titles admit of a secondary sense

3. Its original documents : —

Arius to Eusebius .......

Arius to Alexander

Arius’s Thalia

Eusebius to Paulinus ......

Alexander to Alexander ......

Alexander’s Encyclical ......

4. Its characteristic qualities : — -

Unscriptural ........

Rationalistic

Versatile

Shallow . . . . ...

How met a£ Nicsea xiii.

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210 210 2 1 1

21 1 213

216 217 218

231 234 xiv.

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Chapter III. The Ecumenical Council Of Nic.ea, In The Reign Of

CONSTANTINE.

Section I. — History of the Nicene Council

1. History of Arius : —

Before his heresy

Upon it

2. Character and position of Constantine : — His view of Christianity ....

His disappointment at its dissensions His conduct towards the Donatists .

His wish for religious peace .

His letter to Athanasius and Arius.

He convokes the Nicene Council .

3. Transactions of the Council : — Disputations ......

Its selection of the test, Homoiision .

Its creed

Dissentients

Brought over

Banishment of Arius ....

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2 37 238

247 249

256 256

Section II. — Consequences of the Nicene Council

1. The Arians : —

Their political and party spirit .... 259

Ingratiate themselves with Constantine . . . 260

Their leaders, Eusebius of Nicomedia . . . 260

And Eusebius of Caesarea ..... 261

Constantia, sister to Constantine .... 263

2. The Catholics : —

Successful at Nicaea 265

Yet their prospects clouded 266

Arius’s restoration attempted by Constantine. • 266

At Alexandria 267

At Constantinople 268

The prayers of Bishop Alexander • • • . 269

Death of Arius 270

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CHAPTER I\ .

COUNCILS IN THE REIGN OF CONSTANTIUS.

PAGE

Section I. — The Eusebians .

i . Character of the Eusebian leaders

Acacius .......

* 275

• 275

Leontius

Eudoxius .......

. 277

Their proceedings : —

Against Eustathius, &c. ....

* 280

They join the Meletians of Egypt .

. 281

Against Athanasius ....

. 282

Hold Councils at Caesarea and Tyre

. 282

And depose him .....

. 284

Their Creeds : —

Athanasius and other exiles at Rome

. 285

Roman Council

. 285

Eusebian Council of the Dedication

. 286

Adopts the creed of Lucian

. 286

Its second, third, and fourth creeds.

to

Its fifth creed, the Macrostich.

. 287

Great Council of Sardica.

. 289

Eusebians leaving it for Philippopolis

. 289

Acquits and restores Athanasius

. 290

Recantation of Valens and Ursacius

. 291

Section II. — The Semi-Arians

1. Their doctrine : —

Its subtlety and indistinctness. .

Its symbol, the Homoeiision It considered our Lord to be a true Son . Its self-contradictions ,

2. Their leaders : —

Men of high character . . , ,

Basil of Ancyra .

Mark of Arethusa

Cyril of Jerusalem

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Eusebius of Samosata

On the contrary, Macedonius, the Pneumatomachist

Their proceedings : —

They start out as a party after Sardica .

Opposed by the Acacians

Acacian device of only Scripture terms .

The Acacian Homoeon ......

Section III. — The Athanasians. Persecutions

i.

Paulus of Constantinople : —

Banished and Martyred

3ii

Lucius of Hadrianople : —

Eusebian Council of Sirmium : —

Deposes Photinus .......

4*

Persecution of the West.

Eusebian Council of Arles

The orthodox Bishops excommunicate Athanasius .

Fall of Vincent .......

b-

Eusebian Council of Milan ; —

Condemns Athanasius . . . *,

Banishment of Dionysius

,, Eusebius of Vercellse

Proceedings against Pope Liberius : —

His noble conduct

His banishment . . ....

He is tempted. .......

A comprehension of parties ....

His fall

He renounces Athanasius and signs a Eusebian creed

He afterwards recovers himself ....

Proceedings against Hosius : —

Eusebian Creed offered for his acceptance .

His brave conduct .......

Scourged and racked

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Signs the creed ....... 326

Refuses to condemn Athanasius .... 326

His repentance 326

8. Proceedings against Athanasius : —

The Alexandrians prepare themselves for the trial . 327

Recent sufferings 327

Encouraged by the Sardican Council . . . 328

George of Cappadocia* the Eusebian Bishop . . 329

Irruption of Syrianus into the Church . . . 329

Escape of Athanasius 33 1

Persecution of Egyptian Bishops and people . . 331

Manifesto of Constantius .... 332

Section IV. — The Anomoeans

1. Rise of the heresy : —

Aetius 337

Eunomius . • 339

2. Its history : —

They join the Eusebians or Acacians against the Semi-Arians .....

At Caesarea

And Antioch

Semi-Arian Council at Ancyra Appeal of the two parties to Constantius.

The Emperor’s changes of mind Preparation for an Ecumenical Council .

Acacian Council of Seleucia .

Acacian Council of Ariminum.

Triumph of Arianism throughout the world Disgrace of Aetius . . .

Death of Constantius ....

Section I. — The Council of Alexandria in the reign of Julian

I. The question of the Arianizing Bishops : —

Its difficulty 257

Its solution 359

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2. The question of the Succession at Antioch :

.

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Meletius .....

• •

His confession of orthodoxy .

• •

.

Lucifer’s interference

• •

Schism in consequence .

• •

•

3. The question of the hypostasis

The term Hypostasis or Persona

• •

•

Whether three or one

• •

• .

Differences among Catholics .

• •

Letter of the Council

.