494 Early Church History 12: Arius and Alexander of Alexandria

This is part 12 of the Early Church History class.

Today we begin a two part series on the Christological controversies of the fourth century. Our focus for this episode is the conflict between Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and his presbyter, Arius. You may be surprised to learn that Arius was not some youthful outsider spouting off obvious heresy. Rather than depending on what modern historians and biased apologists say, we'll depend on ancient historians and the surviving letters from Arius, Alexander, and Constantine to reconstruct what really happened. You may be surprised what we find.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BFihtpvP2o&list=PLN9jFDsS3QV2lk3B0I7Pa77hfwKJm1SRI&index=12

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—— Notes ——

Bishop Alexander of Alexandria (bishop from 313-326)

• Authoritarian bishop (in the steps of Demetrius 80 years prior)
• Called together a meeting of clergy wherein “with perhaps too philosophical minuteness”[1], he explained the unity of the Father and the Son.

Arius of Libya (260-336)

• Presbyter of ancient Baucalis Church in Alexandria
• Austere, ascetic, older man
• Highly intelligent and an expert logician
• Objected to Alexander’s teaching about the unity of the Father and the Son, thinking it sounded like Sabellianism

Investigation

• Alexander held two rounds of debates among clergy in which Arius participated.
• Alexander found both sides convincing but ended up siding with the eternal Son position.
• Alexander held a council of bishops and requested Arius to sign a confession of faith.
• Arius denied; Alexander excommunicated him
• 89 others left with Arius.

Letter Wars

• Alexander wrote letters to other bishops against Arius.
• Alexander wrote an encyclical against Arius.
• Arius wrote letters looking for support.
• Eusebius of Nicomedia and Eusebius of Caesarea had Arius write a conciliatory letter to Alexander.
• Constantine wrote Alexander a letter which requested him to make peace with Arius.

Arius’ Theology

• Word/Son is first created being (before the ages)
• He is superior to all other created beings and objects.
• “There was when he was not.”
• God begat/created Christ out of nothin