Tapsearch Com EditorThe impact of heresies on our lives
June 2nd 2009 16:28
By Ray Tapajna based on a course by Father McQuade SJ JCU - ( We suggest the reading of our last two posts where we define the term heresy. The term has many connotations and needs to be defined relating to our study.
The Arian Heresy
The first great heresy was Arianism. There were many others but Arianism brought them all together and threatened the early church. Simon Magnus and Cerinthus heresies in the first century and many in the second and third century were related to the doctrine of the Incarnation. These heresies questioned the Person of its Founder. St John wrote in his Gospel that Jesus was the Son of God; was truly God and truly man. He is one Person, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and has two natures. One is divine and one is human. Arianism denied this Gospel teaching.
This mystery was obviously stated in the Gospels from the beginning. However, many were unable to state this mystery other than in a human manner. Arius, the author of the Arianism heresy was a priest of Alexandria and something of a theologian. He had controversialist skills and his turbulent character challenged his Bishop for years prior to the first publication of his heresy in 319 A.D. Arius accused his Bishop of heresy but his Bishop took the attack as a mild confrontation. However the heresy took off and attracted many. The Nicene Council finally condemned Arian's view of Christ.
Cardinal Newman in more recent times, points to the essence of this heresy. He says, - though the expression of the substance or con-substantial was omitted, the term of honor and dignity was bestowed upon the Son of God, God of God, Light of Lights, Life of Life, the only begotten Son, the First born of the whole creation, the Father before all worlds, and the Instrument of creating them.
The plain question was, whether Jesus was God in as full sense as the Father. He was literally of, and in, the one Indivisible Essence which we adore as God.
The whole of Christianity stand or falls with the divinity of Christ. The Arian Heresy attacked the very foundation of Christian understanding. What it made it worst was the vast number which embraced this heresy. The heresy came when the vast majority of men were still pagan, and those high in politics, army, and civil life welcomed any ally that was against Christianity.
Arianism denys that Jesus was the same as God and He was just the highest created being. Others called him a great or the greatest prophet ever. The Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons and Islam religions are based on this false premise.
For a Christian, Jesus is. He lives now in every moment as God Himself. He is the immediate link with God the Father as one. He helps us in our search of the Perfect Love of God who gave His only Son in sacrifice for our sins. Without His living in us now fully as the one and only Divine God, Christianity would not exist.
He leads the way for us and is the Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm who leads us in paths of righteousness. He was sacrificed as a lamb for our sins and established Love as the Gift of the Holy Spirit that never ends.
( See our ( Divine ) Healing Prayer )
Jesus is Lord and Lord is my Shepherd - now and forever
The Arian Heresy
The first great heresy was Arianism. There were many others but Arianism brought them all together and threatened the early church. Simon Magnus and Cerinthus heresies in the first century and many in the second and third century were related to the doctrine of the Incarnation. These heresies questioned the Person of its Founder. St John wrote in his Gospel that Jesus was the Son of God; was truly God and truly man. He is one Person, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity and has two natures. One is divine and one is human. Arianism denied this Gospel teaching.
This mystery was obviously stated in the Gospels from the beginning. However, many were unable to state this mystery other than in a human manner. Arius, the author of the Arianism heresy was a priest of Alexandria and something of a theologian. He had controversialist skills and his turbulent character challenged his Bishop for years prior to the first publication of his heresy in 319 A.D. Arius accused his Bishop of heresy but his Bishop took the attack as a mild confrontation. However the heresy took off and attracted many. The Nicene Council finally condemned Arian's view of Christ.
Cardinal Newman in more recent times, points to the essence of this heresy. He says, - though the expression of the substance or con-substantial was omitted, the term of honor and dignity was bestowed upon the Son of God, God of God, Light of Lights, Life of Life, the only begotten Son, the First born of the whole creation, the Father before all worlds, and the Instrument of creating them.
The plain question was, whether Jesus was God in as full sense as the Father. He was literally of, and in, the one Indivisible Essence which we adore as God.
The whole of Christianity stand or falls with the divinity of Christ. The Arian Heresy attacked the very foundation of Christian understanding. What it made it worst was the vast number which embraced this heresy. The heresy came when the vast majority of men were still pagan, and those high in politics, army, and civil life welcomed any ally that was against Christianity.
Arianism denys that Jesus was the same as God and He was just the highest created being. Others called him a great or the greatest prophet ever. The Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons and Islam religions are based on this false premise.
For a Christian, Jesus is. He lives now in every moment as God Himself. He is the immediate link with God the Father as one. He helps us in our search of the Perfect Love of God who gave His only Son in sacrifice for our sins. Without His living in us now fully as the one and only Divine God, Christianity would not exist.
He leads the way for us and is the Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm who leads us in paths of righteousness. He was sacrificed as a lamb for our sins and established Love as the Gift of the Holy Spirit that never ends.
( See our ( Divine ) Healing Prayer )
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