Arianism

One of the early teachers that intend to keep fit to the original doctrines of the apostles was Arius AD 250-336. Arius was from Alexandria and stood against the popular belief of Trinity in his days. By the belief of Arius, Yahoshea Meshiyach was subordinate entity to Yahweh. He asserted that since son and father are not equal, so Yahoshea, Yahweh and Holy Spirit are not co-equal or co-eternal as held by Trinity doctrine.

Origin

Arianism was a concept that emerged from Arius who strongly taught that Yahoshea Meshiyach did not always exist but was created by Yahweh and distinct to him. The belief was grounded on the glad-news passage that emphasize as thus “You heard me say, I am going away and I am coming back to you. If you loved me, you will be glad that I am going to the father for the father is greater than I”. The concept of Arianism was boosted by the “Council of Rimini” which was in opposition to the post –Nicaea Trinity doctrine that is presently maintained by Roman Catholic Church and her daughters as Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, all Reformation Protestants Churches (Lutheran Reformed/Presbyterian and Anglican).

The Trinity doctrine is equally adopted among majority of Christian groups that were founded after Reformation era and known as Protestants such as Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostals.

Modern Christian denominations that are rooted on the Non-Trinitarian concept as held by Arianism include- Unitarians, Oneness Pentecostals, Church of God International, and The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints.

Arianism is often used to identify other “Non-Trinitarian” theological systems of the 4th century as they regard Yahoshea as the son of Yahweh, “The Logos” which is a created being by Yahweh.

Claim Continuity To Apostolic Yahosheanism

Arianism claimed to be the defender of Original apostolic sect that succeeded Yahoshea Meshiyach which provided alternative assembly against the political Roman Catholic Church. The concept of Arianism persisted from 3rd century through 4th century and involved numerous adherents from simple believers, priests, bishops and Emperors.

The division of the church members over Arianism and other religious communities in Roman Empire prompted Emperor Constantine to convoke the much publicized Council of Nicaea in 325 AD which condemned Arius' doctrine and formulated the  Nicene Creed of 325.

The focus of the Council of Nicaea was about the nature of Yahoshea and his relationship to Yahweh the father. While Arius maintained that though Yahoshea was a divine and holy person that was sent to redeem mankind but was not equal to Yahweh whom he often identified as his father.

                At the Council of Nicaea, twenty-two Bishops led by Esebues of Nicodemia supported Arius as Anti-Trinity faithful while others who supported Trinity were led by Arc-Deacon Athanasius who later rose to the rank of Bishop of Alexandria.

When Arius concept of Non-Trinity was presented at the council of Nicaea, it was ruled by the majority of the participants as blasphemous.

Constantine's Attack

The term “Arian” was bestowed upon his followers during the debate of the issues of Trinity doctrine under Constantine's influence. Most of the participants ultimately agreed upon a creed known thereafter as the Nicene Creed in which it was spelt that Yahoshea is co-equal and co-eternal with his father Yahweh and such legalized the doctrine of Trinity (God the father, God the son and God the Holy Ghost) into Church of Rome.

On June 325, the council and the Emperor raised a circular to all the churches in Alexandria and beyond to reflect the new creed into church worship. By this letter, Arius and two of his strong supporters – Theonas and Secundus were deposed and exiled to Illyricum.

Since Athanasius (Presbyter) was compatible with Roman pagans, he was promoted to the rank of Bishop of Alexandria in the year 361. In that year, Emperor Constantius II the son and successor of Constantine I died and Julian the Apostate became Roman Emperor. Emperor Julian demanded the restoration of all pagan temples and ordinances which the Church of Rome seized or destroyed.

In the midst of such struggle, the Roman pagans killed George of Laodicea who was the Bishop of Alexandria and allowed Athanasius of Alexandria to reclaim the SEE (seat of the Bishop).

After instituting of Nicene Creed, Emperor Constantine exiled those that refused to accept the creed. The Emperor also ordered that all copies of the book –“Thalia” in which Arius expressed his teachings to be burnt to ashes.

As the battle between Arians and Nicene Churches continued, the Nicene Church that commanded majority of the bishops and authority declared Arians heterodox and its faithful been persecuted.

By this development, the Arianism was weakened and it had to surrender to Trinitarian Roman Church by 4th century AD. The Roman Catholic Church was influenced by Edict of Emperor Constantine against Arians that spelt as follows-“In addition, if any writing composed by Arius should be found, it should be handed over to the flames, so that not only will the wickedness of his teachings obliterated but nothing will be left even to remind anyone of him. And I hereby make a public order that if someone should be discovered to have hidden a written composed by Arius and not to have immediately brought it forward and destroyed it by fire, his penalty shall be death. As soon as he is discovered in this offence, he shall be submitted for capital punishment”.

Further Growth

Arianism shifted to Western European tribes as Goths, Lombards and Vandals. But when the rulers of those Germanic tribes adopted Catholicism, they crushed the Arian sect through military and political conquest during 8th century.

Again, one of the numerous issues raised during Arian controversy is about dates of Passover and Easter. The Arians were of the belief that Hebrew traditional practice of calculation of the date of Passover be followed. By 4th century, most common Yahoshean practices were already destroyed while pagan ideas took their places.

The church voted in support of Easter feast model in which Easter feast must fall on Sunday after Passover of Hebrew counting until it was lately reformed by Pope Gregory.

Conclusion

Arianism was one of religious communities that emerged during the formative era of Roman Catholic Church and equally stood against some of its evil or pagan concepts. Though the sect tried its possible effort to address some fundamental issues that were held sacred by Yahoshea and his apostles but went far short of restoration of the full doctrines and covenants as approved by Yahoshea.

Since Arians observed many practices that were put in place by the Roman Church, such removes it out as a worthy assembly that was meant to restore the original value of apostolic faith. For the Roman church and her daughters, all divinely approved covenants were replaced with the traditions of men of the world. People who worked for or along the church to institute such unholy ordinances were paid patronizingly by the church, their names and deeds were kept as for true successors of the order of Yahoshea Meshiyach and his apostles.

For instance, Athanasius who brought pagan doctrine of Trinity on the council of Nicaea gave rise to the “famous Athanasian Creed” which is interchangeable with “Nicene Creed”.

The Anthanasian Creed bore as follows-“The father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Ghost is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God. In this Trinity-the persons are co-eternal and co-equal, all alike are uncreated and omnipotent “. Althanasian Creed is a total heresy that has no known definition or explanation but the church upheld it rather focused its torch of persecution upon Presbyter Arius for proposing Non-Trinitarian Creed that is in tune of the Holy Scriptures.

The Church called the Athanasian Creed as – “Inscrutable mystery of God” when Athanasius died, he was declared a Saint and his name preserved amongst those acclaimed Saints by Roman Church.

Arianism in its little way was aimed at restoration of original value of messianic apostles who can be identified as upper floor Assembly. In course of this noble expedition, the leader Arius was humiliated, his works burned by flames and his followers massacred by swords of Roman soldiers under the instigation of Roman Catholic Church.

                But, inspite of the efforts of Arius and his sect, it did not answer the yearning questions for apostolic restoration. The group equally went the way of Christendom in many practices. Therefore, it is never a true apostolic continuity as it claimed.