A bishop who disputed Arius, pastor of Baucalis Church, over his doctrines concerning Christ's humanity and God-hood. Around A.D. 320 called a synod at Alexandria to confront Arianism.

[tags]Alexander-Bishop-of-Alexandria, Alexander, Alexandria, Arius, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, history, Arianism[/tags]

Pastor of the influential Baucalis Church in Alexandria where Alexander was bishop. Around A.D. 318, Arius challenged Alexandrian teachers by asserting that Christ's divinity was not of the same order of God's, since he was a created Being — sort of half-God, for "the Son has a beginning, but … God is without beginning." He spread his doctrines with simple jingles. His teaching appealed to the common people and former pagans, since it resembled the Gnosticism of their youth. Quarreled with Bishop Alexander at a synod in Alexandria in A.D. 320 and won the partial support of Eusebius, the Bishop of Nicomedia. His heresy spurred the formulation and acceptance of the Nicene Creed. All bishops present, excepting Arius and two others, accepted this creed. Arius and the remaining two bishops were consequently exiled.

[tags]Alexander, Arius, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Creed, Gnosticism, history, Nicene-Creed[/tags]

(1st General Council, 325)

Called by the Emperor Constantine to settle the question of Christ's divinity raised by Arius. Gave birth to the Nicene Creed. Established that Christ is fully divine, "true God from true God."

[tags]1st-Council-at-Nicea, Arius, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Constantine, Creed, history, Nicene-Creed[/tags]

Bishop of Nicomedia, a friend to Arius.

[tags]Arius, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, Eusebius-of-Nicomedia, history[/tags]

(Wulfila)

A missionary who, in 325 A.D., crossed the Danube river to work among the Visigoths for forty years. Aided by other unknown missionaries, Ulfilas led them to faith in Christ as Arius had preached him. Ulfilas translated the Bible into the Gothic language, with the exception of the Books of Kings, which he thought too bellicose to be edifying for a people already extremely fierce and warlike.

[tags]Arius, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, history, Ulfilas[/tags]