Bible Concordance: Arius

a-ri'-us, a'-ri-us (Ares): The reading of the Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) adopted in the Revised Version (British and American) for the former reading Areus and Areios of Josephus. A king of Sparta (309-265 B.C.) who wrote the letter to Onias, the high priest, given in 1 Maccabees 12:7, 20-23. There were two Spartan kings named Arius, and three high priests named Onias. Chronology requires the letter mentioned to have been written by Arius I to Onias I, most probably in the interval between 309 and 300 B.C. See LACEDAEMONIANS.

Library

Arius.
... BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE FATHERS OF THE REFORMATION, FOUNDERS OF SECTS, AND
OF OTHER DISTINGUISHED INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME. Arius. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/arius.htm

Deposition of Arius.
... On the Incarnation of the Word. Deposition of Arius. Alexander's Deposition of
Arius and his companions, and Encyclical Letter on the subject. ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/deposition of arius.htm

Arius is Charged with the First of the Above-Mentioned Errors...
... St. Ambrose's Exposition of the Christian Faith. Book I. Chapter XIX. Arius
is charged with the first of the above-mentioned errors¦ ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xix arius is charged.htm

The Letter of Arius to Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia
... Book I. Chapter IV."The Letter of Arius to Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia. ... Arius
prided himself on having these men of one mind with himself. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter iv the letter of arius.htm

The Death of Arius.
... The ECCLESIASTICAL HistorY, BY SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS. Book I. Chapter
XXXVIII."The Death of Arius. Such was the supplication of Alexander. ...
/.../chapter xxxviii the death of arius.htm

What the Council Determined About Arius; the Condemnation of his ...
... Book I. Chapter XXI."What the Council determined about Arius; the Condemnation of
his Followers; his Writings are to be burnt; certain of the High Priests ...
/.../chapter xxi what the council determined.htm

After the Banishment of Athanasius, Arius Having Been Sent for by ...
... Book I. Chapter XXXVII."After the Banishment of Athanasius, Arius having been sent
for by the Emperor, raises a Disturbance against Alexander Bishop of ...
/.../chapter xxxvii after the banishment of.htm

Concerning the Same Arius, and the Melitians.
... Book II. Chapter LXII."Concerning the Same Arius, and the Melitians. Some thus at
Alexandria maintained an obstinate conflict on the highest questions. ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lxii concerning the same arius.htm

The Dispute of Arius with Alexander, his Bishop.
... The ECCLESIASTICAL HistorY, BY SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS. Book I. Chapter
V."The Dispute of Arius with Alexander, his Bishop. After ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of scholasticus/chapter v the dispute of arius.htm

Extracts from the Thalia of Arius. Arius Maintains that God Became ...
... Chapter II."Extracts from the Thalia of Arius. ... 5. Now the commencement of Arius's
Thalia and flippancy, effeminate in tune and nature, runs thus:" ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/chapter ii extracts from the thalia.htm

Thesaurus

Arius
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ARIUS. a ... There were two Spartan kings named
Arius, and three high priests named Onias. Chronology ...
/a/arius.htm - 6k

Creeds
... The opinions of Arius at the beginning of the 4th century created such unrest as
to call forth not only the admonition of bishops but also the intervention of ...
/c/creeds.htm - 28k

Creed
... The opinions of Arius at the beginning of the 4th century created such unrest as
to call forth not only the admonition of bishops but also the intervention of ...
/c/creed.htm - 43k

Oniares
... ONIARES. o-ni'-a-rez, o-ni-a'-rez: 1 Maccabees 12:19 the King James Version equals
the Revised Version (British and American) ARIUS (which see). ...
/o/oniares.htm - 6k

Onias
... the son of Jaddua and father of Simon the Just (ibid., XII, ii, 5; Sirach 50), and,
according to 1 Maccabees 12:7, 20, a contemporary of Areus (Arius), king of ...
/o/onias.htm - 10k

Arithmetic

/a/arithmetic.htm - 6k

Tyre (59 Occurrences)
... 2nd century AD saw a bishopric established there, and in the 4th a council was held
there to consider charges against Athanasius, by the party of Arius; he was ...
/t/tyre.htm - 45k

Spartans
... good reason to doubt the genuineness of the transaction described. See ARIUS;
ASMONEANS; LACEDAEMONIANS; MACCABAEUS, etc. James Orr. ...
/s/spartans.htm - 7k

Sparta
... good reason to doubt the genuineness of the transaction described. See ARIUS;
ASMONEANS; LACEDAEMONIANS; MACCABAEUS, etc. James Orr. ...
/s/sparta.htm - 7k

Alexandria (4 Occurrences)
...Arius was a catechist in this institution, and Athanasius, the "father of orthodoxy"
and "theological center of the Nicene age" (Schaff), though not officially ...
/a/alexandria.htm - 31k

Topical Encyclopedia

Arius (c. 256–336 AD) was a Christian presbyter and ascetic from Alexandria, Egypt, whose teachings gave rise to the theological doctrine known as Arianism. This doctrine became one of the most significant controversies in early Christianity, challenging the orthodox understanding of the nature of Christ and His relationship to God the Father.

Historical Context

Arius emerged during a time when the early Church was striving to articulate its understanding of the Trinity and the nature of Christ. The early 4th century was marked by theological debates as the Church sought to define its core doctrines amidst various interpretations of Scripture.

Teachings and Beliefs

Arius is best known for his assertion that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was not co-eternal with the Father and was a created being. He famously argued that "there was a time when the Son was not," suggesting that the Son was subordinate to the Father. This view was based on passages such as John 14:28, where Jesus says, "The Father is greater than I," and Colossians 1:15, which refers to Christ as "the firstborn over all creation."

Arius's teachings were grounded in a strict monotheism, emphasizing the oneness and transcendence of God the Father. He believed that to maintain the Father's supremacy, the Son must be distinct and subordinate, a view that he believed was consistent with the biblical witness.

Opposition and Controversy

Arius's teachings quickly gained a following but also sparked significant opposition. His views were seen as a threat to the traditional understanding of the Trinity, which held that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are co-equal and co-eternal. Key figures such as Athanasius of Alexandria emerged as staunch opponents of Arianism, defending the full divinity of Christ.

The controversy reached a critical point at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, convened by Emperor Constantine. The council condemned Arianism and produced the Nicene Creed, which affirmed the consubstantiality (homoousios) of the Son with the Father, stating that the Son is "true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father."

Scriptural Considerations

Arius's interpretation of Scripture was challenged by other biblical passages that affirm the divinity of Christ. For instance, John 1:1 states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Additionally, Philippians 2:6-7 speaks of Christ, "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant."

These passages, among others, were used by opponents of Arianism to argue for the eternal and divine nature of Christ, consistent with the doctrine of the Trinity.

Legacy

Despite the condemnation of Arianism at Nicaea, the controversy persisted for several decades, influencing theological debates and ecclesiastical politics throughout the Roman Empire. Arius himself was exiled but later returned to favor before his death in 336 AD.

Arianism's impact on the Church was profound, prompting a deeper exploration of Christological and Trinitarian theology. The debates surrounding Arius and his teachings played a crucial role in shaping the development of orthodox Christian doctrine, as the Church sought to articulate a coherent and biblically faithful understanding of the nature of God and Christ.

Resources

What is apostasy and how can I recognize it? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Athanasius? | GotQuestions.org

What is Arianism? | GotQuestions.org

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Subtopics

Arius