Arius

(c. 250–c. 336)

   Heretic.

   Little certain is known of the early life of Arius. He emerged as a successful preacher in Alexandria, North Africa, teaching the subordination of the person of Christ to the person of the Father. In c. 320 he was excommunicated by a synod in Alexandria and he travelled to the East to enlist the support of the Emperor constantine. After receiving a report from hosius, Constantine summoned an Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325. Only fragments of Arius’s own writings have survived, but his position is fully described by the orthodox athanasius.

   Arius insisted that the Son was not coequal and co-eternal with the Father. Instead He was created by God as an instrument through which the world was created. Therefore there was a time when the Father was and the Son was not. After this theory was rejected by the Council, Arius was sent into exile, but as a result of his friendship with eusebius of nicomedia, he was allowed to return to Alexandria. The beliefs which bear his name were highly influential throughout the fourth century, but were unequivocally rejected by the orthodox because they denied the full divinity of Jesus.

   R.C. Gregg and D.E. Groh, Early Arianism. A View of Salvation (1981);

   R.D. Williams, Arius (1987).