MA2007 Session 2 - A Catholic Church

2 of 4. A Catholic Church
See hopc.org sermons link for full outlines

Introduction: What does it mean to be “catholic”?
Galatians 3:27-28
Colossians 3:11

1. The Ecclesiastical Dimension of the Arian Controversy

Arius’s Letter to Eusebius:
"Before he was begotten or created or ordained or founded, he was not. ... we say, "the Son has a beginning but God is without beginning." For this we are persecuted... "

Arius’s Confession
"... he was created before times ... the Father so constituting him."

Original Nicene Creed (325)
(ends with...)
And those that say ... 'Before he was begotten he was not,' ...
these the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes.

Creed of the Council of Ariminum (360)
... But the name of 'Essence,' which was set down by the Fathers ... being unknown by the people, caused offence, it has seemed good to abolish, ...

Letter of the Council of Constantinople to the West (382)
...
We also preserve unperverted the doctrine of the incarnation of the Lord, ... knowing that he existed as perfect God, the Word, before all ages....

2. Case Study: The Antiochene Schism
   Timeline of the Antiochene Schism:
   325–Council of Nicea
   331–Eustathius deposed (Arian successor installed)
   360–Meletius installed as compromise bishop of Antioch
   (many orthodox follow Paulinus)
   414–resolution of Antiochene division

Conclusion: The Reformed Catholic Church