Arius: Heresy and TraditionArius is widely considered to be Rowan Williams's magnum opus. Long out of print and never before available in paperback, it has been newly revised. This expanded and updated edition marks a major publishing event. Arianism has been called the "archetypal Christian heresy" because it denies the divinity of Christ. In his masterly examination of Arianism, Rowan Williams argues that Arius himself was actually a dedicated theological conservative whose concern was to defend the free and personal character of the Christian God. His "heresy" grew out of an attempt to unite traditional biblical language with radical philosophical ideas and techniques and was, from the start, involved with issues of authority in the church. Thus, the crisis of the early fourth century was not only about the doctrine of God but also about the relations between emperors, bishops, and "charismatic" teachers in the church's decision-making. In the course of his discussion, Williams raises the vital wider questions of how heresy is defined and how certain kinds of traditionalism transform themselves into heresy. Augmented with a new appendix in which Williams interacts with significant scholarship since 1987, this book provides fascinating reading for anyone interested in church history and the development of Christian doctrine. |
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active adoptionism Alexander Alexander's Alexandria Anatolius Antioch Antiochene argues argument Arian Arius Athanasius Bardy believe bishops Caesarea Catholic Christ Christian Christology Church Clement Colluthus Constantine controversy created creation creature creed Dionysius discussion distinct divine doctrine dyad eikōn Enneads Epiphanius episcopal eternal Eusebius of Caesarea Eusebius of Nicomedia evidence exegesis exegetical existence fact faith Father fourth century fragments gnostic God's Gregg haer henos homoousios human hupostasis Iamblichus Ibid idea implies intelligible Jesus Kannengiesser language later letter Logos Lorenz Lucian Lucianists matter Melitian Melitius metaphor Methodius monad nature Neoplatonic Newman Nicaea Nicene Opitz Origen Origenian ousia Pamphilus participation passage Paul of Samosata perhaps philarchos Philo philosophical Philostorgius Platonic Plotinus polemic Porphyry possible presbyter principle probably question rational reality relation Scripture seems sense Socrates Son's Sozomen Spirit subsistence substance suggests synod teaching Thalia theology theos things tradition unity Wisdom Word
Popular passages
Page 5 - And so of the present perils, with which our branch of the Church is beset, as they bear a marked resemblance to those of the fourth century, so are the lessons, which we gain from that ancient time, especially cheering and edifying to Christians of the present day. Then as now, there was the prospect, and partly the presence in the Church, of an Heretical Power enthralling it, exerting a varied influence and a usurped claim in the appointment of her functionaries, and interfering with the management...
Page 23 - All this is (bad) metaphorical talk. What are opposed, in conflict, in fact, locked in antagonistic struggle, are not the same societies at different stages of development, but different societies facing each other at the same Time.
Page 5 - ... of Arianism, we may rejoice in the piety, prudence, and varied graces of our spiritual rulers, and may rest in the confidence that, should the hand of Satan press us sore, our Athanasius and Basil will be given us in their destined season, ' to break the bonds of the oppressor, and set the captive free.
References to this book
The Goths in the Fourth Century Peter J. Heather,John Frederick Matthews,John Matthews No preview available - 1991 |