Antioch and Nicaea Flashcards
Antioch - In what state did the author of the letter find “the church of the Antiochenes” upon his arrival AND what was the cause of that state?
- In much disorder
- Result of disagreement because of teaching by some and this probably casued because there is no Bishop
Antioch - Who are the people the bishops want to keep from causing additional problems in Antioch? AND what is the theological focus, “the highest priority of all, exceeding all others”, of the bishops?
Arius’ Presbyters with wrong teaching
Focus = the doctrine of the Son of the living God
Antioch - If the Son of God is not the image “of the will or of any other thing”, then of what is he the image?
He is the hypostasis of the Father himself.
Antioch - In what way does this letter refer to Mary in order to confirm Jesus’ divinity?
“Mary the God-bearing”
Antioch - What doctrinal positions were anathematized (“formally denounced”) by this council of bishops?
Those who say or think or proclaim that the Son of God is a creature or originated or made and not truly an offspring, or that there was once when he was not.
Antioch - What do the bishops mean to communicate when they say the Son is the image of the Father?
He is eternal
Who are the people provisionally excommunicated at the end of the letter by the council of Antioch for holding the same views as Arius?
Theodotus of the Church of Laodiceans
Narcissus from Neronias
Eusebius of Caesarea in Palestine** extremely influential
Nicaea - What are the phrases “substance” and “homoousia” meant to communicate about the status of the Son in relation to the Father?
The Father and Son are one substance.
The son is homoousioua with the Father
Determine whether these terms (“hypostasis” and “substance”) seem to mean the same thing or different things in the Creed of Nicaea AND then state what it is that they mean (to what do they refer).
Same – They refer to the eternality and unity between Father and Son.
What are the two meanings of “hypostasis?”
- can mean a separate/distinct existent thing
- can mean essence/nature/substance
How does Nicaea deviate from the argument of 3 hypostasies and how does it break down trinitarian logic?
Nicaea deviates from 3 hypostases stance and says that hypo #1 = hypo #2 in order to get Arius out and clarify that Son is just as much God as the father
But it makes it hard to distinguish the Son and the Father and this breaks down the Trinitarian logic leaving it open to monarchic and modalist interpretation
