Page 11 - History of Christianity I - Student Textbook

5. Arianism - Arius was a priest under the bishop Alexander. He was excommunicated for his teachings that
claimed that Jesus was a created being. Arius adamantly rejected the use of the term ‘homoousios’ (of the
same substance) as the identity of Jesus in relationship with the Father. He denied the Trinity because he
believed that if Jesus is begotten, he must be a created being and capable of falling from grace. He also
reasoned that if Jesus was a created being, he could not be God. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have adopted the
views of Arian in their doctrine today.

Apologists in the Early Church

The opponents to Christianity (as seen above) forced the early church leaders to develop creeds and formulas as
a way to solidify “orthodox” positions relative to Scripture. This consistent criticism of the faith gave rise to
another special group of Christian writers, the Apologists. These writers argued for the faith, and in the process
allowed Christians for all ages to know what the second century church believed. They also were instrumental in
the validating the canon of Scripture, known today as our New Testament.

Justin Martyr (cir. 100-165)

Justin was an ardent student of philosophy (mainly Stoicism and Platonism) and taught
philosophy. In his early thirties he met an elderly man on a seashore who impressed upon Justin
the trustworthiness of the gospel. Justin investigated the faith and became convinced. He
continued to wear his philosopher's gown and teach philosophy, but now advocating the only true
philosophy to be Christianity.

Justin is mainly known through his writings:
The Apologies – a set of discourses propounding the supremacy of the Christian faith. The first Apology is
addressed to the emperor Antoninus Pius (ruled 138-161) and to his son, Marcus Aurelius (ruled 161-180), who
himself was something of a philosopher. Justin appeals to these emperors and their sense of decency, arguing
against the persecution directed at Christians.

Dialogue with Trypho – a treatise again proposing the primacy of the Christian faith, but with more emphasis on
how the followers of Jesus represent the “new” people of God.

Justin is also quite important for the role his writings play in the development of the NT canon. He quotes from,
or alludes to, each of the four gospels and to many of Paul's letters. He was arrested and beheaded in Rome and
thus receives his name as Justin Martyr.

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