Page 32 - God's Church through the Ages - Student Textbook

Constantinople. He presided at the Council of Constantinople in 381, which confirmed the Athanasian position of
the earlier Council of Nicaea in 325. Having accomplished what he believed to be his mission at Constantinople,
and heartily sick of ecclesiastical politics, Gregory resigned and retired to his home town of Nazianzus, where he
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died in 389.

Theodore (A.D. 350-428) - Theodore of Mopsuestia was born into a wealthy family and was a very educated
man. He was a product of the Antiochene School and became famous for his grammatico-historical
interpretation of the Bible. He is called the “prince of ancient exegetes.” He was ordained a presbyter in Antioch
in A.D. 383, and became the bishop of Mopsuestia in Cilicia about A.D. 392.

Eusebius (A.D. 260-339) - He was the first real Christian historian, and his most famous work is the
Ecclesiastical History. It is a history of the Church chronologically presented based on earlier sources and eye
witnesses. It also correlated the history with the reigns of the Roman Emperors. It remains an important source
of information on the early church due to Eusebius’s access to materials now lost. Eusebius was an Arian,
believing that Jesus was a created being. He baptized Constantine before his death and convinced Constantine
to become an Arian. Eusebius promoted Arianism at the Council of Nicaea.

Arius was a Libyan presbyter who was a priest in Alexandria in the third century. He
taught that Jesus Christ was not really God, but was the first created being of God. He
believed that Jesus was a creature distinct from God the Father and therefore subordinate to Him. His
son ship was a result of being created. The Arian Heresy continued for many centuries, splitting the
church leading thousands astray. The Emperor Constantine was baptized and died as an Arian.
Today, the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe the Arian Heresy and take his teachings further by declaring
that Jesus is NOT God, but the first created being of Jehovah.

The Bible says, in John 8: 24, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I
am you will die in your sins.” The I AM is the Greek words, Ego Emi, which means the “eternal one.”
Moses asked God, “Who should I tell them sent me.” God replied, “Tell them I AM sent you.” I AM is
from the root word, “Yahweh” which expresses the eternal nature of God. So Jesus told those who
listened, that unless they believe that He was GOD, they would die in their sins. The
acknowledgement that Jesus is God in flesh is an absolutely essential belief for salvation!

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Ambrose (A.D. 340-397)

Ambrose was born of high ranking officials in the Roman government in the western part
of Germany. He was well educated, but certainly not a Christian and with no Christian
background. He displayed great administrative abilities, and when he was very young he
was appointed governor of a large part of northern Italy. He took up residence in Milan.
Upon the death of the bishop of Milan in A.D. 374, the people unanimously wanted him
to take that position. The orthodox and the Arians were in great conflict as to who their
new leader should be. Tradition has it that when young Ambrose walked into the room to
settle the issue, a child’s voice was heard above the uproar crying, “Ambrose Bishop!”
Ambrose was not a member of the church and had not been baptized. Nevertheless, he was unanimously
elected bishop of Milan. He considered this a call of God, gave all his money to the poor, received baptism, and
consecrated himself as a bishop.

20 http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Gregory_Nazianzus.htm
21 https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Ambrose
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