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Particulars
of Christianity:
301
Roman Catholicism
Roman
Catholicism (Part 11)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 1)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 2)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 3)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 4)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 5)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 6)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 7)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 8)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 9)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 10)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 11)
Roman
Catholicism (Part 12)
Addendum:
In Their Own Words
(Continued from previous section.)
Eusebius's Gnostic Influence on Roman Catholic Theology
Eusebius of Caesarea, who lived in the early 4th century,
is recognized as one of the more influential writers of the
Christianity.
"Eusebius Of Caesarea - flourished 4th century,
Caesarea Palestinae, Palestine also called Eusebius Pamphili
bishop, exegete, polemicist, and historian whose account
of the first centuries of Christianity, in his Ecclesiastical
History, is a landmark in Christian historiography." -
Britannica.com
"Eusebius Of Caesarea - The work of the scholars of
the Christian school at Caesarea extended into all fields
of Christian writing. Eusebius himself wrote voluminously
as apologist, chronographer, historian, exegete…" - Britannica.com
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of
Cæsarea in Palestine, the 'Father of Church History.'"
- Catholic Encyclopedia
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - (5) The Church History. It
would be difficult to overestimate the obligation which posterity
is under to Eusebius for this monumental work. Living during
the period of transition, when the old order was changing
and all connected with it was passing into oblivion, he came
forward at the critical moment with his immense stores
of learning and preserved priceless treasures of Christian
antiquity. This is the great merit of the Church History."
- Catholic Encyclopedia
Similarly, as we discussed somewhat earlier, Eusebius must
be credited with the formation of the 4th century (or Roman
Catholic) understanding of the papacy, the Church, and the
relationship of the Church and the State.
"Christianity - Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-c.
340) was the court theologian of Emperor Constantine the Great,
who formed the Orthodox understanding of the mutual relationship
of church and state. He saw the empire and the imperial
church as sharing a close bond with one another; in the
centre of the Christian empire stood the figure of the Christian
emperor rather than that of the spiritual head of the
church." - Britannica.com
"Christianity - Eusebius made this idea the basis
of his political theology, in which the Christian emperor
appears as God's representative on Earth in whom God himself
'lets shine forth the image of his absolute power.'" - Britannica.com
"Christianity - This religious interpretation of
the Christian emperor reinterpreted in the Christian sense
the ancient Roman institution of the god-emperor. Some of
Eusebius' remarks echo the cult of the Unconquered Sun, the
Sol Invictus, who was represented by the emperor according
to pagan understanding. The emperor-in this respect he also
resembled the pagan god-emperor who played the role of the
pontifex maximus (high priest) in the state cult-took the
central position within the church as well… The Christian
emperor entered not only the political but also the sacred
succession of the Roman god-emperor. Next to such a figure,
an independent leadership of the church could hardly develop."
- Britannica.com
Other than his historical works, Eusebius dedicated himself
to copying books including the scripture and the writings
of Origen, of whom he was quite fond (just like Ambrose and
Augustine). He even co-authored an apology of Origen's theology
with his mentor, Pamphilus.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - Too humble to write anything
himself, he spent his time in preparing accurate copies of
the Scriptures and other books, especially those of Origen…It
must be remembered that Origen's own copy of the Hexapla
was in the library of Pamphilus. It had probably been deposited
there by Origen himself." - Catholic Encyclopedia
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - Towards the end of 307 Pamphilus
was arrested, horribly tortured, and consigned to prison.
Besides continuing his work of editing the Septuagint, he
wrote, in collaboration with Eusebius, a Defence of Origen
which was sent to the confessors in the mines - a wonderful
gift from a man whose sides had been curried with iron combs,
to men with their right eyes burned out and the sinews of
their left legs cauterized." - Catholic Encyclopedia
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - (34) The Apology for Origen.
This work has already been mentioned in connection with Pamphilus.
It consisted of six books, the last of which was added by
Eusebius. Only the first book is extant, in a translation
by Rufinus." - Catholic Encyclopedia
In 313 A.D., Eusebius was made bishop of Caesarea. Shortly,
thereafter, the Arian controversy erupted onto the scene of
Church history. Arius, the founder of the heresy, found sanctuary,
sympathy, and support in Caesarea from Eusebius, after being
excommunicated from Alexandria.
"Eusebius Of Caesarea - Eusebius became bishop of
Caesarea (in Palestine) about 313. When about 318 the theological
views of Arius, a priest of Alexandria, became the subject
of controversy because he taught the subordination of the
Son to the Father, Eusebius was soon involved. Expelled
from Alexandria for heresy, Arius sought and found sympathy
at Caesarea, and, in fact, he proclaimed Eusebius as a leading
supporter." - Britannica.com
"Eusebius of Caesarea - or Eusebius Pamphili, c.263-339?,
Greek apologist and church historian, b. Palestine. He
was bishop of Caesarea, Palestine (314?-339). In the controversy
over Arianism, Eusebius favored the semi-Arian views of Eusebius
of Nicomedia, and he once gave refuge to Arius." - The
Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - The Arians soon found that
for all practical purposes Eusebius was on their side.
He wrote to Alexander charging him with misrepresenting the
teaching of the Arians and so giving them cause "to attack
and misrepresent whatever they please" (see below). A portion
of this letter has been preserved in the Acts of the second
Council of Nicæa, where it was cited to prove that Eusebius
was a heretic. He also took part in a synod of Syrian bishops
who decided that Arius should be restored to his former position…"
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - A portion of this letter
was read at the Second Council of Nicæa, and against it were
set portions from the letters to Alexander and Euphrasion
to prove that Eusebius 'was delivered up to a reprobate sense,
and of one mind and opinion with those who followed the Arian
superstition' (Labbe, "Conc.", VIII, 1143-1147; Mansi,
"Conc.", XIII, 313-317)." - Catholic Encyclopedia
"Eusebius of Nicomedia - At the request of Arius,
Eusebius of Cæsarea and others met together in Palestine,
and authorized him to return to the Church which he had
governed in Alexandria." - Catholic Encyclopedia
Arius' acceptance in Caesarea is not at all surprising given
Eusebius' (of Caesarea) affinity for Origen, who, like Arius,
had been excommunicated from Alexandria for heresy and was
promptly given asylum in Caesarea.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - Arius, like Origen before
him, found an asylum at Cæsarea." - Catholic Encyclopedia
Eusebius' close relationship with emperor Constantine is also
generally acknowledged.
"Christianity - Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-c.
340) was the court theologian of Emperor Constantine the Great…"
- Britannica.com
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - Concerning Eusebius's parentage
we know absolutely nothing; but the fact that he escaped
with a short term of imprisonment during the terrible
Diocletian persecution, when his master Pamphilus and others
of his companions suffered martyrdom, suggests that he
belonged to a family of some influence and importance. His
relations, later on, with the Emperor Constantine point to
the same conclusion." - Catholic Encyclopedia
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - At the opening of the Council
of Nicæa Eusebius occupied the first seat on the right of
the emperor, and delivered the inaugural address which was
'couched in a strain of thanksgiving to Almighty God on his,
the emperor's behalf' (Vit. Const., III, 11; Soz., H.
E., I, 19). He evidently enjoyed great prestige…" -
Catholic Encyclopedia
In fact, it is Eusebius of Caesarea, who wrote the biography
of Constantine's life.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - (6) The Life of Constantine,
in four books. This work has been most unjustly blamed,
from the time of Socrates downwards, because it is a panegyric
rather than a history. If ever there was a man under an obligation
to respect the maxim, De mortuis nil nisi bonum, this man
was Eusebius, writing the Life of Constantine within three
years after his death (337). This Life is especially valuable
because of the account it gives of the Council of Nicæa and
the earlier phases of the Arian controversy. It is well to
remember that one of our chief sources of information for
the history of that council is a book written to magnify Constantine."
- Catholic Encyclopedia
After being accused of heresy himself and excommunicated for
it, Eusebius was reinstated under emperor Constantine's approval
at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.
"Eusebius Of Caesarea - Eusebius did not fully support
either Arius or Alexander, bishop of Alexandria from 313 to
328, whose views appeared to tend toward Sabellianism (a heresy
that taught that God was manifested in progressive modes).
Eusebius wrote to Alexander, claiming that Arius had been
misrepresented, and he also urged Arius to return to communion
with his bishop. But events were moving fast, and at a strongly
anti-Arian synod at Antioch, about January 325, Eusebius
and two of his allies, Theodotus of Laodicea and Narcissus
of Neronias in Cilicia, were provisionally excommunicated
for Arian views. When the Council of Nicaea, called by the
Roman emperor Constantine I, met later in the year, Eusebius
had to explain himself and was exonerated with the explicit
approval of the emperor." - Britannica.com
The Council of Nicaea had been called by Constantine in the
interest of maintaining unity in the Church and the empire.
Exactly which (the Church or the empire) was his priority
is debated by historians. The council was specifically called
to address the spread of Arianism. (We will take a look at
Constantine's contributions to Roman Catholic syncretism a
little later on.)
"Nicaea, Council of - (325), the first ecumenical
council of the Christian church, meeting in ancient Nicaea
(now Iznik, Tur.). It was called by the emperor Constantine
I, an unbaptized catechumen, or neophyte, who presided
over the opening session and took part in the discussions.
He hoped a general council of the church would solve the
problem created in the Eastern church by Arianism,
a heresy first proposed by Arius of Alexandria that affirmed
that Christ is not divine but a created being." - Britannica.com
At the council the views of Arius and the Arian party were
represented by Eusebius of Caesarea.
"Arianism - A creed was drawn up on behalf of the
Arian party by Eusebius of Caesarea in which every term of
honour and dignity, except the oneness of substance, was attributed
to Our Lord." - Catholic Encyclopedia
To be sure, the Creed put forth by Council of Nicaea in response
to the issue of the nature of Christ was by all means concretely
orthodox. Arius, the founder of Arianism, was condemned and
sent into exile by Constantine.
"Nicaea, Council of - The council condemned Arius
and, with reluctance on the part of some, incorporated the
nonscriptural word homoousios ("of one substance") into a
creed (the Nicene Creed) to signify the absolute equality
of the Son with the Father. The emperor then exiled Arius,
an act that, while manifesting a solidarity of church and
state, underscored the importance of secular patronage in
ecclesiastical affairs." - Britannica.com
"Arius - The Council of Nicaea, in May 325, declared
Arius a heretic after he refused to sign the formula of faith
stating that Christ was of the same divine nature as God."
- Britannica.com
"Arius - c.256-336, Libyan theologian, founder of
the Arian heresy. A parish priest in Alexandria, he
advanced the doctrine famous as Arianism and was excommunicated
locally (321). He was declared orthodox in Asia Minor,
where he had fled (323), but he was anathematized by the Council
of Nicaea (see Nicaea, First Council of) and banished by Roman
Emperor Constantine (325)." - The Columbia Encyclopedia,
Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Arius - He must have been of great age when, after
fruitless negotiations and a visit to Egypt, he appeared
in 325 at Nicaea, where the confession of faith which he presented
was torn in pieces. With his writings and followers he underwent
the anathemas subscribed by more than 300 bishops. He was
banished into Illyricum. Two prelates shared his fate,
Tehonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais. His books
were burnt." - Catholic Encyclopedia
Eusebius of Caesarea reluctantly signed the Nicene Creed,
but made not attempt to cover his disagreement with it.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - After some delay Eusebius
subscribed to the uncompromising creed drawn up by the council,
making no secret, in the letter which he wrote to his own
Church, of the non-natural sense in which he accepted it."
- Catholic Encyclopedia
Of greater interest than the events of the council itself,
however, are the developments that occurred in the aftermath
of the council. These events paint an altogether questionable
picture of Eusebius of Caesarea as an advocate of heresy and
an opponent of orthodoxy. In the decade that followed the
Council of Nicaea, Constantine eagerly set about a campaign
to unify the Church at the expense of orthodox doctrine.
"Eusebius Of Caesarea - In the years following the
Council of Nicaea, the emperor was bent on achieving unity
within the church, and so the supporters of the Nicene Creed
in its extreme form soon found themselves forced into the
position of dissidents." - Britannica.com
Those persons who were chiefly responsible for the orthodox
creed and the denunciation of Arius were relentlessly pursued
by the heretic's closest allies. One of those who adamantly
opposed Arius and his teaching was a man named Athanasius,
who led the Council of Nicaea in its acceptance of the orthodox
view of Jesus Christ and condemnation of Arianism.
"Athanasius, Saint - born c. 293, Alexandria died
May 2, 373, Alexandria; feast day May 2, theologian, ecclesiastical
statesman, and Egyptian national leader; he was the chief
defender of Christian orthodoxy in the 4th-century battle
against Arianism, the heresy that the Son of God was a creature
of like, but not of the same, substance as God the Father.
His important works include The Life of St. Antony and Four
Orations Against the Arians." - Britannica.com
"Nicaea, First Council of - 325, 1st ecumenical
council, convened by Roman Emperor Constantine the Great to
solve the problems raised by Arianism. It has been said
that 318 persons attended, but a more likely number is 225,
including every Eastern bishop of importance, four Western
bishops (among them Hosius of Córdoba, president of the council),
and two papal legates. The chief figures at the council
were Arius and his opponent, Athanasius." - The Columbia
Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Athanasius, Saint - c.297-373, patriarch of Alexandria
(328-73), Doctor of the Church, great champion of orthodoxy
during the Arian crisis of the 4th cent. (see Arianism).
In his youth, as secretary to Bishop Alexander, he took
part in the christological debate against Arius at the Council
of Nicaea (see Nicaea, First Council of), and thereafter
became chief protagonist for Nicene orthodoxy in the long
struggle for its acceptance in the East. He defended the
homoousion formula that states that Jesus is of the same substance
as the Father, against the various Arian parties who held
that Jesus was not identical in substance with the Father."
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
Eusebius of Caesarea, who had formerly represented the heretic
Arius at the Council of Nicaea, and sheltered him in his own
bishopric, was actively involved in the removal of Athanasius
from his bishopric in Alexandra.
"Eusebius Of Caesarea - Eusebius took part in the
expulsion of Athanasius of Alexandria (335), Marcellus
of Ancyra (c. 336), and Eustathius of Antioch (c. 337). Eusebius
remained in the emperor's favour, and, after Constantine's
death in 337, he wrote his Life of Constantine, a panegyric
that possesses some historical value, chiefly because of its
use of primary sources." - Britannica.com
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - In 334 and 335 he took part
in the campaign against St. Athanasius at the synods held
in Cæsarea and Tyre respectively." - Catholic Encyclopedia
The result of the Arian persecution of Athanasius, in which
Eusebius took part, was Constantine's eventual exile of the
bishop of Alexandria (Athanasius) to Gaul without a formal
trial.
"Athanasius, Saint - Soon began the struggle with
imperialist and Arian churchmen that occupied much of his
life…When both parties met the emperor Constantine at
Constantinople in 336, Athanasius was accused of threatening
to interfere with the grain supply from Egypt, and without
any formal trial Constantine exiled him to the Rhineland."
- Britannica.com.
"Eusebius Of Nicomedia - His unrelenting harassment
of the leaders of the Homoousians helped lead Constantine
to depose and exile Bishop St. Athanasius the Great of Alexandria
at a synod in Tyre in 335 and to reinstate Arius at a synod
in Jerusalem in 335." - Britannica.com
"Constantine I, Roman emperor - He seems to have
favored compromise with Arianism, and in 335, in defiance
of the Council of Tyre, he exiled St. Athanasius." - The
Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Eusebius of Nicomedia - They carefully avoided renewing
the accusations of murder and sacrilege, which Constantine
had already examined; and Athanasius tells us that five Egyptian
bishops reported to him that they rested their case on
a new charge, that he had threatened to delay the corn ships
from Alexandria which supplied Constantinople. The emperor
was enraged. No opportunity of defense was given, and Athanasius
was banished to Gaul." - Catholic Encyclopedia
(NOTE: Eusebius of Nicomedia is not to be confused with Eusebius
of Caesarea. They are two different Arian supporters. We will
take a look at Eusebius of Nicomedia a little later on in
our study.)
In the mean time, Constantine commuted Arius's exile and reinstated
him back into the Church due to influence from his former
allies, including Eusebius of Caesarea and Constantine's daughter,
Constantia.
"Arius - Influential support from colleagues in
Asia Minor and from Constantia, the emperor Constantine I's
daughter, succeeded in effecting Arius' return from exile
and his readmission into the church after consenting to a
compromise formula. Shortly before he was to be reconciled,
however, Arius collapsed and died while walking through
the streets of Constantinople." - Britannica.com
"Arius - He was declared orthodox in Asia Minor, where
he had fled (323), but he was anathematized by the Council
of Nicaea (see Nicaea, First Council of) and banished by Roman
Emperor Constantine (325). But in the reaction after Nicaea,
he came into imperial favor. The emperor had ordered the Athanasians
at Alexandria to receive him at communion when he suddenly
died." - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Eusebius of Cæsarea - From Tyre the assembly of
bishops were summoned to Jerusalem by Constantine, to
assist at the dedication of the basilica he had erected on
the site of Calvary. After the dedication they restored
Arius and his followers to communion. From Jerusalem they
were summoned to Constantinople (336), where Marcellus was
condemned." - Catholic Encyclopedia
"Arius - The Arians, joined by their old Meletian friends,
created troubles in Alexandria. Eusebius persuaded Constantine
to recall the exile by indulgent letters in 328; and the emperor
not only permitted his return to Alexandria in 331, but ordered
Athanasius to reconcile him with the Church. On the saint's
refusal more disturbance ensued. The packed and partisan Synod
of Tyre deposed Athanasius on a series of futile charges
in 335. Catholics were now persecuted; Arius had an interview
with Constantine and submitted a creed which the emperor judged
to be orthodox. By imperial rescript Arius required Alexander
of Constantinople to give him Communion." - Catholic Encyclopedia
"Arianism - Her dying words affected him, and he
recalled the Lybian, extracted from him a solemn adhesion
to the Nicene faith, and ordered Alexander, Bishop of the
Imperial City, to give him Communion in his own church (336).
Arius openly triumphed…" - Catholic Encyclopedia
So, though the Council of Nicaea initially upheld orthodoxy
and exiled the heretic, the final result was the expulsion
of the orthodox bishop who championed the Nicene Creed, the
systematic effort to undermine the Council's ruling, and the
reinstatement of the heretic, Arius. And who was involved
in this effort? Well, among others, emperor Constantine and
Eusebius of Caesarea.
In order to fully understand Eusebius of Caesarea it is necessary
to take a closer look at the men with whom he was closely
associated with and on whose behalf he acted as well as the
beliefs of these men, which he both represented and shared.
The first of these men is Arius himself.
The two most important facts about Arius' theology are its
incorporation of the Gnostic view of Jesus Christ as a subordinate
and created being not to be identified with divinity and the
Gnostic fusion of Neoplatonic mysticism with Christianity.
In this second aspect, Arius is really no different than Origen
or Ambrose and Augustine who, like Arius, shared great affection
for Origen and Neoplatonic paganism.
"Arianism - a Christian heresy first proposed early
in the 4th century by the Alexandrian presbyter Arius. It
affirmed that Christ is not truly divine but a created being.
Arius' basic premise was the uniqueness of God, who is alone
self-existent and immutable; the Son, who is not self-existent,
cannot be God. Because the Godhead is unique, it cannot
be shared or communicated, so the Son cannot be God.
Because the Godhead is immutable, the Son, who is mutable,
being represented in the Gospels as subject to growth and
change, cannot be God. The Son must, therefore, be deemed
a creature who has been called into existence out of nothing
and has had a beginning. Moreover, the Son can have
no direct knowledge of the Father since the Son is finite
and of a different order of existence." - Britannica.com
"Arianism - Christian heresy founded by Arius in the
4th cent. It was one of the most widespread and divisive heresies
in the history of Christianity. As a priest in Alexandria,
Arius taught (c.318) that God created, before all things,
a Son who was the first creature, but who was neither equal
to nor coeternal with the Father. According to Arius, Jesus
was a supernatural creature not quite human and not quite
divine. In these ideas Arius followed the school of Lucian
of Antioch." - The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001.
"Arius - An ascetical, moral leader of a Christian
community in the area of Alexandria, Arius attracted a
large following through a message integrating Neoplatonism..."
- Britannica.com
"Arianism - In the New Testament and in Church teaching
Jesus of Nazareth appears as the Son of God. This name He
took to Himself (Matthew 11:27; John 10:36), while the
Fourth Gospel declares Him to be the Word (Logos), Who in
the beginning was with God and was God, by Whom all things
were made. A similar doctrine is laid down by St. Paul, in
his undoubtedly genuine Epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians,
and Philippians. It is reiterated in the Letters of Ignatius,
and accounts for Pliny's observation that Christians in their
assemblies chanted a hymn to Christ as God. But the question
how the Son was related to the Father (Himself acknowledged
on all hands to be the one Supreme Deity), gave rise, between
the years A.D. 60 and 200, to a number of Theosophic systems,
called generally Gnosticism, and having for their authors
Basilides, Valentinus, Tatian, and other Greek speculators.
Though all of these visited Rome, they had no following in
the West, which remained free from controversies of an abstract
nature, and was faithful to the creed of its baptism. Intellectual
centres were chiefly Alexandria and Antioch, Egyptian or Syrian,
and speculation was carried on in Greek. The Roman Church
held steadfastly by tradition. Under these circumstances,
when Gnostic schools had passed away with their "conjugations"
of Divine powers, and "emanations" from the Supreme unknowable
God (the "Deep" and the "Silence") all speculation
was thrown into the form of an inquiry touching the "likeness"
of the Son to His Father and "sameness" of His Essence."
- Catholic Encyclopedia
"Arianism - That disputes should spring up even among
the orthodox who all held one faith, was inevitable. And of
these wranglings the rationalist would take advantage in order
to substitute for the ancient creed his own inventions. The
drift of all he advanced was this: to deny that in any true
sense God could have a Son; as Mohammed tersely said afterwards,
"God neither begets, nor is He begotten" (Koran, 112). We
have learned to call that denial Unitarianism. It was the
ultimate scope of Arian opposition to what Christians had
always believed. But the Arian, though he did not come straight
down from the Gnostic, pursued a line of argument and taught
a view which the speculations of the Gnostic had made familiar.
He described the Son as a second, or inferior God, standing
midway between the First Cause and creatures; as Himself made
out of nothing, yet as making all things else; as existing
before the worlds of the ages; and as arrayed in all divine
perfections except the one which was their stay and foundation.
God alone was without beginning, unoriginate; the Son was
originated, and once had not existed. For all that has origin
must begin to be." - Catholic Encyclopedia
So, we see that history records Eusebius of Caesarea as a
man who sheltered the Neoplatonic, pagan heretic Arius, who
represented Arian heresy at the Council of Nicaea, and who
afterwards worked tirelessly against those who had opposed
Arius and his heresy at the Council.
(Continued in next section.)
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