Where and when did the challenge occur?
When did Christianity become legal?
313 CE
Who was the founder of Arianism?
Arius
When was the Council of Nicaea formed?
325 CE
Who was the first Christian Emperor and what did he do?
Emperor Constantine was the first Christian Emperor and he legalised the practice of Christianity.
What key belief did Arius, the founder of Arianism, promote?
The belief that Jesus Christ was a created being and not co-eternal with God the Father.
In Christianity what does Schism refer to?
Schism occurs when a single religious body divides and becomes two separate religious bodies.
When Christianity was formed, what could Christian communities finally do?
Christian communities could now freely and publicly express their faith.
How did the early Christian church react to Arianism?
The early Christian church viewed Arianism as a dangerous heresy that threatened the divinity of Christ.
When was the Nicene Creed amended and why?
Amended at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 CE.
By 381 AD, at the First Council of Constantinople, it became necessary to further clarify the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit due to ongoing theological debates.
When (date) and Where (location) did the challenge take place?
Date: 4th century, beginning in 313 CE. Some might argue that the challenge persisted for longer than this (the Church did address it with varying emphasis over time)
Location: Beginning in Alexandria, Egypt, expanding across Roman Empire
What impact did Arianism have on the Christian church during its early history?
Arianism led to theological debates, divisions within the church, and the calling of ecumenical councils to address the controversy.
Constantine encouraged bishops to meet at an ecumenical* council to come to some form of agreement and unify their beliefs.
What was this group called? What was their stance and response?
The Council of Nicaea. Stance:They strongly disagreed with Arius. Response: Call a Council and Formulate a Creed
How did Christian Theology develop differently within each community?
Christian communities had access to different oral and written stories about Jesus.
How did the Council of Nicaea address the teachings of Arianism?
The Council of Nicaea affirmed the divinity of Christ through the Nicene Creed, which explicitly rejected Arian beliefs.
Why is the Nicene Creed significant?
The Creed is significant because it established key theological doctrines about the nature of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, which are central to mainstream Christian beliefs.