ARIANISM: WHO IS JESUS? PROF. M. M. NINAN 39
ARIANISM: WHO IS JESUS? PROF. M. M. NINAN Eusebius of Nicomedia withdrew his opposition to the Nicene term, but would not sign the condemnation of <strong>Arius</strong>. THE CREED OF EUSEBIUS, CAESAREA (A.D. 325) We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, God of God, Light of Light, Life of Life, the only-begotten Son, first-born of all creation, begotten of God the Father before all worlds, through whom also all things were made; who for our salvation was made flesh, and lived his life among men; and suffered, and rose on the third day; and ascended to the Father; and will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead: And in one Holy Spirit. vWe believe that each of these is and exists, the Father truly father, and the Son truly son, and the Holy Spirit truly holy spirit; even as our Lord, when sending forth His disciples to preach, said: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." And concerning these things we affirm that we so hold and so think, and have of old so held, and will so hold till death, and stand steadfast in this faith, anathematizing all ungodly heresy. We testify before Almighty God and our Lord Jesus Christ that we have thought all this in heart and soul ever since we knew ourselves, and we now so think and speak in truth, being able to show by evidence and to convince you that we in past times so believed and preached accordingly. By the emperor, who considered heresy as rebellion, the alternative proposed was subscription or banishment; and, on political grounds, the Bishop of Nicomedia was exiled not long after the council, involving <strong>Arius</strong> in his ruin. <strong>Arius</strong> who is now pronounced by the council as a heretic were exiles to Illyria. The creed was signed by nearly all the bishops, Hosius at the head, even by Eusebius of Caesarea, who, before and afterward, occupied a middle position between Athanasius and <strong>Arius</strong>. This is the first instance of such signing of a doctrinal symbol. Eusebius of Nicomedis and Theognis of Nicæa signed the creed, but not the condemnatory formula appended, and for this they were deposed, and banished for a short time. Two Egyptian bishops-Theonas and Secundus-persistently refused to sign, and were banished, with <strong>Arius</strong>, to Illyria. This is the first example of the civil punishment of heresy, and opened the long and dark era of persecution for all departures from the catholic or orthodox faith. 40