Join Our Email List!

Have you heard of a guy named Arius?

He was an Alexandrian Christian who lived in the 4th century. In 318 he had a major conflict with Bishop Alexander. Arius believed that only the Father was God and the Son was of a different nature. He rejected the deity and pre-existence of Christ.

To combat this heretical view, the Church met in 325 at the council of Nicaea and produced what is termed the Creed of Nicaea (to be distinguished from the later Nicene Creed). In later years Athanasius carried on the theological fight against Arianism (the teachings of Arius).

The great creeds were in response to dangerous heresies.
The purposes were to establish and promote the true faith.
The creeds were basic confessional statements teaching the laity how to believe & convey the faith.
Since many people were not literate, creeds were great didactic devices—teaching tools.

Did heresies get their start in 325?
Can there be a purpose to heresy?
Read 1st Cor. 11:18-19 The cream is gonna rise to the top.
Do heresies exist today?
Read 2nd Thess.