Early Challenges (Part 2) - Subordinationism: Son is less than Father - Sketchy Catholicism

Summary

The video explores early Christian interpretations of the Trinity, influenced by Platonic philosophy, leading to Subordinationism's popularity. It highlights the Arian controversy where Arius, an Alexandrian priest, taught Christ's subordination and non-eternal existence, challenging orthodox beliefs. St. Athanasius and the Council of Nicaea countered this, affirming Christ's equality with the Father as essential for salvation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Early Christians looked to Greek philosophy, specifically Platonism, as a model for understanding the Trinity.
• 🔍 Platonism viewed the divine realm as divided into three levels, which Christians adapted to explain the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• 🔗 This model, which placed the Father at the top, the Son in the middle, and the Spirit at the bottom, became known as subordinationism.
• 🕊️ Subordinationism was popular in the early Christian church and remains a way some express the Trinity today.
• ⛪ The Arian controversy in the early fourth century brought subordinationism into the spotlight.
• 👤 Arius, a priest from Alexandria, taught that Christ was not only subordinate to the Father but that the Son and the Father were not equal in their divinity.
• ⏳ Arius argued that there was a time when Christ did not exist as a distinct person of the Trinity, being created by the Father later.
• 🎁 Arius believed that Christ’s divinity was a gift from the Father, not something inherent to the Son by nature.
• 🤔 As subordinationism gained popularity, some began to question if a lesser Son could truly guarantee salvation.
• ⚔️ St. Athanasius and the First Council of Nicaea opposed subordinationism, declaring that the Son is equal to the Father to ensure the integrity of salvation.

Q & A

What philosophical model did early Christians use to express their belief in the Trinity?

Early Christians used the model from Greek philosophy, specifically Platonism, to express their belief in the Trinity. Platonism viewed the divine realm as separated into three levels, which Christians adapted to explain the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What is subordinationism in the context of early Christian thought?

Subordinationism is the belief that within the Trinity, the Father is superior to the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Father is placed at the top, the Son in the middle, and the Spirit at the bottom.

Who was Arius, and what did he teach about the Trinity?

Arius was a priest in Alexandria, known for his preaching and purity of life. He taught that the Son was subordinate to the Father and that the Son did not exist from all eternity but was created by the Father. He also believed that Christ was not God in the same way as the Father.

How did Arius explain the nature of the Son’s divinity?

Arius taught that the Son was created by the Father and that the Son’s divinity was a gift from the Father. The Son was not divine by nature but by grace, and Godhood was bestowed upon him by the Father.

Why did Arius believe that his teachings represented the traditional faith of the Church?

Arius believed that his teachings reflected the faith that had always been taught within the Church. He claimed that his understanding of Christ's subordinate role aligned with early Christian beliefs.

How did subordinationism gain popularity in early Christianity?

Subordinationism gained popularity as it offered a way to explain the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When it was clearly presented, many Christians found it convincing and adopted it.

What concern arose about subordinationism in relation to salvation?

Some Christians began to question whether subordinationism aligned with their understanding of salvation. They wondered if the Son could be less than the one true God if salvation was guaranteed through Him.

Who opposed the teachings of Arius, and what was their argument?

St. Athanasius opposed the teachings of Arius. He argued that for salvation to be guaranteed, the Son had to be equal to the Father, fully divine and eternal.

What was the significance of the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea?

The First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea was significant because it declared the Orthodox Catholic position that the Son is equal to the Father, rejecting subordinationism and affirming the full divinity of Christ.

How did the Council of Nicaea impact the doctrine of the Trinity?

The Council of Nicaea established that the Son is of the same essence as the Father, a critical doctrine that shaped the Christian understanding of the Trinity and rejected subordinationism.