The Controversy of Jesus as God

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Introduction
Since the beginning of Christianity, the Christian Church had survived many controversies. However, in the early fourth century the Arian Controversy questioned the divinity of Jesus and placed the unity of the Church at risk. The Controversy was sponsored by Arius a presbyter presiding under the guidance of Alexander the Bishop of Alexandria. Arius believed in the divinity of Jesus but He did not believe Jesus was eternal. In other words, Arius believed Jesus was lower than God was. On the other hand, Arius and Alexander disagreed and they argued whether the Logos, the Word of God, was co-eternal with God. In response to the controversy the First Ecumenical, (universal) Council was called by Emperor Constantine. The Council was held at Nicea in 325 AD. The Emperor believed the bishops could resolve the dispute concerning the nature of Jesus Christ. According to Alister E. McGrath, “The question focused on whether Jesus Christ may legitimately be described as God.” The debates at the council concerned what the church believed about Jesus and the Trinity.
Origen’s Christology and Trinitarian Beliefs
Origen a biblical scholar of the Alexandrian school believed that the Father is the source of the Trinity and therefore He is the absolute God or unbegotten God. Origen taught that the Son manifest attributes of God the Father. He also believed that The Word and Wisdom of God was “eternally generated” by the Father. Although Origen loved God and God’s people his views on the pre-existence of the human soul prior to human birth was condemned as heresy. Origen believed that the human soul is incarnated into a body reflecting the degree of pre-existent obedience or disobedience to God. According to Origen’...

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...we know that Jesus is God and that He is fully God and fully human. The questions and responses that were debated by the early Christian Fathers proved Jesus humanity and His divinity. They referenced the scriptures in their debates and their decisions were guided by the Holy Spirit. The creed that resulted from the Council of Nicea is still used in many churches today. The creed unified the Christian beliefs and defined the relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It states that as Christians we believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Similar to the Word of God the beliefs in the creed have not changed since it was endorsed by the Council at Nicea. Although there are churches that do not recite the creed, it is accepted by most conventional churches. Today most Christians share the same beliefs that were shared by the early Christians.

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