When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome

by Richard E. Rubenstein

Paperback, 2000

Status

Available

Description

"Three hundred years after Jesus' crucifixion, the Roman Empire witnessed the first major turning point in the history of Christianity. The violent debate, now known as the Arian Controversy, lasted more than sixty years, dividing the Roman Empire and forever changing the face of the Christian Church. Was Jesus of Nazareth God Himself, walking the earth in human form? Or was he a uniquely holy man adopted by God as His Son and raised to divine rank?" "Richard E. Rubenstein, an expert on religious conflict, transports us to an empire fraught with contradiction and turmoil." "The protagonists were Arius, a learned and eloquent priest, and Athanasius, a brilliant and dedicated, yet violent, bishop. Arius argued that Jesus was less than God and that his true role was to serve as a model of virtue for all humanity. Athanasius thought this was heresy and an assault on Jesus himself. Between these formidable adversaries stood Constantine the Great, Rome's first Christian emperor." "Rubenstein brings us into the debates of religious leaders and politicians and the struggles of commoners as we witness the battle over the true identity of Jesus Christ and the meaning of his mission on earth."--BOOK JACKET.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member thierry
In the Fourth Century AD, the newly legalized and consolidating Christian church was rocked by a bloody and seemingly intractable theological argument which involved roman emperors (Constantine, Theodosius) as well as bishops (Arius, Eusebius of Nicomedia, Athanasius, St Jerome) and brought about
Show More
synods (Councils of Nicea and Constantinople), official confessions of beliefs (Nicene Creeds) and accusations of heresy (Arianism). At issue was the exact nature of the divinity of Christ, whether a created being or unbegotten and emanating from one same substance. The author is in complete command of the subject matter: the history and politicking are griping and the all sides of the theological debate clearly expounded. This quarrel hinges on a fine point of semantic detail with enormous repercussions on faith. The author makes clear that this polemic was driven by bishops. However, I would have loved to read how ordinary people were engaged in the debate: how did it affect them in their lives? How did they receive these creeds and accept them as faith? Perhaps the historical record is too thin, but mourir pour des idées, l’idée est excellente… Read in French. A great book which got me interested in early church history and Christian doctrine.
Show Less
LibraryThing member DubiousDisciple
After nearly three hundred years of persecution, Christianity made a breakthrough in 324, when Constantine became emperor of Rome. Led by two charismatic priests—Arius, who preached that Jesus is subject to God, and Athanasius who argued that Jesus is God himself in human form—the debate over
Show More
Jesus’ degree of divinity escalated from heated argument to violence and bloodshed. Rubenstein guides you through the power struggles of the time, concluding in the year 381, when the Council of Constantinople affirmed that Jesus Christ was…

the only-begotten Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, light from light, true God from true God, begotten not made, homoousios with the Father, through Whom all things came into existence.

Theodosius left no doubt about the church’s official stance by demanding,

We now order that all churches are to be handed over to the bishops who profess Father, Son and Holy Spirit of a single majesty, of the same glory, of one splendor, who establish no difference by sacrilegious separation, but [who affirm] the order of the Trinity by recognizing the Persons and uniting the Godhead.

Arianism was officially denounced, and possession of Arian writings would become crimes punishable by death. Jesus Christ was pronounced God. This book is the story of how Christianity reached this conclusion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Razinha
Quite interesting look at the Council of Nicea, the opposing factions of early Christianity and the political maneuvering that resulted in the doctrine of Jesus' divinity as opposed to him being just the son of God. Not for light reading, this is a dry read for a casual historian, but it portrays
Show More
the story behind the events that kept apologists employed trying to explain the trinity.
Show Less

ISBN

0156013150 / 9780156013154
Page: 0.209 seconds