Arianism rejects the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Arianism is the doctrine of the priest and ascetic Arius . This thinker opposed the Holy Trinity , since he rejected the divinity of Jesus Christ .
Consubstantiality
Consubstantiality is the quality of being intrinsic or inherent to something , in such a way that it constitutes an essential and inseparable part of its nature or substance. In the philosophical and theological field, this concept refers to the intimate relationship that exists between two or more entities or elements, such that they share the same essence or fundamental nature.
In the Christian theological context, the term consubstantiality is used to describe the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ in the doctrine of the Trinity. The two are consubstantial, which means that they share the same divine nature and cannot be separated without losing their integrity.
For Arianism, however, the second person (the Word or the Son ) lacks consubstantiality because the Son is subordinate to the Father .
This is linked to the fact that Arianism interprets different passages of the Bible to maintain that the Son was created by the Father, which is why he did not always exist . In this way, Arianism was left out of Christian orthodoxy .
History of Arianism
Arianism was a theological and religious current that emerged in the 4th century and was named after its main exponent, Arius of Alexandria , a Christian presbyter of Libyan origin. Arianism proposed a doctrine that questioned the traditional conception of the divinity of Jesus Christ and opposed the dominant current of Nicene Christianity.
Arius maintained that Jesus Christ, although he was an exceptional and divine being, was not of the same substance as God the Father, he was a being created and subordinate to God the Father, and was neither coeternal nor consubstantial with Him . This position generated great controversy within the Christian Church of the time.
Arianism became a topic of debate and conflict among Christian leaders and theologians . In the year 325, at the Council of Nicaea convened by Emperor Constantine I, this dispute sought to be resolved: bishops and theologians discussed and debated the nature of Christ and the relationship between God the Father and Jesus.
Finally, Arius's position was rejected at the Council of Nicaea and the doctrine of the Trinity was adopted. Despite the defeat, Arianism did not completely disappear and continued to be a significant influence in some areas of the Roman Empire . Even after the Council, there were times when Arianism gained strength and became the dominant position in certain regions.
Socinianism and Jehovah's Witnesses
Socinianism and the Jehovah's Witness movement are often considered successors to Arianism, given their anti-Trinitarian stances. This shows that despite its history, the influence of Arianism continued to be present.
Both Arianism, Socialism and Jehovah's Witnesses reject the Holy Trinity.
Socinianism is a religious current that emerged in the 16th century as a form of anti-Trinitarian and rationalist thought . It owes its name to the brothers Fausto and Lelio Socino, Italian theologians who promoted its ideas. The Socinians rejected the doctrine of the Trinity (arguing that there was insufficient biblical basis to support it), as well as the divinity of Jesus Christ and the doctrine of the atonement.
Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religious movement that originated in the late 19th century in the United States. They were founded by Charles Taze Russell, who began studying the Bible and developed particular interpretations of Christian teachings. They believe in the Bible as the inspired word of God and consider it essential to live in harmony with divine will. Regarding Jesus Christ, they consider him the first being created by God. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of preaching and bearing witness to their beliefs.