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The Private Creed of Arius. A.D. 328.
The preceding Creed of Lucian seems to have already in view the rising heresy of Arius, Presbyter of Alexandria (d. 336), which kindled one of the greatest theological controversies, and became the occasion of the Nicene Council and Creed. We insert it, therefore, in this place, between Lucian and Eusebius, to show how far Arius agreed with the Catholic faith of that age. His peculiar tenets, however, which were condemned at Nicæa in 325, are skillfully avoided in this private confession. It is heretical not by what it says, but by what it omits. It was to pave the way for his restoration. It was laid before the Emperor Constantine, at his request, and is reported by Socrates, Hist. Eccl. Lib. I. cap. 26, and Sozomen, Hist. Eccl. Lib. II. cap. 27; see also Mansi, Conc. Tom. II. p. 1157, and Hahn, pp. 192 sq.
Πιστεύομεν εἰς ἕνα Θεόν, | We believe in one God, |
πατέρα παντοκράτορα· | the Father Almighty; |
Καὶ εἰς κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, | And in the Lord Jesus Christ, his Son, |
τὸν ἐξ αὐτοῦ πρὸ πάντων τῶν αἰώνων γεγεννημένον, | who was begotten of him before all ages, |
θεὸν λόγον, | the Divine Logos, |
δἰ οὗ τὰ πάντα ἐγένετο, τά τε ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ τὰ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, | through whom all things were made, both those in the heavens and those on the earth; |
τὸν κατελθόντα καὶ σαρκωθέντα, | who came down and was made flesh; |
καὶ παθόντα, | and suffered; |
καὶ ἀναστάντα, | and rose again; |
καὶ ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς, | and ascended to the heavens; |
καὶ πάλιν ἐρχόμενον κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς. | and shall come again to judge the quick and the dead. |
Καὶ εἰς τὸ ἅγιον πνεῦμα. | And in the Holy Ghost; |
καὶ εἰς σαρκὸς ἀνάστασίν, | and in the resurrection of the flesh; |
καὶ εἰς ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος, | and in the life of the world to come; |
καὶ εἰς βασιλείαν οὐρανῶν, | and in a kingdom of heaven; |
καὶ εἰς μίαν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ θεοῦ, τὴν ἀπὸ περάτων ἕως περάτων. 3030 The Latin version in Mansi: 'quæ ab una orbis terrarum ora ad alteram usque porrigitur.' | and in one Catholic Church of God which extends to the ends of the earth. |
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