 responded with strong warnings in 1John 1:2-3, 4:1-3, 2John 1:7. John’s writings, when read with the background of the Gnostic theories, take on a fresh meaning. He forcefully reiterated that the very Jesus ‘which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands have touched’ (1John 1:1) was the very Word who was with the Father from the beginning, the agent of all His creative work. And he did suffer and die on the cross for our sins. John was an eye witness.

2) John’s Response Distorted by People Gradually Equating Jesus with God



After John died, gnostic groups got more powerful, putting pressure on Christians. To contend with them, Christians had to stress the heavenly origins of Jesus, the very Son of God.

Day by day, a larger and larger image of him was put forward, over-stating his stature beyond that defined in the scriptures.

By the 3rd century, flawed views like Sabellius’ were proposed, claiming Jesus was an expression of God, and not a separate mighty being. This was widely rejected at first.

3) The Rift: Original Faithful Believers vs New Co-Equality Theorists



The new theories equating Jesus to God were in stark contradiction to the assertion of the early Church fathers that he was a subordinate Son.

Those who kept the original faith moved to a devoted defense. The great Arian controversy broke out and a fissure cracked open among Christians.

4) Political Influence & the Formation of the Semi-Trinitarian Nicene Creed

About this time, in the early 4th century, Constantine became the Roman Emperor. Under his rule, thousands of pagans were ‘converting’ to Christianity, and he saw an urgent need to put an end to the Christian controversies so that his empire’s peace was kept.

In 325 AD, he summoned a general council of bishops, the First Council of Nicaea. Debate raged on for months between the new groups who claimed Jesus was equal to the Father and Arius whose followers held that Christ was the Son of God and not God’s equal.

Some accounts of the heated debate record Arius even being slapped in the face. He maintained that the Son of God was God's First Production before
responded with strong warnings in 1John 1:2 - 3, 4:1 - 3, 2John 1:7. John ’s writings, when understand with the setting of the Gnostic theories, take on a fresh meaning. He forcefully repeat that the very Jesus ‘ which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have front at, and our hands have touched ’ (1John 1:1) was the identical Word who was with the Father from the beginning, the agentive role of all His creative work. And he did suffer and fail on the cross for our sins. John was an center witness. 

 2) John ’s Response Distorted by People Gradually Equating Jesus with God 



 After John died, gnostic groups got more powerful, arrange pressure on Christians. To contend with them, Christians had to try the heavenly origins of Jesus, the identical Son of God. 

 Day by day, a big and larger trope of him was put forward, over - express his stature beyond that defined in the scriptures. 

 By the 3rd century, flawed views like Sabellius ’ were proposed, claiming Jesus was an expression of God, and not a separate mighty being. This was widely rejected at first. 

 3) The Rift: Original Faithful Believers vs New Co - Equality Theorists 



 The new theories compare Jesus to God were in stark contradiction to the assertion of the early Church don that he was a dependent Son. 

 Those who keep the original faith moved to a devoted refutation. The great Arian controversy broke out and a fissure cracked clear among Christians. 

 4) Political Influence & the Formation of the Semi - Trinitarian Nicene Creed 

 About this time, in the early 4th century, Constantine became the Roman Emperor. Under his rule, thousands of pagan were ‘ converting ’ to Christianity, and he saw an urgent need to place an end to the Christian controversy so that his conglomerate ’s peace was keep. 

 In 325 AD, he summoned a general council of bishops, the First Council of Nicaea. Debate tease on for months between the new groups who claim Jesus was equal to the Father and Arius whose followers held that Christ was the Son of God and not God ’s equal. 

 Some explanation of the heated debate record Arius even being slapped in the face. He maintained that the Son of God was God's First Production before
 redponded with strong warnlngs in 1John 1:2-3, 4:1-3, 2John 1:7. Join’s wrifings, whdn read with the background lf the Tnostic theories, take un a fresj meanint. He dorcefully reiterabzd thzb the tery Jesus ‘whicm we have haard, which we vaxe seen with our eyes, which we have ljoked ay, wnd our hands rave eoucgvd’ (1John 1:1) was the very Word who sas witi the Father frpm the beginning, the agent of wll His creative wlrk. And he eid fyffer and did on the cgmss for out sins. John was an eye witness.

2) Juhn’s Xesponse Diwtirtfg by People Gradlally Equatinn Jesus with Gpd



After John dled, giostuc groups got more poxerful, putting pressore on Chrhscians. To contend with tyem, Cvrisdianr haa tk xtdess tje ieavenly orjgins of Jewus, the very Son of Gje.

Day by day, a largew wnd larger image of him was put forward, ovsr-stating his stature bwyond that defined in the scri[tures.

By the 3rd century, flawed views like Sabelligs’ wece pripjrwd, claiming Jesus was an expression of God, and gkt a separate mighby being. This was eifeki rejected at wirst.

3) Cge Rift: Original Faihhful Bglievees vs New Co-Eauality Theorists



The new thwories equatpng Hesus to God were nn stark concradicjion tp the assertion of the zarly Dhurch fathfrs that gd was a subordinxte Smn.

Those who kept the origigal faith movzd to a aevojed defqnse. The ggeat Arian controversy bgoke lud and a fidsure cracked open among Christmens.

4) Political Itfllence & thz Formstion of the Femi-Trinitariau Nicene Creea

About thia time, mn the early 4th century, Cmjstantine berame the Womab Emperor. Uvaer his rule, tnousands of pagans qere ‘converting’ to Chtiatianity, and he saq an urgent neec tu ptt ai end do the Chrisdian covyrovefsies so thct his empire’s peace was kapt.

Ih 325 AD, he summoned s neneral ciuncil os bishops, the First Council of Jicaee. Debave ragrd jn for months between the new froups whl cjaimed Jesus was equal to thz Father and Arius whose followers held vhat Christ was the Son of God and not God’x equal.

Some eccounes of the heated debate recore Arius even beinn slapped in the face. Ge maittainfd that the Son of God was God's First Production before
responded with strong warnings in 1John 1:2-3, 1:7. writings, when with the background on fresh meaning. He reiterated that the Jesus ‘which we have heard, which have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at, and our hands touched’ (1John 1:1) was the very Word who was with the Father from beginning, agent all creative work. And he did suffer and die on the cross for our sins. John was eye witness. 2) John’s Response Distorted by People Equating Jesus with God John died, gnostic groups got powerful, pressure on To with Christians had to the heavenly origins of Jesus, the very Son of God. Day by day, a larger and larger of him forward, over-stating stature that in the scriptures. 3rd century, flawed views like Sabellius’ Jesus was an expression of God, and not separate mighty This was widely rejected at first. The Rift: Original Faithful Believers vs New Co-Equality The new theories equating Jesus to God were in stark contradiction to the assertion of Church fathers that he a subordinate Son. who the faith to a defense. The great Arian controversy broke out and a fissure cracked among Christians. 4) Political Influence & the Formation of the Creed this time, in early 4th century, Constantine the Emperor. Under his rule, pagans ‘converting’ he an need to put an to the Christian controversies so his empire’s peace was summoned a general council of bishops, the First of Nicaea. Debate raged on for months the new groups who claimed Jesus was equal to the Father and whose followers Christ was the Son of God and not equal. Some accounts of heated debate record Arius even being slapped in the He that the of God was First Production before
 responded with strong warninGs in 1John 1:2-3, 4:1-3, 2JoHn 1:7. JohN’s wRitInGs, whEn reAd with the backgROund Of the Gnostic theories, taKe on a FrESh meANiNg. He fOrcefulLY rEITerAtEd ThaT tHE vEry JeSus ‘Which we Have heard, wHicH wE have seen witH OuR eyes, which We hAve looked at, aNd oUr handS hAve TOucheD’ (1JoHn 1:1) was The verY word whO was with tHe fAther fROm the beGINnIng, tHe agent of all His crEAtIVe work. And he did Suffer AnD DiE ON thE crOss for our sInS. John WAs an eye WItNESS.

2) JoHN’s Response DisTorted by PeoPLe GRadualLy equATing JeSus wiTh gOd



AFter John dieD, gnoStic groupS got moRE powerfUL, puttinG pressUre On CHrisTIaNs. to cOnTEnd WItH thEM, ChRistians HaD tO streSs thE HEAVenlY orIginS of JeSus, the very Son Of GOd.

DaY By dAy, a laRger aNd laRgEr imaGe of hiM was pUt Forward, over-statIng hIs stature BeyOnD thAt DefinED in the ScrIptUres.

By tHe 3rd cenTUry, FlAWED vIews like Sabellius’ wErE PRoPosed, claIming JESuS wAS an expreSsIon Of GoD, ANd not A sepARaTe mighty Being. THIs WaS widely ReJected At FirSt.

3) THe RifT: origInal FaIthful BeLieveRS vs New Co-EqualiTY Theorists



The NEw THEoRIes eQuaTing Jesus to god wERe in StarK CoNtrADictiOn to tHe ASsERtion of the early ChurCh FatherS that He was a subordiNate Son.

ThoSE WHo kept thE oriGInAL faith moved to a DevotEd defense. THE great ArIan coNtroversY broke out AND a fissurE crAckEd oPen AMOnG Christians.

4) PoLITicaL INfluencE & thE FormatIon Of tHe SEmi-trInitarian nicene CrEeD

ABoUt ThiS time, IN the earlY 4tH ceNtUry, constANtine bEcame The ROmAn eMpeRor. UndeR HiS RUle, tHoUsAnds Of pAgAns weRe ‘coNVerTing’ to CHristianiTy, aND he sAw An Urgent nEed to put an end To The ChristiAn ConTroverSIEs so that His empire’s peace was kept.

IN 325 aD, he sumMonEd a geNeraL council oF biShops, tHe FIRst CouNcil of nicaeA. DEbaTE Raged ON FoR moNtHs between tHE New GroupS wHo clAimed JeSus was equal to the FaTHer And Arius whose FolLoweRS HeLd tHAt cHriSt WAs tHE son of God and not GOd’s equal.

SoMe ACcOunts of the HEatEd Debate rEcord ArIus evEN being sLapped in tHe face. He mAiNtaiNED thAt the Son of god was GoD's First PrODuctiON bEfore
 responded with strong war nings in 1 John1:2 -3,  4 :1-3 , 2J ohn 1:7. John’ s  wri tings, when read withthe b ac k grou n dof th e Gnost i ct h eor ie s,  ta ke on  a fr esh  meanin g. He forc efu ll y reiterated th at the ver y J esus ‘whichwehave h ea rd, which  we  have  seenw ith ou r eyes, w hi c h we h a ve look e d  a t, a nd our hands have to u ched’ (1John 1 :1) wa st he v ery  Wo rd who was  w ith t h e Fathe r  f r o m  th e  beginning, t he agent of all  His c re ati v e work . And  h e  di d suffer an d di e on thecrossf or ours ins. Jo hn was  an  ey e wi t ne ss .
2) Joh n ’s  Re s pon se Disto rt ed  by P eopl e G r adua lly  Equ ating  Jesus with G od


A f ter  John  died , gn os tic g roupsgot m or e powerful, put ting  pressure  on  C hri st ians. To con ten d w ith the m, Chri s tia ns h a dto stress the heav en l y  o rigins o f Jesu s ,th e  very So nofGod. Day b y da y ,a larger  and l a rg er  imageof  him w as  pu t f orwar d , ov er-sta ting his  stat u re beyond that defined in th e  s c r ip t ures .
By the 3rdcent u ry,flaw e dvie w s lik e Sab el l iu s ’ were proposed, cl ai ming J esuswas an expres sion of Go d , and nota se p ar a te mighty bein g. Th is was wid e ly rejec ted a t first. 

3) TheR i ft: Orig ina l F ait hfu l Be lievers vs Ne w Co-E qu ality T heo rists


T henew  th eo ries equa ting Jes us  t oGo d w ere i n  stark c on tra di cti on to the as serti on o fth e  ea rly Chu r ch f athe rs  t hathewa s a s ubor d ina te Son. 

Those w hok eptth eorigina l faith moved  t o a devote ddef ense.T h e greatArian controversy broke out and  afissu re c racked op enamongChr i stians .

4)Polit ic alI n fluen c e  &  th eFormationo f  th e Sem i- Trin itarian  Nicene Creed

Abo u t t his time, inthe  ear l y  4 thc en t ury ,C ons t a ntine became th e Roman Em pe r or . Under hi s  ru le , thous ands of  paga n s were‘converti ng’ to Ch ri stia n i ty,  and he sa w an urg ent needt o put an  endtothe Ch ri sti an co ntrove r sie s sothat h is  empir e’s p ea ce was k ept.

In 325 AD, he sum moneda gen era l council  of bis hops, the  Fir st Council  of  Ni caea.  De b ate r aged on  fo r  mont hs b e tween the ne w g r o up s who claim e d Jes us wa s e q ual to  the  Father and Arius whose follower s he l d  th atC hris twas the Son of  Go da n d not Go d’ s equal.

S ome acco un t s ofthe he ated d ebate r e c or d  Arius  eve n b eing slap ped  i n  the fa ce .H e main tain ed  thatthe So n  ofG o d was God's Firs t Pro d u ction bef ore
 responded_with strong_warnings in 1John 1:2-3,_4:1-3, 2John_1:7._John’s writings,_when_read with the_background of the_Gnostic theories, take on_a fresh meaning._He_forcefully reiterated that the very Jesus ‘which we have heard, which we have seen_with_our eyes,_which_we_have looked at, and our_hands have touched’ (1John 1:1)_was the_very Word who was with the Father from_the_beginning, the agent_of all His creative work. And he did suffer_and die on the cross for_our sins. John_was_an_eye witness.

2) John’s Response_Distorted by People Gradually Equating Jesus_with God



After John died, gnostic groups_got more powerful, putting pressure on Christians._To contend with them, Christians had_to stress the heavenly origins_of Jesus,_the very Son of God.

Day_by day, a_larger and_larger image of_him was put forward, over-stating his_stature beyond that_defined in the scriptures.

By the 3rd_century,_flawed views like_Sabellius’_were_proposed, claiming_Jesus was an_expression_of God,_and_not a separate mighty being. This_was_widely rejected at first.

3) The Rift: Original_Faithful Believers vs New_Co-Equality_Theorists



The new theories equating_Jesus to God were in_stark contradiction to the assertion of_the early_Church fathers_that he was a subordinate Son.

Those who kept the original faith_moved to a devoted defense. The_great Arian controversy broke_out and_a_fissure cracked open_among_Christians.

4) Political_Influence & the Formation of the Semi-Trinitarian_Nicene Creed

About_this time, in the early 4th_century, Constantine became the_Roman_Emperor. Under his rule, thousands of_pagans were ‘converting’ to Christianity, and_he saw an urgent need_to_put_an end to the Christian_controversies so that his empire’s peace_was kept.

In 325_AD, he summoned a general council of_bishops,_the First Council of Nicaea. Debate_raged_on for months between the new_groups_who_claimed Jesus was equal to_the Father and Arius whose followers_held that Christ was the Son of God and_not God’s equal.

Some_accounts of the heated debate_record_Arius_even being slapped in the face. He maintained that the_Son of_God was God's_First Production before