When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in the Last Days of Rome“[A] panoramic view of early Christianity as it developed against the backdrop of the Roman Empire of the fourth century” (Publishers Weekly). The story of Jesus is well known, as is the story of Christian persecutions during the Roman Empire. The history of fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots within the Christian community as it was coming into being, however, is a side of ancient history rarely described. Richard E. Rubenstein takes the reader to the streets of the Roman Empire during the fourth century, when a fateful debate over the divinity of Jesus Christ is being fought. Ruled by a Christian emperor, followers of Jesus no longer fear for the survival of their monotheistic faith. But soon, they break into two camps regarding the direction of their worship: Is Jesus the son of God and therefore not the same as God? Or is Jesus precisely God on earth and therefore equal to Him? The vicious debate is led by two charismatic priests. Arius, an Alexandrian priest and poet, preaches that Jesus, though holy, is less than God. Athanasius, a brilliant and violent bishop, sees any diminution of Jesus’s godhead as the work of the devil. Between them stands Alexander, the powerful Bishop of Alexandria, who must find a resolution that will keep the empire united and the Christian faith alive. With thorough historical, religious, and social research, Rubenstein vividly recreates one of the most critical moments in the history of religion. “A splendidly dramatic story . . . Rubenstein has turned one of the great fights of history into an engrossing story.” —Jack Miles, The Boston Globe; author of God: A Biography |
Contents
3 A Quarrel in Gods House | |
4 The Great and Holy Council | |
5 Sins of the Body Passions of the Mind | |
6 The Broken Chalice | |
7 Death in Constantinople | |
8 East against West | |
9 The Arian Empire | |
10 Old Gods and New | |
11 When Jesus Became God | |
Back Matter | |
Back Cover | |
Spine | |
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accept accused Ancyra anti-Arian Antioch Arian controversy Arius Arius's army Athana Athanasius and Constantius Athanasius's Augustus Barnes believed Caesar Cappadocian century Chris Church councils churchmen clergy communion condemned conflict conservative Arians considered Constans Constantine and Eusebius Constantinople Council of Nicaea death Diocletian divine doctrine Early Christian Creeds East Eastern bishops Egypt Egyptian emperor enemies Eusebius of Caesarea Eusebius of Nicomedia Euzoius excommunicated exile faith Father Frend Galerius God's gods Greek Hanson heresy heretical homoousios Hosius Hosius of Cordova hotnoousios human Ibid idea imperial insisted Ischyras Jesus Jesus Christ Jews Julian Julius later leader letter Magnentius Marcellus Melitians metropolitan bishop Milan Nicene Christian Nicene Creed officials orthodox ousia pagan Paul Pelikan peror persecution Persian political priests pro-Nicene refused religious Rise of Christianity Roman Empire Roman world Rome ruler Search seemed sent side stantine supporters theologian theological tians tion troops Tyre Valens views violent Visigoths West Western worship