When Jesus became God
Book Description
In the fourth century, a theological earthquake shook the foundations of Christianity, forever altering how believers would understand the nature of Jesus Christ. Richard E. Rubenstein takes readers into the heart of the Arian Controversy, a fierce sixty-year debate that divided the Roman Empire and transformed the Christian Church.
At the center of this spiritual upheaval stood two brilliant religious leaders with opposing visions. Arius, an eloquent priest, proclaimed that Jesus served as humanity's ultimate model of virtue rather than God incarnate. His opponent, Bishop Athanasius, viewed this teaching as dangerous heresy that diminished Christ's divine essence. Between these theological giants stood Emperor Constantine, navigating the treacherous waters of religious politics in a newly Christian empire.
Rubenstein illuminates how ordinary believers, religious authorities, and political leaders grappled with profound questions that continue to resonate today. What does it mean to be divine? How do we understand the relationship between the human and the sacred? The author reveals how these ancient debates shaped not only Christian doctrine but also the very nature of religious authority and belief.
Through vivid storytelling, this exploration of early Christianity offers modern readers insight into how spiritual communities wrestle with fundamental questions of faith, identity, and truth. The controversy's resolution would echo through centuries, influencing how millions approach the divine.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 267 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Geschichte 30-600
- ✓ Explore Christianity, early church, ca. 30-600
- ✓ Explore Arianism
- ✓ Explore History of doctrines
- ✓ Explore Divinity
- ✓ Explore Jesus christ, divinity
- ✓ Explore Jesus christ, history of doctrines
- ✓ Explore Christologie
