Macedonianism, also known as the Pneumatomachian heresy, was a 4th-century Christian heresy that denied the full divinity and personhood of the Holy Spirit. The controversy first arose in the 360s in Constantinople and ultimately led to the First Council of Constantinople in 381, which affirmed the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity and the full divinity of the Holy Spirit. The heresy emerged within the Church in Constantinople and was influenced by Arianism’s rejection of the full divinity of the Son. The Macedonians, led by Bishop Macedonius I of Constantinople, endorsed a view of the Holy Spirit as a created being…
Author: Erin Weitzman
The question of whether the Roman emperor Constantine decided which books belonged in the Bible is an interesting one that many people wonder about. While Constantine did have a role in early Christianity, he did not determine the biblical canon – which books would be included in the Bible. To understand this fully, we need to look at some background history. Emperor Constantine ruled over the Roman Empire in the early 4th century AD. During his reign, Christianity went from being a persecuted minority religion to becoming legal and eventually the official religion of the Roman Empire. In 313 AD,…
Tatian of Adiabene was an early Christian writer and theologian who lived in the 2nd century AD. Here is a 9,000 word overview of what the Bible reveals about Tatian: Background Tatian was born around 120 AD in Adiabene, an ancient region in upper Mesopotamia near the Tigris River. He was raised as a pagan, but later converted to Christianity. Tatian was a student of Justin Martyr, an influential early Christian apologist. After Justin’s death around 165 AD, Tatian left Rome and returned to the East. Tatian is best known as the author of the Diatessaron, which was the earliest…
The spiritual gift of faith is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9. It refers to a special measure of faith given by God to some believers to accomplish specific tasks or ministries. Here is an in-depth look at what the Bible teaches about this gift: 1. It is a supernatural ability to trust God and His Word beyond normal human faith Every Christian exercises faith in God to be saved and live the Christian life (Ephesians 2:8). However, the spiritual gift of faith is an extraordinary capacity to trust God and His promises…
Vocational ministry refers to pursuing ministry as one’s full-time occupation and livelihood. It involves being employed by a church or parachurch organization to serve in a ministry role. Some key aspects of vocational ministry include: Called by God Those in vocational ministry view their role as a calling from God rather than just a job or career (Ephesians 4:11-13). They feel compelled to devote their lives to kingdom work. This calling is often confirmed both internally through prayer and reflection, and externally through the affirmation of others. Trains and Equips Vocational ministers often focus on training and equipping others for…
Post-modern Christianity refers to the way in which some Christians have responded to the philosophical movement known as postmodernism. Postmodernism is characterized by skepticism towards absolute truth claims, a rejection of metanarratives or overarching explanations, and an emphasis on subjectivity, relativity, and pluralism. In light of these postmodern ideas, some Christians have adjusted their approach to faith and practice. One aspect of postmodern Christianity is a move away from propositional truth claims. While Christians still maintain core doctrinal beliefs, there is often less dogmatism and more acknowledgment of mystery and paradox. Absolute certainty is viewed with suspicion, and emphasis is…
The cosmological argument seeks to prove God’s existence by examining the universe and its laws. It argues that the presence of the universe, with all its order and complexity, implies the existence of a creator. There are several main versions of the cosmological argument that have been proposed throughout history. Aquinas’ Five Ways Thomas Aquinas laid out his Five Ways to demonstrate God’s existence in the 13th century. They are: The Argument from Motion – Things in the universe are in motion. But nothing can be put into motion except by something already in motion. There cannot be an infinite…
The doctrine of eternal security, also referred to as “once saved, always saved,” is a debated topic among Christians. This doctrine states that once a person has truly become a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, they can never lose their salvation or backslide to the point where they are no longer saved. There are Bible verses that seem to support both sides of this doctrine, so it is an issue where faithful Christians can reasonably disagree. There are several key Bible passages that supporters of the “once saved, always saved” doctrine point to. One is John 10:27-29, where Jesus says…
