The Arian Controversy | WYA

That one iota does sometimes matter? Let me explain. There was a popular preacher in Alexandria, in the early 4th century A.D. named Arius.. who taught that Jesus Christ was NOT eternally God. Christ was, he believed, a creation of God the Father, who was Not derived of the same substance of the Father, but, as the first 6 highest of God's creations, became the instrument of ALL the rest of creation. The opposition and wholesale animosity this teaching aroused..Sinally resulted in Emperor Constantine both commanding & convening a Council of Church leaders at the royal palace at Nicea.

At the Emperor's expense, more than 200 Bishops gathered at Nicea. Some of them were legendary in the Church community, as victims/survivors of great persecutions enacted against the Church, by former Emperors. In fact, the story goes, that when Constantine beheld one of these Bishops in particular...he dispensed with the tradition of having the man kiss his signet ring..as was customary…and the Emperor himself, hastened to hug and kiss him, instead.

The feelings of upset, held by some of these clergymen, were so strong in relation to this teaching..that the real Santa Claus...St Nicholas.slapped Arius squarely across the face in disgust. No joke!! Two words were highlighted and debated on at this forum.

1. Homoousios and 2. Homoiousios. Only an iota.. which is the oth letter in the Greek alphabet…equivalent to letter I in English...differed in their spellings, but their meanings were significantly divergent. Homoousios - the word the Nicean Council voted and agreed on as doctrinally sound - meant Christ was begotten... NOT made...of the same substance/essence as the Father. Homoiousios - the word with the extra iota in it... which meant that Christ was Not made of the same substance/essence - was declared to be heretical...or false doctrine.