Last week, we looked at the need for proper discipleship and teaching to help guard against heresies. This week, I want to look at the major ancient heresies, and how the creeds were put together to combat them.

Some consider the recitation of the creeds (and other liturgy) in the Church of England to be deadly dull. I personally appreciate their beauty but didn’t really understand their importance until I began to research their background.

‘The Fall’ was caused through a false idea promoted by Satan. “Has God said...” was the crux of The Fall and it has proven to be the base of the overwhelming majority of heretical arguments since.

Here came my big realisation when researching heresies: counterfeit beliefs are never diametrically opposed to the truth, they are slight deviations, little twists that take you away from the narrow road that leads to God. Paul pointed to this in his second letter to the Corinthians, Chapters 11 & 12, when he wrote against the super-apostles. Within a couple of decades of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, counterfeit messages, driven by personal interest and a desire for position, were infiltrating the Church.

Counterfeit beliefs are never diametrically opposed to the truth, they are slight deviations, little twists that take you away from the narrow road that leads to God.

It was in direct response to these false ideas, which became known as heresies, that the Church developed creeds. The creeds were a form of mission statement, a recitation of the key tenets of belief, a laying down of what we believe and what the Church sees as the core elements of our faith.

The Heresies

To understand what the creeds set out to do, I have outlined the six most prevalent and enduring heresies. These descriptions can only give the headlines, so I would encourage readers to conduct their own research to gain a full picture of the issues.

Arianism – Inspired Humanity

Arianism is arguably the oldest and most enduring of the heresies.

Rooted in an Egyptian priest called Arius, the core heresy was that Jesus was a son of God, but ‘a created being’, and not ‘fully God’ or eternal. It surfaces in a slightly different form in modern thinking through the ‘Little God’s’ idea – that we are like Jesus in that we have God’s breath in us, and as a result we too are gods. In modern Christianity, Arianism surfaces in Dominion theology as Christians are urged to take dominion over the world and in doing so make preparation for the earth to be ready and pre-prepared for the Lord’s return. In doing so it shifts the return from redemption to acceptance of this divine gift. It neglects, even ignores, the fact that we are fallen and in need of a redeemer.

Adoptionism

Adoptionism does not have a readily traced source but seems to be based in ‘low Christology’ which maintains that the earliest records lack any reference to the virgin birth and therefore infer that Jesus was simply a ‘good man’ filled with the Holy Spirit. In doing this, these adherents choose to ignore that in both the Septuagint Old Testament and the New Testament the Greek ‘parthenos’ is unequivocally ‘virgin’. This good man was then adopted by God at either his birth, baptism, transfiguration or ascension. It then extends into thinking that if we, as humans, are aligned with God then we can take on the same powers and attributes as Jesus.

Similar to Arianism in many respects, Adoptionism was declared a heresy at the end of the 3rd century. In championing this line of thinking there is a denial of the pre-existence of Jesus, ignoring his statement ‘before Abraham was I am’, and applies a fresh thinking to the supernatural voice from the cloud at the transfiguration. A modern manifestation of Adoptionism is found in the denial of the virgin birth, which of course is common across many within the major denominations. It also manifests in the ‘super breed’ that came from the ‘Latter Rain’ and Kansas City Prophets’ movement.

Marcionism – Dualist Gnosticism

Marcion believed that the God of the Old Testament was an evil tyrant who was distinct and separate from the loving, forgiving God of the New Testament. He saw the world as a battleground between the forces of good and evil. Marcion even developed his own canon comprising a few Psalms, a shortened version of Luke’s gospel and twelve Pauline epistles. Marcionism has resurfaced in modern times with the move of Scripture away from its Hebraic, or Semitic, roots and the sidelining of Old Testament scripture in many denominations, and in the plethora of alternative gospels from various sources, each claiming a special insight into the life and ministry of Jesus.

Catharism – Dualism

Catharism was in many ways similar to Marcionism in believing that the physical world was the handiwork of an evil god. They strived for abstinence from many things, including sexual intercourse, to make themselves pure enough for the spiritual world. Catharism was so serious during the Middle Ages and took such a hold that the Albigensian crusade was raised against it. In the modern world, much New Age thinking is rooted in Cathar thought.

Docetism – Divine Deception

Docetism proposed that Jesus never took on human flesh and that he was ‘effectively a hologram’. They paralleled Jesus with Zeus, who took the form of a bull to seduce Europa. This belief meant that Jesus never actually died on the cross, and if he did not die, then he was not resurrected. In a similar manner to Arianism, a modern manifestation of this heresy is found in some of liberal Christianity’s widespread denial of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

Pelagianism – Redemption by Works

This heretical view came from Pelagius, who was a British monk in Rome in the 5th century, some time after the creeds were written, so isn’t addressed directly by them in the same way. Pelagius’ view was that Christians could earn their way into heaven without any need of God’s grace. Pelagius’ belief that we will prepare the earth and make it ready for God’s return sits at the root of modern Dominion teaching, and is at odds with the teaching of the book of Revelation which describes an earth that is broken and dysfunctional being redeemed by the Lord’s return. As with Adoptionism and strands of Arianism, a modern manifestation of Pelagianism is also found within ‘super-breed’ thinking.

The Central Creeds

There are three main Christian creeds, The Nicene, The Apostles’ and The Athanasian – the fullest and lengthiest version.

It was in direct response to these false ideas, which became known as heresies, that the church developed creeds.

Each was developed as a defence against the heresies that were active across the Christian community. They distilled and distributed the central truths of Christian faith and provided believers with a readily remembered and quoted statement of faith.

In particular, the Church addressed head-on ‘low Christology’ – the idea permeating parts of the Church that Jesus was created by God – at the council of Nicea in 325. Collectively, before God, they stated that Jesus was “Begotten, not Made, Being of One Substance with the Father”.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

The Apostles’ Creed

We believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.The creeds affirm the biblical view that God created the world, Heartlight.com
We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Athanasian Creed

This longer creed particularly focuses on the Trinity, on the equality, unity, yet distinctiveness of each of the persons of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, before speaking of salvation through Jesus and future judgement. The full text is at the bottom of this article.

Core Truths in the Creeds

At the centre of each of the creeds are core truths about God and his engagement with his people. These can be broken down into the following ten headlines:

1. God is Creator of this earth and all on it.
2. God sent His own Son Jesus (Yeshua) to be born of the Virgin Mary.
3. Jesus was begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.
4. Jesus was crucified under the authority of Pontius Pilate, was declared dead, and was buried.
5. Jesus was resurrected on the third day.
6. Jesus ascended to heaven and sits at the Father’s right hand.
7. Jesus will return at the end of time to judge all men, living and dead.
8. The Holy Spirit is the Trinity’s third element and gave inspiration for the scriptures.
9. For humanity and for our salvation Jesus came down.
10. Jesus’ Church is built with unity in these truths between believers as a goal.

Where the heresies diverge from the creeds

When you review the heresies, you see that these key points are where the heresies diverge from the creeds.

1. God is Creator of this earth: Marcionism believes, and teaches, the earth was created by a demiurge, an evil being that had to be subjugated under the God of the New Testament.
2. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary as fully God and fully Man: Arianism believes and teaches that Jesus was simply a good man inspired by God.
3. Jesus was begotten, not created: Adoptionism declares that Jesus was a man, chosen and adopted by the Father.
4. Jesus was crucified and declared dead and buried in the grave: Docetism believes and teaches that Jesus was never truly here. He was a kind of hologram. So, he never really died.
5. Jesus was resurrected from the dead: Marcionism believes and teaches that the physical and material is evil and that Jesus simply returned to the spiritual world.
6. Jesus ascended to heaven: Arianism believes and teaches that Jesus was a man whom God chose, as does Adoptionism, and therefore was, and is, not eternally co-existent with God.
7. That Jesus will return with the judgement: Pelagianism believes and teaches that we earn our place in heaven and that the earth will be taken over by believers and made perfect and ready for His return.
8. That the Holy Spirit inspired the Scriptures: Arianism believes in an impersonal spirit that is available to all who believe and the scriptures are simply good literature.
9. Jesus came to save humanity: All heresies are essentially Gnostic in nature and therefore that only a ‘chosen few’ possess secret knowledge.
10. That the Church is built with unity on these creedal truths between believers: All heresies are essentially Gnostic in practice, and proclaim that a ‘chosen few’ possess secret knowledge that makes them superior and alone privy to the truth.

The modern manifestations of these ancient heresies have been referred to in passing up until now. We will examine this tendency in greater depth in the next article.

The Athanasian Creed

WHOSOEVER will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick Faith.
Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the Catholick Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate: and the Holy Ghost uncreate.
The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible: and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
The Father eternal, the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal.
And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated: but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
So likewise, the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.
So, the Father is God, the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God.
And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.
So likewise, the Father is Lord, the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord.
And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;
So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion: to say there be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
So, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity, none is afore, or after other: none is greater, or less than another;
But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together: and co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
He therefore that will be saved: must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For the right Faith is that we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world;
Perfect God, and Perfect Man: of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting;
Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father, as touching his Manhood.
Who although he be God and Man: yet he is not two, but one Christ;
One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether, not by confusion of Substance: but by unity of Person.
For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and Man is one Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.
He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty: from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies: and shall give account for their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholick Faith: which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.