Arius (Christian theologian)

Arius was a Christian theologian from the 4th century who sparked a major debate about the nature of Jesus Christ. He believed that Jesus was not fully divine but a special creation of God, making him subordinate to God the Father. This view, called Arianism, challenged the emerging orthodox belief that Jesus was both fully divine and fully human, one with God. The controversy led to the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which affirmed the doctrine of Jesus’ divine nature. Arius’ teachings are considered heretical in mainstream Christianity today, but his ideas significantly influenced early Christian theology and church unity.