21. Alexandrian Christianity

We have introduced the beginnings of Antiochan Christianity, with its highly Jewish outlook, and now turn to the form of Christian understanding connected with the city of Alexandria. Just as Antioch emphasized the humanity of Christ, so Alexandria emphasized the divinity of Christ. Both views were correct in some measure, but both failed to fully embrace the view that would eventually define the orthodox approach to the nature of God, and the person of Christ.
This lesson deals with Paul of Samosata, an Antiochan thinker, and Sabellius, a major influence in Alexandria. As you cover this material, keep thinking about the contrast between them, and also consider how both of these distorted views of Christ continue to play a role in the broader world of the Christian religion, right up to the present day.
The issues under discussion here provoked a crisis in the early centuries of the Church, which itself led to the first great ecumenical council, the Council of Nicaea in 325. An understanding of the Nicene Creed requires an appreciation of the underlying themes that form the basis for these discussions.

[@ceallly]

Thank you for sharing your lessons. I'm working my way through all of them.

[@johnpress]

Great job Dr. Gore!

[@debbieroberts4654]

I enjoyed this lecture and the entire series so far. I understand this is presented from the point of view of a reformed Presbyterian and can very much appreciate that. I do have a small issue with this particular lecture. Though not explicitly stated, it certainly seems to be implied that premillennialism is conflated with ebionism. It is well documented that most antenicene fathers were historical premillennialists. I would also argue that a consistent use of a literal-grammatical hermeneutics would all but rule out any other eschatological position. I dint mean to open that can of worms, as I'm well aware if disagreements between orthadox Christians concerning eschatology and prophecy. Having said that, I still do find the conflating of premillennialism and ebeonism, a heresy after all, to be misleading. If I have misunderstood your presentation of premillennialism and ebeonism, then I do apologize.

[@nachogtz]

Brilliant lecture. Thank you Mr. Gore.

[@nizaamkader3528]

thank you very enlightening

[@parthasart]

Very nicely presented

[@williamjayaraj2244]

Great teaching. Thank you sir.

[@moosa86]

Where does this “professor” get the notion that Paul of Samosata “rejected the first 18 verses of the Gospel of John??” 🤦‍♂️ On the contrary Paul accepted the entire gospel of John but understood those first 18 verses differently than the mainstream of Trinitarian Christianity does today…

[@HappyCatholicDane]

Maybe it is in another video, but how can you talk about Alexandrian Christianity without mentioning Saint Clement and Origen.

[@daniellebrandon4207]

If the Jews that listened to Jesus left after the 70 ad destruction and migrated to Antioch. This would set this time as the earliest form and most authentic version of "first century Christianity" the understanding these particular Jews had was what would be considered "Orthodox" and then what came later was all added by the council. How they viewed Jesus and how they worshipped was "Orthodox". Isn't understanding correct or can you add something to this?

[@JonathanAllen0379]

11:30 - Panentheistic Emanationism would be more accurate. God is simultaneously immanent and transcendent. He generates everything into existence so that he can experience himself from a practically infinite number of different viewpoints. A cursory study of Vedanta would be helpful for the sake of comparison. At the end of time, he promises to reconcile and subsume everything back into himself, so that he might be all in all, or something like that.

[@alonsomiguellozanoaumne5668]

By any chance was the creator of the hymn or children’s song Jesus wants me for a sun beam of the Sabellius thinking ?

[@brucegore4373]

Could be!

[@rickmiller8893]

Could it be implied that the 1000 years of Christs reign would be the spread of Christianity without being corrupted or too corrupted..and the 1000 years of otherwise would be the corruption of it.. perhaps starting with the political or politicized application of Christianity starting with...the you know who's...and the more accurate time frame would be forgetting about the Gregorian calendar (as it hadn't existed yet)..and do the true math?

[@ayobithedark2772]

The true math?

[@Kadinamara]

Interesting

[@patriciavalencia2674]

There is no learning when/ if you are close minded. Teaching, anything from one point of view is to limit yourself. It’s to limit our understanding. Jesus said it himself that he came to fulfill the law not abolish it, he proposed a new/ better way to live and view the world and each other. He took part IN ALL Jewish celebrations and kept Jewish commandants using his own judgment, he taught some of them but the others deemed by him misguided, misunderstood or out of touch, he did not follow. As followers we make the same mistakes. As if when we retell a story we, and I mean ALL OF US, even if unintentionally, don’t change it for one reason or another, or contaminate it with our own biases. “ Love God above all things and each other like I loved you.” That is the law. The rest is what best suits the hole of society em prol of becoming more “ god like”.

[@ashthebash66]

Complicated and strange! And the trinity is easy to understand and explain

[@michaelquintana678]

Eusibians and preniceans expalin it better to me.

[@axiom.ai.obviousbattletank7139]

"Easy to understand"? I'm 36 years old, have a child, a track record on life., and many questions. Do you take prescribed medication,

[@axiom.ai.obviousbattletank7139]

@@michaelquintana678 mirotaliobun!

[@ashthebash66]

@@axiom.ai.obviousbattletank7139 I was being a little sarcastic

[@mohamedmilad1]

I don't subscribe to the idea; if there's no god everything is permissible. It goes against history of humanity.

[@In73ll3c7u5]

i like how dude roll stuff off his head. Has a book but very well learned.

[@unitarianapologetics4669]

Nothing like a "professor" forcing his personal nonsense down student's throats. 😏

[@riche7691]

I’m pretty sure it’s a Christian private high school. So he’s not “forcing” anything

[@unitarianapologetics4669]

@@riche7691 Yes, he is. He's not presenting the options; he's telling them what to think.

[@riche7691]

@@unitarianapologetics4669 you’re right he’s not neutral but my point is that he’s openly coming from an orthodox Christian perspective which the students signed up for

[@StefanMusicHuntley]

I'm in agreement with you, that he says things like "Let me tell you, the idea Plato influenced the Jews or the Bible, is wrong." Clearly, most scholars would clearly disagree.

[@SalGargini]

​@StefanMusicHuntley when did he say that? Timestamp please

[@wildernesswordsmith]

Not a very good instructor. I would leave this class in a heart beat.

[@khaccanhle1930]

I can see you have never been taught by a Neo-marxists teacher in American universities. You would soon discover what "Shoving your views down students throats" really looks like. There is where the term "religious fanaticism" becomes real.