A comparison between two differing beliefs: Athanasius and Eusebius.

 

Eusebius Pamphili.

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Old Bulgarian icon of St. Athanasius of Alexandria.

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        To begin this discussion, some context needs to be established between the two figures in the heading. Eusebius was “One of Constantine’s most ardent supporters in the early years of his reign [and was] bishop of Caesarea” (Armstrong 175). According to Armstrong, Eusebius believed that “ they had worshipped God wherever they found themselves, simply, in spirit and truth” (Armstrong 175). Another instance that shows this idea of not requiring a sacred space for worship is that Eusebius imagined Christ mentioning “I, giving freedom to all teach men not to look for God in a corner of the earth, nor in mountains, nor in temples made with hands, but that each should worship and adore him at home” (Ibid, I:6:40). 

On the other hand, there was Alexander, another bishop, with his young assistant Athanasius. Armstrong states that “ He shared the same nature as God the Father and had been neither begotten nor created…Only the One who had created the world had the strength to save it, so Jesus, the logos made flesh, must share the Father's essential divinity. His death and resurrection had redeemed human beings from sin and mortality, and now, by the incorporation into Christ, the god-man, men, and women could also be divine” (Armstrong 177). 

These two powerful figures in the New Jerusalem had varying beliefs and it was difficult to figure out which one could have their way in the kingdom ruled by Constantine. Armstrong states that “Athanasius saw the salvation of the world as Jesus’s most important achievement. Eusebius did not see it quite in this light; certainly, Jesus had saved us, but his principal task was to be a revelation to the world. (Armstrong 177). 

In the end, however, Constantine did find it difficult to see which one of these influential men had the right idea regarding the view on Jesus and God. Eventually, however, “By the beginning of 325, Athanasius’s part had won his support…Thus it happened that Eusebius…found that when he arrived at Nicaea in May to take part in the council, he had been excommunicated” (Armstrong 178). 

The debates between Athanasius and Eusebius were the earliest conflicts that were seen in the early church of Christianity. This early debate also set the stage for many separations between the church of Christianity leading to the different sects that we see now. The question could be asked, however: could there have been unity between these ideas?