Nicaea - The Rise of the Imperial Church. William Speir

God. Yahweh and Jehovah were the tribal name for the Hebrew God of Abraham. Adonai is the name used by some of the prophets as their concept of God grew to embrace the idea of one God over all of creation, not just the god of the Jews. Elohim is the name of God first introduced by the third prophet Isaiah as the God who created the heavens, earth, and man in his image and likeness. Now you and the other Patriarchs are attempting to add the name of Jesus of Nazareth, or Joshua Bar-Joseph, to the list of the names for God. But you are not prophets, and you are not apostles, so where does your authority come from to declare that our Master is a god?

      Arias leaned back and closed his eyes, thinking about how he wanted to word the next part of the letter. Then he took a sip from the cup and started writing again.

      For years, I have endured listening to you and other bishops and priests misinterpret the scriptures. Jesus’ statement that “I and my father are one” is NOT stating that the Father and the Son are one entity, but that the Father and the Son are of one mind – acting in concert with each other, yet distinct and separate persons. Our Master’s failure to deny that he is God on earth to the priests is also mistakenly seen as proof that he is, indeed God. As one of your acolytes put it, “Jesus is God, but he didn’t want anyone to know that he is God, so he denied that he is God to some and refused to answer the question to others. This is proof that he IS God because his denial is what you’d expect from the true God in disguise on earth.” What utter rubbish! For every verse of scripture you point to that lends evidence to your position that Jesus is God, I can point to twenty others that show the opposite.

      Even you must acknowledge our Master’s assertion: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” I also believe that you preach the infallibility of God. But if Jesus lied to his disciples and the priests about being God, then he is a liar. How can a liar be infallible? If our Master were willing to admit that he was the Messiah and the Son of God, why would he deny being God if he were, in fact, God? If Jesus lied about his divinity, what else did he lie about? And if he were God, how could he die on the cross? You cannot have it both ways. Either God is infallible or he is a liar. If he is infallible, then Jesus is NOT God; if he is a liar, then he is fallible, the gospels are false, and our faith is also false.

      Botherik quietly entered the chamber, trying not to disturb Arias. The servant placed a plate of food on a small table beside Arias’ desk and then withdrew quickly, closing the door gently behind him. Arias continued writing.

      The concept of the Divine Trinity being three facets of a single entity is supported neither by scripture nor by rational thought. For more than two hundred years, the church here in Baucalis has faithfully followed The Way as taught by our Master. The Way has existed for nearly three hundred years – ever since our Master walked on this earth – and it has been practiced since the early disciples first began spreading the word by preaching the gospel beyond the borders of the Judean Province. I will not abandon The Way in favor of this new revisionist theology that you and the other Patriarchs are insisting upon, because you have no authority to misinterpret scripture, based on your own misunderstanding, and call it our new doctrine. I will continue to preach what I have always preached, and I will continue to demonstrate The Way as I have always demonstrated it, no matter how you and the other Patriarchs choose to change the theology of the churches. There have been many Patriarchs in the past, and there will be many more in the future, but The Way is always The Way, and I will not deviate from the words and works of our Master simply to suit your demands.

      Arias, Priest Presbyter

      Church of Baucalis

      Arias put down his pencil and re-read the letter. Satisfied, he rolled the scroll and tied a ribbon around it to keep it closed. Then he stood. Looking through the window, he saw Athanasius sitting on the ground with his back against the date palm tree. Time for him to return to Alexander.

      Arias left the chamber and exited the building through the archway that led to the small garden. When he reached the courtyard, Athanasius saw him and got to his feet.

      “Peace to you, Brother Athanasius,” Arias said formally as he approached the man. “Does Alexander have no other messengers that he can use for such errands?”

      “Peace to you as well, Arias,” Athanasius replied with a curt nod. “I do Alexander’s bidding, as should you.” Seeing the scroll in Arias’ hand, Athanasius added. “Is that your reply to Alexander’s letter?”

      Arias nodded and handed the scroll to Athanasius. Arias was of lean build, and Athanasius appeared to be more athletic. Athanasius used his different in size to appear intimidating, which only amused Arias.

      Athanasius placed the scroll in the leather pouch that hung from a strap around his neck. “Will you end this contention with the Patriarchs and finally give in to their demands?” he asked.

      Arias smiled thinly. “I am a faithful Follower of The Way, Athanasius. I won’t deny my faith, no matter what threats are made against me. The Apostle Peter denied being a disciple of Jesus out of fear of what the Judeans would do to him. I’m not afraid of what the Patriarchs will do to me. When it’s my time to stand before God and answer for my life, I don’t intend to be counted with Peter. My intention is to be counted with John, the Obedient Apostle. I obey our Master, Jesus; and in matters of theology, I acknowledge no other authority.”

      “Peter is the rock upon which our churches are built,” Athanasius reminded Arias.

      “Peter’s declaration of Jesus as the son of God is the rock upon which our churches are built,” Arias corrected him, “not Peter the man. Our Master would never build his church on the shoulders of a man who had denied him three times in the days leading up to the crucifixion. No structure could survive a foundation that weak.”

      “You’re a fool, Arias,” Athanasius said, bending down to pick up the empty cup and plate. “You have no concept of what’s happening within the other churches. It’s not wise to stand against the Patriarchs.”

      “If the three Hebrew boys survived being thrown into the fiery furnace and the Apostle John survived being boiled in a pot of oil through their faith in and reliance upon God, surely I can survive the superstitious ignorance and animosity of my fellow priests in the same way.”

      Athanasius shook his head and handed the empty cup and plate to Arias. “There’s no reasoning with you, is there, Arias?”

      “Reasoning is possible between two reasonable people, Athanasius. My position is reasonable because it’s the same position held to by the priests of this church since its founding. Your position has no such foundation, so which of us is being reasonable?”

      “There’s more going on here than a simple theological disagreement, Arias.” Athanasius turned to leave. “You may find that losing your church here is the least of the fates that await you if you don’t curb your tongue and start preaching as instructed by the Patriarchs. The heresy that you and your supporters are preaching and teaching will not be tolerated. Keep that in mind.”

      “Oh, I promise to keep that in mind, Brother Athanasius,” Arias said as the young man strode out of the courtyard to his waiting horse. Arias stood motionless as Athanasius mounted and rode off. The wind caught the cloud of dust kicked up by the horse’s hooves and blew it away from the courtyard.

      Arias turned and saw Andrew, Barnabas, and Euric waiting for him across the courtyard on the edge of the garden. He walked over to his three acolytes, who bowed to him as he approached.

      “Was that Athanasius?” Andrew asked.

      Arias nodded.

      “What did he want?” Barnabas asked as they followed Arias through the garden. Both Andrew and Barnabas were Greek, but they had lived in Egypt since they were children.

      “What he always wants,” Euric said with his heavy accent. His straw-colored hair fluttered in the breeze. “He’s Alexander’s lackey and takes pleasure acting like the voice of the Bishop.”

      Like Botherik, Euric was a Goth. Two years earlier, Euric had written to Arias, asking for an opportunity