'Semi-Arian': a misleading term

[roland mercer]

I'm posting a question about Semi-Arianism, in the context of fourth century theology (i.e., Athanasius, Constantius, Basil of Ancyra):

Many modern scholars claim that the term "Semi-Arian" is a misleading term, coined by Epiphanius, used in order to discredit the party of Basil of Ancyra. So, WHY is the term misleading? Does it misrepresent Basil's theology and that of the homoiousians?

I'd appreicate any insight.

-Christian.

[Gilbert Gandenberger]

Semi-Arianism, as I've seen it used, was very imprecise and so did not help the "sorting out" process during the immediate post-Nicene period.

My understanding of that period was that it became clear to the Church, thanks principally to the work of St. Athanasius and St. Hilary of Poitiers, that Arianism was heretical. This was the statement that the Son was NOT like the Father, of a different nature.

Where there was still controversy within the Church and was unclear for those termed "semi-Arian" was whether the non-Biblical term (NOT ANTI-Biblical!) homoousios, "of the same nature", was an acceptable term. Some held the content of the faith as confessed in Nicene creed, but stumbled over this term. An example of this, as I understand it, was St. Cyril of Jerusalem.

Others though wanted to say the Son was "similar" to the Father, but not of the "same" nature, and the Church has said that this is a different heresy than Arianism, but still wrong.

Unfortunately, both of these groups were termed "semi-Arian". This was pretty well cleared up by the work of the Cappadocians and Chalcedon.

I'm afraid I'm not at familiar with Basil of Ancyra in any detail at all, have read a bit about him when covering the Arian controversy etc. but not looked into his beliefs/issues. Reading Epiphanius on all of this gets a bit too tendentious for me, not one of my favorites. But he has his strengths, so . . .

St. Athanasius covers the semi-Arians in one of his later works, I can't locate it at this time, maybe someone else knows the specifics. He worked with those who held the faith but stumbled over homoousios, and was able to clarify and bring quite a bit of peace to those with a true heart for God.

My read of that time period was it certainly was theologically complicated, and was a difficult test for the Church. We are blessed that faithful saints like St. Athanasius & the Cappadocians had the courage, devotion to God, and fortitude to endure.

One of my favorite sayings about St. Athanasius, when he mourned that so many of his peers had been martyred and why not him, he was told, "God calls some to die, and others to live. You've been called to live." (please excuse my paraphrase!)