Thomas: (Pt.3) Theological influences of Islam (100-489)

We are now moving into the Theological "Soup" that existed in that place (the Middle East) and in that time (the 7th century) which impacted on Islam, and created the Islam we have today. Thomas's historical overview helps us understand exactly what was happening theologically leading up to the origins of Islam in the 7th century. 100 AD: In the 2nd century Thomas noted that there is just too little to go on theologically, since we don't have many early writings in this period. 115 AD: Ignatius of Antioch is the bishop at that time, who was a strong Trinitarian. Yet, there were other Christians in small communities who believed in "proving oneself", by following the example of Jesus in order to gain salvation, thus a form of 'salvation by works'. The emphasis was Jesus only as a servant of God, but not God himself. This idea then moved to Jesus as a man only, and not divine. 258 AD: Paul of Samosata, the bishop of Antioch, one of the 3 most important bishoprics at that time, believed that Jesus, though he was unique, was not the 'Son of God', nor did he believe in the Trinity. He considered Jesus as an instrument of God, saying that the "Logos" (a term used by Philo as the highest of intermediaries between God and man) inhabited Jesus only, and did so more than other prophets. He also believed that Jesus was not pre-existent, suggesting that Mary only gave birth to a human, not 'The' Logos, so that he was not divine, but was great due to his wisdom and obedience to God. (Note: The Trinitarians believed that the Logos was un-created, while the Anti-Trinitarians believed he was created). As a result, there was a push-back from the wider Christian community with 2 synods in 264 and 268 which confronted his anti-trinitarian beliefs. Persia at that time was primarily Aramaic speaking, and Christianity was mostly spread by traders, starting with the Gnostics in the 2nd century, and the Manichaeists in the 3rd century, as well as the Encratites, a group of ascetics who were anti Jews, legalistic about Alcohol, and anti-trinitarian. It was about this time that the Diatessaron (the Aramaic compilation of the Gospels in Persia) was written. 250 AD: The Roman emperor Decius persecuted Christians, who fled to Persia, causing that area to be dominated by the Christians by the 4th century. 410 AD: The Eastern and the Western churches were now separate, with both Trinitarians and anti-Trinitarians represented in both areas. 431 AD: The Nestorians began coming to Persia in large numbers, as they were perceived as heretical in the Western church. The majority of them were Trinitarian, but they considered Jesus having two natures. In the West the Byzantines were Monophysites, while they also dominated the Western part of Syria, and the Nestorians began to dominate the Eastern part of Syria. By this time in the 5th century, both Trinitarian and Anti-Trinitarian groups existed side-by-side and were vying for ascendancy in what was then Persia (Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Iran today). Who finally wins out in this competition would be the group which helped to create the Islam we currently know. And that is where Thomas plans to go next, so 'keep this space'... © Pfander Centre for Apologetics - US, 2021 (60,220) Music: "Travels" by Aleksound, from filmmusic-io