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AFTER Peter, bishop of Alexandria, had suffered martyrdom under
Diocletian, Achillas was installed in the episcopal office, whom
Alexander succeeded, during the period of peace above referred to.
He, in the fearless exercise of his functions for the instruction and
government of the Church, attempted one day in the presence of the
presbytery and the rest of his clergy, to explain, with perhaps too
philosophical minuteness, that great theological mystery- the
UNITY of the Holy Trinity. A certain one of the presbyters
under his jurisdiction, whose name was Arius, possessed of no
inconsiderable logical acumen, imaging that the bishop was subtly
teaching the same view of this subject as Sabellius the Libyan, from
love of controversy took the opposite opinion to that of the Libyan,
and as he thought vigorously responded to what was said by the bishop.
'If,' said he, 'the Father begat the Son, he that was begotten
had a beginning of existence: and from this it is evident, that there
was a time when the Son was not. It therefore necessarily follows,
that he had his substance from nothing.'
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