Sabellianism

Sabellianism: The Modalist Controversy and the Church’s Understanding of the Trinity

The third century witnessed one of the most significant theological controversies in the early Church, a dispute that would fundamentally shape Christian understanding of God’s nature for centuries to come. Sabellianism, also known as Modalism or modalistic monarchianism, emerged as a serious challenge to orthodox Christian teaching about the relationship between the Father, Son, and […]

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Adoptionism

Adoptionism: The Early Church’s Battle for the Divine Sonship of Christ

The second and third centuries of the Christian era witnessed a succession of theological controversies that would shape the doctrinal foundations of the Catholic faith for all subsequent ages. Among these early disputes, Adoptionism stands as one of the most significant challenges to orthodox Christology. This heresy, which asserted that Jesus Christ was born as

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Donatism

When Holiness Became a Weapon: The Donatist Controversy

The story of Donatism starts with something recognisable: a church split over purity. Fourth-century North Africa saw Christian communities tear themselves apart over a question that still surfaces today. If your priest or bishop has sinned badly, maybe even betrayed Christ, can they still administer valid sacraments? The Donatists said no. The wider Church, especially

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Marcionism

Marcionism and the Early Church Response

Introduction The second century presented the nascent Christian church with numerous theological challenges, yet few proved as consequential as the teachings of Marcion of Sinope. This wealthy shipowner turned religious teacher arrived in Rome around 140 AD with ideas that would shake the foundations of Christian orthodoxy and force the church to clarify its core

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The Ghost of Mani: Why the Ancient Heresy of Dualism Still Haunts Catholic Thought

​I. Introduction: Manichaeism – A Universal Religion of Cosmic Despair ​Manichaeism represents one of the most intellectually sophisticated and historically impactful challenges to the nascent Catholic faith. Founded in the third century AD by the Parthian Iranian prophet Mani (c. 216–274) in the Sasanian Empire, it quickly established itself as a major world religion. While

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