- Photinus
:"This article is about the 4th century bishop Photinus. For the
firefly beetle genus , see "Photinus (beetle) .Biography
Photinus (d. 376) was the
Christian bishop ofSirmium inPannonia , a residence of the EmperorConstantius II . He was deposed on charges ofheresy but his exact beliefs are unclear.According to
Socrates Scholasticus , Photinus followed the teachings ofMarcellus of Ancyra . Socrates states that Marcellus and Photinus believed that Jesus was not divine and the Logos did not exist before Jesus' conception. [Socrates Scholasticus , "Church History", book 2, chapters [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020068.htm 18] & [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020069.htm 19] .] Socrates identifies Photinus' beliefs with those ofSabellius of Libya andPaul of Samosata . [Socrates Scholasticus , "Church History", book 2, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020079.htm 29] .] According toSozomen , Photinus believed that the Logos did not exist before the conception of Jesus. [Sozomen , "Church History", book 4, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020368.htm 6] .]Photinus was originally a deacon of Marcellus, metropolitan of
Ancyra . [Socrates Scholasticus , "Church History", book 2, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020068.htm 18] .] Marcellus was deposed by the Arians, but reinstated by the Synod ofSerdica in 343.In 344, the Synod of
Antioch deposed Marcellus and drew up theMacrostich , a creed which listed their beliefs and objections to Marcellus' doctrines (among others). In 345, a rival synod inMilan deposed Photinus, but a 347 synod failed to depose Photinus, due to his popular support. A synod at Sirmium was held andHilarius of Poitiers quotes some of its Arian propositions.Photinus made an appeal to the emperor and another general synod was held at Sirmium in 351. Basil, Marcellus' successor and a semi-Arian, argued with Photinus, and Photinus was deposed on charges of
Sabellianism andAdoptionism . [Socrates Scholasticus , "Church History", book 2, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020079.htm 29] .] [Sozomen , "Church History", book 4, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020368.htm 6] .] He was anathematised and exiled, and he wrote several theological works during his exile. [Socrates Scholasticus , "Church History", book 2, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020079.htm 29] .] [Sozomen , "Church History", book 4, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020368.htm 6] .]In about 365, a letter from Liberius, bishop of Rome, to several Macedonian bishops lists Photinus among the latter. [
Socrates Scholasticus , "Church History", book 4, chapter [http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020137.htm 12] .]He returned to his see during the reign of
Julian the Apostate , but was exiled byValentinian II , according toJerome . He settled inGalatia and his doctrines, Photinianism, died in the West. By the time of Augustine, a "Photinian" was anyone who believed Christ was a mere man.References
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