THE ATHANASIAN CREED In the reign of Constantine, Christianity was proclaimed the state religion for the Roman Empire. With that, the populace began open discussion on matters of theology, subject heretofore reserved for the philosophers. The Platonic philosophical influences upon John 1:1 and other sacred writings, bred a great contention as to the "being" of the Logos. Arius, a presbyter of Alexandria and leader of the sect - Arianism - taught that Jesus was the first creature, "made a second God" inferior to the Almighty. As opposed by the Trinitarian concept, he taught that Jesus was not equal or identical with God the Father. It was at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. that the Nicene Creed was formulated to do away with Arianism and the Church to accept the doctrine of the Trinity Godhead. However, the revelation of the Word of God could verify that both doctrines, though true in parts, are filled with hordes of errors. Athanasius, a deacon who had led the fight against Arius, was later to become the Bishop of Alexandria. The Athanasian Creed, found in the Book of Common Prayer, states quite emphatically the Church's stand with respect to the multiplicity of gods. Foreword