Acts of the Council of Aquileia (381) against Palladius and Secundianus

Contents

Reading pages: 1–41 · 42–76

1. 1Heading of the acts: the date (3 September 381) and the bishops in session at Aquileia.
2. 2Ambrose proposes that minutes be kept so that Palladius and Secundianus cannot later deny what they say, and that the emperor's letter be read.
3. 3The emperor's letter: Gratian had summoned the bishops to Aquileia so that bishops themselves might settle the doctrinal dispute.
4. 4The emperor explains that, on Ambrose's advice, only the bishops of northern Italy and nearby were needed, so the old, the weak, and the poor were spared the journey.
5. 5Ambrose challenges Palladius either to defend from Scripture Arius's claim that only the Father is eternal or to condemn it.
6. 6Palladius refuses to answer in the absence of the Eastern bishops, claiming the council is not a full one.
7. 7Ambrose answers that by custom Eastern and Western bishops hold their councils separately, and the Easterners were free to come but chose not to.
8. 8Palladius accuses Ambrose of having prevented the Eastern bishops from coming.
9. 9Palladius refuses to answer whether Arius was right; the bishops press him to confess his faith freely.
10. 10Sabinus presses Palladius to say whether Christ is created; Palladius says he came only to show that the bishops had improperly influenced the emperor.
11. 11Ambrose demands that Palladius condemn or defend Arius; the bishops reject his claim that the emperor wanted the Easterners present.
12. 12Ambrose reminds Palladius that he had promised to debate as a Christian and again demands that he condemn Arius or defend him; Palladius refuses.
13. 13Ambrose argues from Rom 1:20 and 1 Cor 1:24 that Christ, the power of God, is everlasting; the bishops anathematize whoever denies it.
14. 14Palladius claims not to know Arius and again refuses to answer outside a full council.
15. 15Ambrose recalls Arius's death as a divine judgment; the legates of Gaul condemn whoever denies that the Son is co-eternal with the Father.
16. 16The African legate Felix and Anemius of Sirmium, head of Illyricum, condemn whoever denies that the Son is eternal and co-eternal with the Father.
17. 17From Arius's letter (the Father "alone true") Ambrose demands that Palladius confess the Son as true God; Palladius will only call him the true Son.
18. 18Ambrose says that calling Christ the true Son is only half the confession and presses Palladius to call him true Lord.
19. 19Eusebius distinguishes our adoptive sonship from Christ's sonship by nature and asks whether calling Christ true God is unscriptural.
20. 20Palladius appeals to John 17:3 (the Father the only true God); Ambrose answers with 1 John 5:20, "This is the true God," and exposes the Homoian sense of "one true divinity".
21. 21Palladius calls Christ only "the power of our God"; the bishops anathematize whoever will not confess him true Lord.
22. 22On Arius's "alone having immortality", Palladius cites 1 Tim 6:15–16 and asks whether "Christ" is a divine or a human name.
23. 23Eusebius answers that in 1 Tim 6:16 the name "God" signifies the whole divine nature, Father and Son together.
24. 24Ambrose distinguishes Christ's death in the flesh from his immortal divinity; the bishops anathematize whoever denies the Son immortality.
25. 26Palladius will not say whether Arius spoke wrongly; Ambrose moves on to the next clause of Arius's letter.
26. 27On Arius's "alone wise", Palladius will call the Son wisdom but not wise; the bishops anathematize whoever denies that the Son is wise.
27. 28On Arius's "alone good", Palladius cites John 10:11 and calls Christ good.
28. 29Eusebius shows that "good" alone does not confess divinity, since humans too are called good; Palladius says the good Father begot a good Son.
29. 30The bishops anathematize whoever does not confess the Son of God as good God.
30. 31On Arius's "alone mighty", Palladius calls the Son mighty but avoids calling him mighty God.
31. 32Ambrose shows from Ps 52:1 and 2 Cor 12:10 that "mighty" alone does not confess divinity; the bishops anathematize whoever denies that Christ is the mighty Lord.
32. 33Palladius says the Son judges because the Father gave him judgment and asks whether the Father is greater; the bishops refuse his questions until he condemns Arius.
33. 34Eusebius declares the Son equal God; Palladius complains that only the bishops' stenographers are recording.
34. 35Eusebius and Ambrose answer from John 5:18 and Phil 2:6–8 that the Son is equal to the Father in the form of God and less only in the form of a servant.
35. 36Ambrose accuses Palladius of misquoting John 14:28 and explains the Father as greater only according to Christ's flesh.
36. 38Sabinus argues from Heb 6:13 and John 8:56 that the Son, who appeared to Abraham, has no one greater according to his divinity.
37. 39Palladius calls the Son subject to the Father; Ambrose answers that he is subject according to the flesh.
38. 40Ambrose and Eusebius argue that Christ spoke some things according to his flesh, as man, and others as God.
39. 41Ambrose explains Phil 2:8 of the flesh and asks whether Arius was right to call the Son a perfect creature; Palladius refuses to answer.
40. 42Ambrose sums up the answers given to Palladius on the Father as greater and the Son as subject, and demands that he answer in turn.
41. 43Palladius complains that only the bishops' words are recorded and refuses to say whether Christ was born or created.
42. 44Ambrose asks the presbyter Attalus whether he once subscribed to the Nicene faith under his bishop Agrippinus; Attalus refuses to answer.
43. 45Chromatius charges Palladius with denying the catholic faith; Sabinus testifies that Attalus had subscribed to Nicaea.
44. 46Ambrose has Arius's letter read again ("born, not in appearance") and demands Palladius's answer.
45. 47Palladius asks for lay hearers after Sunday; Ambrose insists that he condemn or approve Arius's letter point by point.
46. 48Palladius accuses Ambrose of impiety but will not say what it is.
47. 49Valerian of Aquileia charges that Palladius was ordained by Photinians and condemned with them.
48. 50Palladius again refuses to condemn Arius, and all the bishops anathematize him.
49. 51Palladius demands lay hearers; Ambrose replies that priests judge laymen, not laymen priests.
50. 52Ambrose pronounces Palladius unworthy of the episcopate and deposed, so that a catholic may be ordained in his place.
51. 53Ambrose proposes, as the emperor's appointed judges, the condemnation of Palladius, and all agree.
52. 54Valerian of Aquileia gives the first individual sentence against Palladius.
53. 55Anemius of Sirmium and Constantius of Orange condemn Palladius.
54. 56Justus of Lyon and Eventius of Pavia condemn Palladius.
55. 57Abundantius of Trent and Eusebius of Bologna condemn Palladius.
56. 58Sabinus of Piacenza and the African legates condemn Palladius and all who resist the faith of Nicaea.
57. 59Limenius of Vercelli and Maximus of Emona condemn Palladius.
58. 60Exuperantius of Tortona and Bassianus of Lodi condemn Palladius.
59. 61Philaster of Brescia, Constantius of Siscia, and Heliodorus of Altinum condemn Palladius.
60. 62Felix of Zadar, Theodore of Octodurum, and Domninus of Grenoble condemn Palladius.
61. 63Proculus of Marseille and Diogenes of Genoa condemn Palladius.
62. 64Amantius of Nice and Januarius condemn Palladius.
63. 65Ambrose asks Secundianus of Singidunum whether Christ is true God; Secundianus will only call him the true Son.
64. 66Secundianus appeals to John 1:18 and will confess only that the Son is the true only-begotten Son.
65. 67Ambrose cites Isa 65:16 of Christ and asks Secundianus to confess the Son as true God from true God.
66. 68Ambrose presses Secundianus to say simply that the only-begotten Son is true God.
67. 69Eusebius notes that even Photinus and Sabellius call Christ only-begotten Son; Ambrose demands that Secundianus also call him true God.
68. 70Secundianus objects that "true God" is not written of the Son in Scripture.
69. 71Secundianus refuses to repeat himself, citing Matt 5:37.
70. 72Secundianus confesses the Son as begotten of God, citing Ps 2:7, but not as true God from true God.
71. 73Secundianus objects to adding "true"; Eusebius replies that Arius and Palladius denied it, so it must be stated.
72. 74Secundianus promises a written exposition; Ambrose insists on an answer now.
73. 75The acts break off with Secundianus still refusing to call the Son "true God from true God".
74. 76The list of those present at the council.