What was Arius’ main teaching regarding the nature of Christ?

Arius, a prominent theologian of the early church, is best known for his teaching that emphasized the uniqueness of Christ as the Son of God in relation to God the Father. His main assertion was that Christ was not co-eternal with the Father but was rather the highest created being through whom everything else was created. This teaching is encapsulated in the phrase "there was a time when he was not," signifying that before Christ's creation, there was only the Father.

This position sought to affirm the transcendence and uniqueness of God the Father, proposing a clear distinction between the Creator and the created. According to Arian doctrine, while Christ held an exalted status, he was fundamentally different from the uncreated God, thus denying the idea of Christ being fully divine in the same sense as the Father.

The other options present alternative perspectives that do not align with Arius' teachings. For example, saying that Christ is equal to God in all aspects contradicts the Arian view that sees Christ as a created being. Likewise, viewing Christ merely as a teacher diminishes his significant role in Arian thought, and claiming that Christ existed before God the Father misconstrues Arian beliefs, which assert that Christ's existence began with his