Council of Arles During the early history of the Christian Church, the ancient Roman city of Arles, now in France, hosted a number of synods (councils) that would have a profound effect on the evolution and development of Christianity. We must remember that Christianity began as a Jewish sect in the mid-1st century, originating in the eastern Mediterranean Coast. As an offshoot to Judaism it became popular and grew to Syria, o, Asia Minor and Egypt, and by the 4th century A.D. had become the dominant religion within the Roman Empire (Rivers, 2008).

In general, of course, Christians believe that Jesus was the messiah prophesized in the Hebrew Bible, the "Old Testament." The foundation of Christian theology is based on early ecumenical "creeds" that contain claims the form the foundation of the faith. These state in general that Jesus suffered, died, was buried and was resurrected, then ascended into heaven where he rules and reigns with God. Jesus forms part of the Trinity, with God the Father, and the Holy Ghost. Christians believe that...

He is considered the model of a virtuous life, and in general the revealer and physical incarnation of God (McGrath, 2006). However, because this was a new religion, and since there were a number of interpretations of the life of Jesus written just after the crucifixion (by Apostles), some in the later years designed to help pave the way for the new religion, and others interpretations and allegories, it became obvious that there were a large number of different interpretations on a number of what, for the early Church Fathers, were significant debates. Of course, too, politically, each particular sect wished to consolidate its own power and legitimacy, thus making their own agenda seem more accurate and appropriate than others (MacCulloch, 2011).
One of these early controversies surrounded the manner in which different sects viewed the overall idea of forgiveness. The background came during the Diocletian persecutions within the Roman Empire (284 to 305 AD). A number of early Christians became martyrs to their cause, but a number were unwilling to endure torture and surrendered Church property, etc. during these troubled times. Once these times were over, many asked to be reinstated into their previous positions. The controversy stemmed over Donatus (Bishop of Carthage), who viewed that these individuals, called traditores (surrenderers) could never be reinstated into the Church. A Council of Rome was called in AD 313 in which the 19 Bishops found against Donatus and believed that those who repented and asked for forgiveness could indeed be brought back into the folds of the Church, could accept Communion, and could even be reinstated as Bishops (4th Century Christianity, 2008).

The Synod of Arles (AD 314) formally condemned what they called the heresy of Donatism. In their view, the Donatist erred in two ways: first by appealing to a secular authority on a religious matter, and second by the Donatists becoming enemies and unforgiving…