How the Goths Took Up the Arian Error

For those who do not know the circumstances, it may be worth explaining how the Goths caught the Arian plague. After they had crossed the Danube and made peace with Valens, the infamous Eudoxius, who was on the spot, suggested to the emperor that he persuade the Goths to accept communion with him. They had in fact long since received the rays of divine knowledge and been brought up in the apostolic doctrines. “But now,” said Eudoxius, “agreement in belief will make the peace all the firmer.” Valens approved of this advice and proposed to the Gothic chieftains that they agree with him in doctrine. But they replied that they would not consent to give up the teaching of their fathers. [a]

At that time their bishop, Ulfilas, was obeyed by them without question, and they received his words as laws that no one might break. Partly by the charm of his eloquence and partly by the bribes with which he baited his proposals, Eudoxius succeeded in getting Ulfilas to persuade the barbarians to enter into communion with the emperor. So Ulfilas won them over by arguing that the quarrel between the different parties was really a matter of personal rivalry, and involved no difference in doctrine. The result is that to this day the Goths say that the Father is greater than the Son, but they refuse to call the Son a creature, even though they are in communion with those who do. Yet they cannot be said to have wholly abandoned their fathers’ teaching, since Ulfilas, in his efforts to persuade them to join in communion with Eudoxius and Valens, denied that there was any difference in doctrine, and said that the difference had arisen from mere empty strife.