The Council of Nicea and the Nicene Creed
The situation
leading up to the events of the Council of Nicea really came about as
a shift in the politics of the church took place. Constantine
experienced a dream that lead to a victory in battle and he then
converted to Christianity, in 312 AD. In 313 Constantine issued the
Edict of Milan which legalized Christianity in the eastern empire(it
was already legal in the western empire). This changed a dynamic
within the church. There had always been intense theological debates
over various issues regarding interpretation of scripture, but those
issues had always been resolved within the church. With Constantine
taking power and having a vested interest in the politics of the
church, the government now began to be involved in resolving
theological disputes. The concern of the church under constant
persecution in the past centuries had always been to survive, now
with Christianity legalized across the entire empire, they could
focus more attention on growth and theological issues.
There was a
controversy developing between Arius a popular prsybeter, and
Alexander, bishop of Alexandria. Arius believed that Jesus Christ
was created by God and had issue with Jesus Christ being the same as
God. Arius believed Jesus Christ to be a sort of creature created by
God. Then the world was created through Jesus Christ. Obviously the
labeling of Jesus Christ as a creature upset many in the developing
church. Alexander held the view that the word was co-eternal with
God. Arius was of the view that before anything else existed, the
word was created by God. The controversy grew more and more intense
between Arius and Alexander. Then Alexander as bishop of Alexandria
condemned Arius's teachings and removed him from his position. Arius
didn't accept this, and called on the people to support him and also
contacted friends from seminary in Antioch who now held positions of
prominence in the church.
There were popular
demonstrations, marches, and protests in the streets of Alexandria.
Arius's powerful friends wrote letters indicating that Arius was
correct and it was bishop Alexander who was teaching false doctrine.
This controversy eventually threatened to divide the church in the
eastern half of the empire.
Constantine had
been busy defeating Licinius, but he then sent Bishop Hosius of
Cordoba to try and deal with the dispute. Hosius was unable to
reconcile the apposing groups debating the issue. Constantine then
took a step he had been planning for sometime, by calling a grand
universal council (the first ecumenical council). It would be a
gathering of Bishops from across the entire empire, meeting in Nicea
to discuss basic policies of the church and to resolve the dispute
between Arius and Alexander. This council is now referred to as the
Council of Nicea.
There were
approximately 300 bishops in attendance. Most of the bishops present
were from the eastern half of the empire. There were also some
bishops from the western half. In many ways it was the perfect time
for a council of Godly men to get together and make tough decisions.
According to White (2009), "When it began on June 19, 325, the
fires of persecution had barely cooled. The Roman Empire had been
unsuccessful in its attempt to wipe out the Christian faith. Fourteen
years had elapsed since the final persecutions under the Emperor
Galerius had ended. Many of the men who made up the Council of Nicea
bore on their bodies the scars of persecution. They had been willing
to suffer for the name of Christ." This is a strong defense for
the council of Nicea that is often ignored by new agers and critics.
The council was
divided into three groups. The first group was represented by Arius
who was present at the command of Constantine. With him were some of
his supporters, of note, two Egyptian bishops, and Eusebius of
Nicomedia. This was the group that believed Jesus and God were not
co-eternal, but that God created Jesus before creating the world.
The second group believed the Arian view threatened the foundation of
Christianity, led by Alexander of Alexandria and supported by
Athanasius of Alexandria. The third group, probably only 3 or 4
people held a position somewhat similar to patripassianism. They
believed God the Father personally experienced the passion. But for
the most part, most of the bishops at the council were not members of
any of these groups.
Alexander of Alexandria won out, and the few Arians who
refused to sign the creed of the council were declared heretics and
thrown out.
The final creed agreed upon by the council was signed by all but two bishops of the over 300 members, an incredible achievement for such a council. The Nicene Creed was developed as a concise summary of the Christian faith, particularly dealing with the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The creed reads as follows:
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible
and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the
only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God,
Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten (γεννηθέντα), not made,
being of one substance (ὁμοούσιον, consubstantialem) with the Father. By
whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth. Who
for us men and for our salvation came down [from heaven] and was
incarnate and was made man. He suffered and the third day he rose again,
and ascended into heaven. And he shall come again to judge both the
quick and the dead. And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost. And whosoever
shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not (ἤν ποτε ὅτε
οὐκ ἦν), or that before he was begotten he was not, or that he was made
of things that were not, or that he is of a different substance or
essence [from the Father] or that he is a creature, or subject to change
or conversion51—all that so say, the Catholic and Apostolic Church
anathematizes them.
NOTES:
Galvao-Sobrinho, Carlos R. "Chapter
26 Embodied Theologies: Christian Identity and Violence in Alexandria
in the Early Arian Controversy." In Violence in late antiquity:
perceptions and practices, 321-331. Aldershot, England: Ashgate,
2006.
Hardenbrook, V. Rev. Fr. Thaddaeus .
"Emperor Constantine the Great (306–337)." JCPS 3, no. 1
(2008).
http://journal.orthodoxtheologicalschool.org/Hardenbrook_Constantine.html
(accessed November 10, 2013).
NIV Bible. London: Hodder &
Stoughton, 2000.
Perry, Matt. "Athanasius and his
Influence at the Council of Nicaea." Quodlibet Journal 5, no.
2-3 (2003). http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/perry-athanasius.shtml
(accessed November 10, 2013).
White, James R.. "What Really
Happened at Nicea?." Christian Research Institute DN206 (2009).
http://www.equip.org/articles/what-really-happened-at-nicea/
(accessed November 10, 2013).
