History of the church S3 E03: Council of Nicaea

Summary

This script revisits the Council of Nicaea, detailing its response to Arius's teachings that Jesus was not fully divine. It discusses the Council's affirmation of the Nicene Creed, which establishes the Son's divinity and the Holy Spirit's role. The video also touches on the council's rulings on clerical marriage and the calculation of Easter. It further explores the aftermath of the Council, including the persistence of Arianism and the eventual emergence of the fully accepted doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Council of Nicaea was convened by Emperor Constantine to address theological issues within the Christian faith, particularly the teachings of Arius regarding the nature of Christ.
• 🔄 Arius proposed that Jesus Christ was not fully divine, suggesting a separation between the Father and the Son, which was a challenge to the traditional Christian belief in the Trinity.
• 👁️ Arius's teachings spread through sermons and church songs, gaining popularity despite being excommunicated by Pope Peter, who was later martyred.
• 🛑 Emperor Constantine intervened in the theological dispute, aiming to maintain peace within the empire, and initiated the idea of an ecumenical council to resolve the issue.
• 📜 The Council resulted in the creation of the Nicene Creed, a unified statement of faith affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, countering Arius's teachings.
• 👥 The council included bishops from across the Roman Empire, with key figures such as Pope Alexander and Deacon Athanasius playing significant roles in drafting the Nicene Creed.
• 🔗 The Nicene Creed emphasized the belief that the Son is 'begotten, not made,' meaning Jesus Christ is of the same substance as God the Father, a direct rebuttal to Arius's views.
• 👨‍🏫 The council also addressed the issue of priestly celibacy, allowing married men to become priests, but not permitting priests to marry after ordination if they were unmarried at the time.
• 📅 The calculation of the date for Easter was standardized based on the Alexandrian method, which is still used today to determine the date of Easter.
• 🕊️ The Council of Nicaea did not completely eradicate Arianism; it persisted in some regions for centuries, with some emperors and communities adhering to Arius's teachings.
• 📚 The council's decisions and the Nicene Creed became foundational to Christian doctrine, shaping the beliefs and practices of the church for centuries to come.

Q & A

What was the main theological issue addressed at the Council of Nicaea?

The main theological issue addressed at the Council of Nicaea was the nature of Jesus Christ, specifically the Arian controversy which questioned whether Jesus was of the same substance as God the Father, or a created being.

Who was Arius and what were his teachings that led to the Council of Nicaea?

Arius was a presbyter in Alexandria who taught that Jesus was not fully divine, but a created being, something more than human but less than God the Father. His teachings led to significant controversy and the convening of the Council of Nicaea to clarify the church's stance on the divinity of Christ.

What was the role of Emperor Constantine in the Council of Nicaea?

Emperor Constantine, as the first Christian Roman Emperor, initiated the idea of calling for an ecumenical council to resolve the theological disputes. He sought to unify the church and bring peace to the empire by establishing a common understanding of the Christian faith.

What was the Nicene Creed and why was it created?

The Nicene Creed was a statement of faith created by the Council of Nicaea to establish a common doctrine regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ and to counter the teachings of Arius. It affirmed that Jesus was 'begotten, not made,' of the same substance as God the Father.

Who was Pope Peter and what was his stance on Arius?

Pope Peter was the 17th Pope of Alexandria during the time of Diocletian's persecution of the church. He excommunicated Arius for his teachings and instructed his disciples not to accept Arius back into the church, even on his deathbed.

What was the significance of St. Athanasius in the Council of Nicaea?

St. Athanasius, who was a deacon at the time, served as Pope Alexander's secretary and right-hand man during the Council of Nicaea. He played a significant role in the formation of the Nicene Creed and was a staunch defender of the orthodox belief in the divinity of Christ.

What were the decisions regarding the priesthood and marriage at the Council of Nicaea?

The Council of Nicaea decided that priests could be married if they were already married at the time of their ordination, but they could not marry after ordination. If they were ordained as unmarried, they had to remain celibate.

What was the issue of celebrating Easter that was discussed at the Council of Nicaea?

The Council of Nicaea addressed the differing methods of calculating the date of Easter among various Christian communities. They approved the Alexandrian method, which is still used today to calculate the date of Easter.

What was the aftermath of the Council of Nicaea regarding Arianism?

Although Arianism was officially condemned and Arius excommunicated, the teachings persisted for several decades to centuries in some areas. It took a long time for the orthodox belief established by the Council of Nicaea to fully take hold and for Arianism to fade away.

What were the discussions at the Council of Constantinople that followed the Council of Nicaea?

The Council of Constantinople, which took place later, addressed further theological issues, including the divinity of the Holy Spirit and the rejection of the teachings of Apollinaris, who suggested that Jesus Christ did not have a fully human mind.