Turning Point 2
Turning Point 2 Realities of Empire:
The Council of Nicaea 325 A.D.
Diocletian 284-305
• from Turning Point 1: emperor who persecuted Christians • Dedicated to stability of empire • Feared church would be divisive to empire • Set up administrative Tetrarchy • Installed Chlorus (Constantius), father of Constantine, in the West
Enter Constantine
• 305, Diocletian abdicates • 312, Battle of Milvian Bridge
..he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun,and an inscription, CONQUER BY THIS attached to it…Then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared ot him and commanded ot use it as a safegaurd in all engagements with his enemies.” Eusebius
Constantine as Emperor • 313, Edict of Milan (with Licinius) legalized Christianity • 324, overcame Licinius to reign alone as emperor • rather than suppressing Christianity, decided to exploit it for its potential for unity • 325, convened Council of Nicea toward that end (stability and unity) • 337, baptized, dying shortly afterwards
Where the Apostles left off…
• The Son of God • The Word • λογος • One with the
Father
Dramatis Personae
Theodotus
Tertullian
Origen
Arius
Sabellius Monarchian Monarchian
first to use
Christian
Arian
Modalist
Adoptionist
“Trinity”
Platonist
Heresy
Three aspects or modes of one God
Human Jesus was adopted as God’s son
Tres personae, Una substantia
Trinitarian: Eternal, but subordinate
Begotten, not co-eternal; Not the same substance
Nicea and Doctrine
“Arian” Scriptures
“Trinitarian” Scriptures
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Proverbs 8:25
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Proverbs 8:30
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
...If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. John 14:28b
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Philippians 2:6
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate…that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
Who being…the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…Hebrews 1:3
Enter Athanasius
DE INCARNATIONE If Christ were not truly God, then He could not bestow life upon the repentant and free them from sin and death. This work of Christ has anchored the church’s life since the beginning.
Nicene “First Principles”
I. Christ was true God from true God.
II. Christ was of one substance with the Father. III.Christ was begotten, not made. IV.Christ became human for us humans and for our salvation. Also: 1. Established Easter date (First Sunday after first Paschal full noon) 2. Began writing the Nicene Creed
First Council of Constantinople
• Convened by Theodosius in 381 • Confirmed and expanded the Nicene Creed • Affirmed the deity of the Holy Spirit • Condemned all shades of Arianism, including • Macedonianism (non-divinity of Holy Spirit), and • Apollinarianism (Christ had no human mind)
Nicaea and politics Constantine convened Nicea, as an emperor, to bring order to the church, in order to bring stability to the State
Arians
Orthodox
…favored direct imperial control of the church
…thought church should be autonomous
Since Son subordinate Since Son to Father, the Kingdom consubstantial with of the Son (church) Father, the Kingdom of must be subordinate to the Son (church) is of the kingdom of the equal dignity to the Father (empire). Kingdom of the Father (empire). Emperor must be considered “bishop of bishops.”
“The Emperor is in the Church, not above it.” (Ambrose of Milan)
Nicaea and Christendom
Pros
Cons
As. persecution decreased, evangelism increased.
Church added concerns for worldly power to the worship of God
The church contributed its resources to the works of civilizing Europe’s barbarian hordes.
The distinction between church and world (Nicene Christology) was compromised.
Noll’s conclusion This combination – of momentous doctrinal declaration and critical alteration in the church’s relationship to the world – is what together make the Council of Nicaea one of the most decisive events in church history outside of the New Testament.
The Council of Nicaea 325 A.D.
Diocletian 284-305
• from Turning Point 1: emperor who persecuted Christians • Dedicated to stability of empire • Feared church would be divisive to empire • Set up administrative Tetrarchy • Installed Chlorus (Constantius), father of Constantine, in the West
Enter Constantine
• 305, Diocletian abdicates • 312, Battle of Milvian Bridge
..he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun,and an inscription, CONQUER BY THIS attached to it…Then in his sleep the Christ of God appeared ot him and commanded ot use it as a safegaurd in all engagements with his enemies.” Eusebius
Constantine as Emperor • 313, Edict of Milan (with Licinius) legalized Christianity • 324, overcame Licinius to reign alone as emperor • rather than suppressing Christianity, decided to exploit it for its potential for unity • 325, convened Council of Nicea toward that end (stability and unity) • 337, baptized, dying shortly afterwards
Where the Apostles left off…
• The Son of God • The Word • λογος • One with the
Father
Dramatis Personae
Theodotus
Tertullian
Origen
Arius
Sabellius Monarchian Monarchian
first to use
Christian
Arian
Modalist
Adoptionist
“Trinity”
Platonist
Heresy
Three aspects or modes of one God
Human Jesus was adopted as God’s son
Tres personae, Una substantia
Trinitarian: Eternal, but subordinate
Begotten, not co-eternal; Not the same substance
Nicea and Doctrine
“Arian” Scriptures
“Trinitarian” Scriptures
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Proverbs 8:25
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; Proverbs 8:30
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. Luke 2:52
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
...If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. John 14:28b
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Philippians 2:6
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate…that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29
Who being…the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power…Hebrews 1:3
Enter Athanasius
DE INCARNATIONE If Christ were not truly God, then He could not bestow life upon the repentant and free them from sin and death. This work of Christ has anchored the church’s life since the beginning.
Nicene “First Principles”
I. Christ was true God from true God.
II. Christ was of one substance with the Father. III.Christ was begotten, not made. IV.Christ became human for us humans and for our salvation. Also: 1. Established Easter date (First Sunday after first Paschal full noon) 2. Began writing the Nicene Creed
First Council of Constantinople
• Convened by Theodosius in 381 • Confirmed and expanded the Nicene Creed • Affirmed the deity of the Holy Spirit • Condemned all shades of Arianism, including • Macedonianism (non-divinity of Holy Spirit), and • Apollinarianism (Christ had no human mind)
Nicaea and politics Constantine convened Nicea, as an emperor, to bring order to the church, in order to bring stability to the State
Arians
Orthodox
…favored direct imperial control of the church
…thought church should be autonomous
Since Son subordinate Since Son to Father, the Kingdom consubstantial with of the Son (church) Father, the Kingdom of must be subordinate to the Son (church) is of the kingdom of the equal dignity to the Father (empire). Kingdom of the Father (empire). Emperor must be considered “bishop of bishops.”
“The Emperor is in the Church, not above it.” (Ambrose of Milan)
Nicaea and Christendom
Pros
Cons
As. persecution decreased, evangelism increased.
Church added concerns for worldly power to the worship of God
The church contributed its resources to the works of civilizing Europe’s barbarian hordes.
The distinction between church and world (Nicene Christology) was compromised.
Noll’s conclusion This combination – of momentous doctrinal declaration and critical alteration in the church’s relationship to the world – is what together make the Council of Nicaea one of the most decisive events in church history outside of the New Testament.
