The modern coast of Istanbul, Turkey, was once a part of the Roman Empire under Constantine the Great’s rule. Photo by Engin Yapici for Unsplash.
The First Nicene Council
In the first centuries of the Church, Christianity began to spread across the modern Roman Empire, reaching multiple countries and people groups. Scholars constructed their own doctrines about the person of God, and the Church was in need of resolving widespread heretical teachings that prevented the body of Christ from acting in a unified manner.
To bring an end to this issue, in 335 AD, Constantine the Great called bishops across the Roman Empire to meet at Nicaea in Bithynia, which is now known as Isnik, Turkey, according to UNESCO World Heritage. Constantine himself was a Christian and knew the importance of Church unity not only from a religious and social standpoint but also from a political one, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
The need for unity in the body of Christ was as important in the new Church as at any time in history. This ecumenical — or interdenominational — meeting at Nicaea was the first of its kind.
Over 300 bishops across all types of churches assembled to create an agreement on who God was — specifically resolving the issue of Arianism, a heretical belief denying the equality of Jesus with God the Father that had become popular in Eastern churches, according to The Christian History Institute
A Latin manuscript of the Nicene Creed. Public domain.
Arianism dividing the Church
In 2002, the Trinitarian view of God was recorded to be adopted by 79% of American Christians, according to Barna research. The doctrine of the Trinity states that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are distinct persons of equal divinity, but all equally God.
This belief was not always so popular. In the early 300s, the priest Arius of Alexandria popularized an alternative doctrine. This doctrine stated if the Father begot the Son, this meant the Son was lesser than the Father since He had to be created, and, therefore, Jesus was believed to not be divine, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. People would soon refer to this belief as Arianism.
Arius’s belief spread outside of Alexandria as he popularized his belief with a catchy song that sailors carried with them throughout the Roman empire, according to an 1892 translation of the writings of Alexandrian deacon St. Athanasius, who taught during the time of Arius. The lyrics were simple and easy to remember while quickly summarizing his theology as recorded in a quote attributed to Arius in “The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus”: “There was a time when the Son was not.”
Although Arius was not the first to state this theology, his reach was unprecedented. The theological debates at the time were so frequent that they reached the point where the Roman Emperor himself had to intervene in order to maintain the desired unity in the body of Christ, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
From the ancient church to the modern church, the Nicene Creed is still held in high importance. Photo by Jacob Bentzinger for Unsplash.
Developing a Lasting Creed
Those present at the Council of Nicaea spent several months creating consensus over beliefs in the overarching body of Christ. Arianism was officially declared a heresy in an overarching vote from the Council, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
The bishops also constructed the baseline for a Trinitarian theological confession known as the Nicene Creed. This creed famously decreed belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, stating the divinity of the Son, “begotten, not made.” The Nicene Creed also elaborates on the role of the Father as the creator of all things and the Son as the resurrected one who suffered for the salvation of humanity from their sins.
Scholars have adapted the Nicene Creed from the original Greek into many modern languages. The Creed is still a foundation of the global Church and is important as the only authoritative, ecumenical creed, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Frequently featured in liturgical services and setting a standard of practice for the Church, the Nicene Creed, founded to create unity, continues to serve its purpose.
Lucy is a life-long learner and a lover of all things creative. A current student at Oral Roberts University, she is studying Writing with a double minor in Art and Media; she plans to graduate in 2026. She wishes to use her passion for storytelling and the written word to tell wide-reaching stories that unify and encourage those in all walks of life.
