Day 7: Historical Creeds
Nicene Creed (381)
So with a name like ‘Nicene’, we know that this creed was written at the Council that took place in…Constantinople.
So why the rush to have yet ANOTHER Council just to reiterate what they already decided in 325? It seems that Arianism, the belief that Jesus was not God had just gone the different direction in Gnosticism-that Jesus, being God, could not be man. Which sounds like more stuffy old scholars trying on new ideas before tackling the big theological issues-like trying to figure out how many angels could dance on the head of a pin or how many licks it takes to get to the tootsie-roll center of a Tootsie Pop. Weighty matters that needed addressed before the more mundane things such as caring for the poor, taking in orphans, spreading the Gospel message, etc. etc.
Anyway, something needed to be done, so they gathered AGAIN, this time in Constantinople. (To the best of my knowledge neither Arius nor Nicholas was there, so there were no fisticuffs at this one). While they were there they also decided to add on parts referencing the Trinity as well as dropping the threat against anyone who did not believe that Jesus was God. That was already covered in the Gospel of John, chapter 15.
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, for salvation, came down form heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitters at the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
AND everyone was happy. Western Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Lutherans, even the Calvinist for the first time EVER thought something was ‘good’. Everything was GREAT. Everyone worked and played well with each other and there hasn’t been any issues since! Well, except that time the Eastern Orthodox got upset because some in the west added the word ‘Filioque’ (translated: ‘and the Son’) to the procession about the Holy Spirit which led to the Great East-West Schism of 1054, the first and only ‘divide’ to ever happen in Church History. Well, there that little incident in Wittenberg with Martin Luther. Of course Issac Watts caused quite a stir in his thinking that he could write a better hymn for singing than using David’s old ‘Psalm’ style. And there was the whole ‘Credo vs. Pedo’ Baptism thing as well, which led to when to take communion, WHO could take communion, red hymn book vs. blue hymn book, praise band vs. organ, etc. etc. You can ( probably NOT want to) read all about them in past issues of ‘Christianity Today’ which did (probably NOT DO) an in-depth look at the issues when they first came out (except for the ‘band vs. organ’ debate, of course). Such was this particular issue, that of inserting the word ‘Filioque’ in the creed though, that it was still being addressed in a statement by the Vatican as late as 1995.
Coming from the background I did-a Church of Christ/Christian Church based on the Stone/Campbell 2nd Great Awakening movement the sticking point (outside of being vehemently agains the usage of creeds) has always been the reference to both Catholic and Apostolic. Except they were written as ‘catholic’ and ‘apostolic’. Not the movements, rather there being only one universal or ‘catholic’ Church and the foundation is on the teaching of the Apostles as found in scripture. That I can get behind because…well…scripture.
Scripture readings for today:
John 3:16-18
…that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 15:26-27
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.