Dear
brothers and sisters in Christ:
On June 12,
the holy Christian Church remembers and gives thanks to God for the First
Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which began on that date in A.D. 325.
Emperor
Constantine summoned this first ecumenical council in the city of Nicaea, which
is located in modern-day Turkey. Constantine invited every bishop of the Church
– some 1,800 bishops – but only approximately 300 attended.
The council
was called primarily to deal with the heretical teaching of Arius of
Alexandria, Egypt. Arius taught about Jesus that “there was a time when He was
not,” which was a heresy, a false teaching that would endanger Christ’s flock
of their salvation if they would believe that. Arius was very persuasive as he
had many influential people on his side. The issue with Arius’s teaching is
that he taught that there was a time when Jesus was not God, but this is
against Christ’s very words, “ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and
the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13); “I and the
Father are one” (John 10:30); “Truly, truly, I say to you, before
Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58); and on, and on, and on.
So, to
combat this heresy, the council was convened. The council dealt with various
other Church issues as well, but the main issue was condemning this heresy. As
the bishops arrived, they all confessed the Apostles’ Creed, but they desired
to develop it more so it would be boldly asserted that the Son was
“homoousious” (that is, of the same substance or essence) as the Father. While
at the council, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, the bishops agreed upon the
wordage of the Nicene Creed, which all came directly from Scripture. At the
First Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, the Church would later affirm the
Nicene Creed as we confess today.
The pattern
of Church leaders meeting to confess doctrine, reject error, and offer guidance
for the practical questions of the day became established with this council.
Today, the first seven ecumenical councils are recognized by the entire
Christian Church (First Council of Nicaea, 325; First Council of
Constantinople, 381; Council of Ephesus, 431; Council of Chalcedon, 451; Second
Council of Constantinople, 553; Third Council of Constantinople, 680-681; and
the Second Council of Nicaea, 787).
In the
heritage of the church councils, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod meets for
convention both synodical wide and at the district level. So, such councils, or
conventions, still characterize the Church’s life today.
Oddly
enough, among the famous participants at the First Council of Nicaea was
Nicholas of Myra, who the legend of Santa Claus is modeled after. According to
folklore, Nicholas slapped Arius for speaking heresy against Jesus Christ.
Also, Athanasius of Alexandria attended this council. Due to his steadfast faith,
the Athanasian Creed is named in his honor.
By
confessing the Creeds today, we confess the basics of the Christian faith as
revealed in God’s Holy Word!
The Lord
bless you and keep you always!
In Christ,
Pastor
Adelsen
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