Marking the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea
Seventeen hundred years ago, the Church was torn by intense debates about the identity and nature of Jesus Christ. Arius and his followers, seeking to safeguard the strict monotheism of ancient Israel, claimed that Christ was subordinate to the Father - not eternal, but created in time and later “divinised.” Others insisted that Christ was co-equal with the Father, the eternal Word of God “made flesh” (Jn 1:14). Still others proposed that Christ was neither fully divine nor fully human but a unique hybrid. Some argued that Father, Son, and Spirit were merely different “modes” of God’s activity in the world.
These theological disputes were not just intellectual disagreements - they stirred deep passions and at times even violence. Concerned by the disruption, Emperor Constantine convened the first ecumenical council in 325 AD, bringing 318 bishops together in the city of Nicaea (modern-day Iznik, Turkey). Their goal: to restore unity and clarify the Church’s faith.
Rising above division, the bishops solemnly affirmed core truths of the faith. Their work laid the foundation for the doctrine of the Trinity which was further refined at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, giving us the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed - now simply called the Nicene Creed, recited at Sunday Mass.
This creed contains ten core statements of faith about God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, incarnation, paschal mystery, final judgment, church, baptism, resurrection, and eternal life. These truths became a beacon of unity then - and remain so today. For a deeper treatment, the Vatican’s International Theological Commission has produced an excellent resource: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour, marking this milestone anniversary. But here, I want to focus on the Creed’s affirmation of Jesus Christ.
To some, the original theological disputes may seem like abstract hair-splitting. In fact, they matter eternally. If Jesus is only human, we are not saved - we have no access to the divine. But if Jesus is only divine, we are still not saved - he has not become one of us, entered our human story, suffered with us and for us. Only if Jesus is fully divine and fully human can he truly be Emmanuel, “God-with-us” (Mt 1:23), the mediator between God and humanity.
The Nicene Creed powerfully affirms both truths. First, Christ’s divinity: I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
Then, Christ’s humanity: For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
This dual affirmation grounds our salvation and new identity in Christ. At every Mass, the priest prays: “May we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” This mystery empowers the missionary discipleship of all the baptised.
The Creed also assures us that all creation has meaning and value: Through him all things were made. God is present to all peoples, every culture and religion, to the entire natural world.
It summarises Christ’s earthly life: He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered death and was buried, rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
That is, Jesus understands our human experience - our joys and sufferings, griefs and anxieties. He shows mercy and compassion and invites us to do the same.
It affirms his victory: He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
This gives us hope. Despite life’s challenges, we trust that his kingdom will prevail. In all, the Nicene Creed proclaims the timeless truth of Jesus Christ - Saviour, Lord, Friend, Brother, Companion, our Way, our Truth, and our Life (Jn 14:6). May we proclaim it each Sunday with renewed faith and fervour.
Rev Dr Patrick McInerney
Regional Director of Oceania
directoroceania@columban.org.au
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