Nicaea, 325

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. Acts 15:6

Dear Friends in Christ,

1,700 years ago, bishops from across the church gathered in Nicaea (in what is now Turkey). This was the first “Ecumenical Council,” called to address a growing controversy in how to understand the divinity of Jesus. Attempts to simplify this great mystery were causing distortions in the teaching handed down from the apostles, and the bishops needed to sort through the issues and provide a clear and unified direction for the church as a whole. The council met from May through July in 325, and they made a declaration that (with some amendment by another council in 381) is what we call the Nicene Creed, which we recite every Sunday. This creed was based on common statements of faith that were used around the church at the time, the core of which is the basis for what we call the Apostles’ Creed. The council also made decisions about other matters before the church, including common rules for bishops. Although bishops had authority in their own dioceses, meeting together in council became an important way to guard the faith and unity of the whole church.

Why do we say the Nicene Creed each week (and the Apostle’s Creed in Baptism and the Daily Office)? The creeds remind us of the basics of the faith, and the boundaries of belief and doctrine. They provide a lens for understanding the faith handed down from Jesus to the apostles, and from the apostles to their followers through generations. The creeds unify us in a common commitment to God in Jesus Christ. The creeds also point the way to the One we trust—the One we set our hearts on. The creeds are not simply about intellectual assent (though they are that, in part). The creeds are about clarity of who it is that calls us into covenant with him and with each other. The creeds are about pointing the way to faithfulness to God in relationship with God.

If you would like to learn more about the creeds, see these handouts from classes that I’ve taught on the creeds. These handouts walk you through the creeds’ historical development, and review each section and clause of the creeds to elaborate on their importance and meaning. The creeds don’t say everything there is to say about God, but they provide important boundaries on how we speak about God—buoys that keeps us from the rocks of heresy and in the wide channel of orthodox faith.

God bless you as you seek to know God with your heart and with your mind.

Yours in Christ,

-Tom