Nicene Christology
Controversies, Outcomes, and Application
BIBL 111: Intro to Christian History and Thought
Noah Disbrow
Prof. Mark J. Ackerman
5/2/2018
The understanding of Jesus and his divinity is taken for granted by contemporary Christians today. We have our pastors, different versions of the Bible, and Bible Study Commentaries. Access to at least the Bible was not a luxury of our Early Church Fathers in the fourth and fifth century had within their reach. Thankfully, those 4th and 5th century Church Fathers took the time to address the divinity of Jesus Christ, however, in their quest, there was more disputing than agreement. My journey explores the controversy of the deity of Jesus through our Early Church Fathers, who participated in the Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, and Chalcedon in the fourth and fifth century, state the outcome of each council, and lastly, tell how the council affects my Christian church fellowship.
The Controversy …show more content…
Arius lived in Alexandria and was a presbyter (Bingham 2002, 46). His interpretation of Bible verses such as Proverbs 8:22, Psalms 45:7-8, and John 1:14,18 (Bingham 2002, 46) just to name a few was “that God the Father had created the preexistent Son out of nothing; the Son was therefore different from the Father and inferior to him” (Grant 1975, 2). Alexandria’s bishop, Alexander disagreed with Arius interpretation. Various Bishops took sides, and the need arose to settle the dispute (Lane 2006,
Controversies, Outcomes, and Application
BIBL 111: Intro to Christian History and Thought
Noah Disbrow
Prof. Mark J. Ackerman
5/2/2018
The understanding of Jesus and his divinity is taken for granted by contemporary Christians today. We have our pastors, different versions of the Bible, and Bible Study Commentaries. Access to at least the Bible was not a luxury of our Early Church Fathers in the fourth and fifth century had within their reach. Thankfully, those 4th and 5th century Church Fathers took the time to address the divinity of Jesus Christ, however, in their quest, there was more disputing than agreement. My journey explores the controversy of the deity of Jesus through our Early Church Fathers, who participated in the Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, and Chalcedon in the fourth and fifth century, state the outcome of each council, and lastly, tell how the council affects my Christian church fellowship.
The Controversy …show more content…
Arius lived in Alexandria and was a presbyter (Bingham 2002, 46). His interpretation of Bible verses such as Proverbs 8:22, Psalms 45:7-8, and John 1:14,18 (Bingham 2002, 46) just to name a few was “that God the Father had created the preexistent Son out of nothing; the Son was therefore different from the Father and inferior to him” (Grant 1975, 2). Alexandria’s bishop, Alexander disagreed with Arius interpretation. Various Bishops took sides, and the need arose to settle the dispute (Lane 2006,