Nicene Creed and the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD

Nicene Creed: The 325 AD Council of Nicaea

The Council of Nicaea was convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine to unify Christian doctrine. During this historic gathering, bishops from across the Roman Empire formulated a statement of faith that became known as the Nicene Creed.

The Creed

"I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of Heaven and Earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds;
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God;
begotten, not made; being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made."

This declaration affirmed the divine nature of Christ and his unity with the Father, countering the Arian view that Jesus was a created being.

Historical Context

The council’s primary purpose was to resolve theological divisions threatening the early Church’s unity. The outcome, the Nicene Creed, became a cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy, later reaffirmed and expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.

Legacy

The Nicene Creed remains one of Christianity’s foundational texts, recited in many denominations as a symbol of shared belief in the Holy Trinity and the nature of Christ.

"We believe 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."

Author’s summary: The 325 AD Council of Nicaea unified early Christian belief through the Nicene Creed, establishing the doctrine of Christ’s divinity and shaping Church orthodoxy for centuries.

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