Origin of Nicene Creed

How did the statement of faith, called the Nicene Creed, come to pass? It is recited with regularity in Christian churches across the country. The creed was formulated in 325 A.D. by a council of 250 church bishops (across the empire) who were assembled by Roman Emperor Constantine at Nicea Turkey.

“When Jesus Became God” is the title of a book written by Richard Rubenstein, a professor at George Washington University. The book’s title accurately reflects (doctrinally) how Jesus was elevated from the begotten Son of God to the Incarnate God.

For background, 300 years after the life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, Christians had not made up their minds about the Savior’s identity. Was He actually God on earth, or was He something else? According to Rubenstein, all fourth-century citizens were talking about it. Rubenstein described the dialogue on the streets: “If you ask a shopkeeper for change, he will argue with you about whether the Son is begotten or unbegotten. If you inquire about the quality of bread, the baker will answer, ‘The Father is greater, the Son is less.’ And if you ask the bath attendant to draw your bath, he will tell you that the Son was created ex nihilo [out of nothing].”

There were two factions in the debate. One was led by the presbyter Arius (called Arianism) who took the position that the Son was brought into existence, that he was lesser than God and not the eternal God. The other was led by Athanasius, a church deacon, who claimed that Jesus was God incarnate. Athanasius further contended that Jesus was fully human and fully divine– that the death of a mere human being could not redeem our sins.

When the assembly could not reach a unanimous decision on the deity of Jesus, Emperor Constantine injected himself into the debate. He threatened excommunication against any bishop refusing to sign the creed. To enhance agreement, the Greek term “homoousios” was employed. It means that Jesus and God were of the same substance. Most attendees approved the creed, however, three bishops opposed. They were summarily exiled by Constantine. Jesus said: “I and My Father are one.”

The Nicene creed read:

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, 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. 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. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. 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.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

HHJ News