Church History

Outline: Christology and the Council of Nicaea

I. The Council of Nicaea — 325 A.D.

A. Purpose and Background

1. First universal church council since the apostolic era

2. Convened by Emperor Constantine

3. Held at Nicaea in May 325 A.D.

4. Primary issue: Arianism and the nature of Christ

5. At least 200 bishops attended

6. Produced the Nicene Creed

7. Marked a new period in Church history

B. Events Leading to the Council

1. Arius' teaching concerning the eternality of the Son

2. Spread and acceptance/rejection of Arius' doctrine

3. Persecution and exile of bishops who opposed Arius

4. Constantine's conversion in 312 A.D.

C. Major Figures

1. Arius — The Controversial Teacher

• Priest in Alexandria

• Taught that Jesus was created

• "There was a time when He was not"

• Jesus was "like" God

1. Alexander of Alexandria — Defender of Christ's Divinity

• Bishop of Alexandria

• Taught that the Son is eternally the Son of the Father

1. Eusebius of Caesarea — The "Man in the Middle"

• Church historian

• Bishop of Caesarea

• Friend and advisor to Constantine

• Sought compromise

1. Athanasius — Defender of Trinitarian Orthodoxy

• Secretary to Alexander

• Vocal opponent of Arianism

• Later patriarch of Alexandria

• Wrote On the Incarnation of the Divine Word

II. The Central Question: Who Is Jesus?

A. The Debate Over One Word

1. Homoousios — "same essence"

2. Homoiousios — "similar essence"

3. Is the Son the same nature/substance as the Father?

4. Or is the Son merely similar to the Father?

B. Arius' Position

1. Jesus was a supernatural heavenly being

2. Jesus was created by God

3. Jesus existed before the rest of creation

4. Jesus was not eternally God

C. The Council's Response

1. If Christ is not of the same nature as the Father, He is less than fully God

2. The difference between the two Greek terms was only one letter

3. The theological difference was profound

4. The issue directly affected the doctrine of the Trinity

III. The Nicene Creed

A. What Is a Creed?

1. A summary statement of belief

2. "Credo" = "I believe"

3. Nicene Creed expands upon the Apostles' Creed

4. One of the three major ecumenical creeds

5. Accepted by Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches

6. Used historically as a baptismal confession

B. The Father

1. One God

2. Almighty Father

3. Creator of heaven and earth

4. Creator of visible and invisible things

C. The Son — Jesus Christ

1. One Lord Jesus Christ

2. Only Son of God

3. Begotten from the Father before all ages

4. God from God

5. Light from Light

6. True God from true God

7. Begotten, not made

8. Of the same essence as the Father

9. Through Him all things were made

D. Christ's Saving Work

1. Came down from heaven

2. Became incarnate

3. Born through the Holy Spirit and virgin Mary

4. Became human

5. Crucified

6. Suffered and was buried

7. Rose again

8. Ascended to heaven

9. Will return in glory

10. Will judge the living and the dead

11. His kingdom will never end

E. The Holy Spirit and the Church

1. Holy Spirit is Lord and giver of life

2. Speaks through the prophets

3. One holy catholic and apostolic church

4. One baptism for forgiveness of sins

5. Resurrection of the dead

6. Life in the world to come

IV. Christological Controversies in Church History

A. Early Attacks on Christ's Humanity

1. Docetism — Jesus only appeared to be human

2. Ebionites — Jesus was Messiah but not divine

3. Marcionism — rejected the God of the Old Testament as the Father of Jesus

B. Controversies Concerning Christ's Divinity and Person

1. Dynamic Monarchianism / Adoptionism

• Jesus was born a man and became God

1. Modalistic Monarchianism / Sabellianism

• Father, Son, and Holy Spirit understood as different manifestations rather than distinct persons

• Denial of the Trinity

1. Arianism

• Jesus was created

• "There was a time when He was not"

• Denied the eternality of Christ

• Led to the Council of Nicaea

C. Later Controversies Concerning Christ's Humanity and Nature

1. Apollinarianism

• Jesus had a human body but a divine mind

• Denied the fullness of Christ's humanity

1. Nestorianism

• Christ understood as two persons with two natures

• Humanity and divinity treated as separate

1. Eutychianism / Monophysitism

• Human nature was absorbed into the divine

• Result described as a "third nature"

1. Monothelitism

• Christ had two natures but only one will

V. Christology in Three Dimensions

The study presents Christ's work through three dimensions:

1. Incarnation

2. Redemption

3. Ascension

The three must be considered together; neglecting one produces an incomplete or distorted understanding of Christ's purpose and mission.

A. Incarnational Truth — Who Is Jesus?

Key Scriptures: John 1:1-5, 14-18; 1 John 4:1-3

1. Jesus is God manifested in the flesh

2. Jesus is fully God and fully man

3. Incarnation versus Gnostic emanation

4. Importance of the virgin birth

• Luke 1:35

• Galatians 4:4

1. Significance of Jesus' baptism

• Matthew 3:13-17

1. Jesus' testing and suffering

• Hebrews 2:18

• Hebrews 4:15

• Hebrews 5:8

Central Question:

How can Jesus be truly God and truly human?

B. Redemptive Truth — What Did Jesus Accomplish?

1. Christ fulfills the Old Testament sacrificial system

2. Christ is both:

• The Lamb

• The Great High Priest

1. The Cross demonstrates God's:

• Justice

• Mercy

1. The Cross marks Satan's defeat

2. The Resurrection validates Christ's atoning death

3. Salvation is found through faith in Christ's redemptive work

Central Question:

What did Christ's death and resurrection accomplish for humanity?

C. Ascension Truth — What Is Jesus Doing Now?

1. Ascension

• Christ's enthronement at the Father's right hand

1. Sending of the Holy Spirit

• John 16:4-15

1. Intercession

• Christ intercedes for believers

• Hebrews 7:23-28

1. Kingship

• Christ rules as King of Kings and Lord of Lords

• Revelation 19:11-18

1. Final Judgment

• John 5:26-27

• Acts 10:42

• 2 Timothy 4:1

Central Question:

What is Christ doing now, and what will He ultimately accomplish?

The Big Picture

You could reduce the entire lesson to this progression:

WHO IS JESUS?
↓
Council of Nicaea — He is truly God
↓
Christological Controversies — What does it mean for Jesus to be God and man?
↓
INCARNATION — God became man
↓
REDEMPTION — Christ died and rose to accomplish salvation
↓
ASCENSION — Christ reigns, intercedes, sends the Spirit, and will return

This gives you a strong teaching structure because it moves from historical controversy → theological definition → biblical understanding → practical significance.