Church Councils & Doctrinal Unity { Seven Ecumenical Councils
Councils of church leaders periodically gather to find agreement on broad issues of life and doctrine Leaders come to decision, which becomes the approved rule for churches orthodox E.G. - Council of Jerusalem Acts 15 Church Councils
From 312-800 AD, seven ecumenical councils convened to address doctrine/unity issues Foundation for orthodox Christianity in both East and West Councils would also produce divisions and schisms Excommunications (disfellowshipment) After 3 rd council, some churches dropped out Seven Ecumenical Councils
Council Date Key Doctrinal Issues Affirmed Condemned (Jerusalem) 50 Role of Jewish law in salvation Faith in Christ gives standing for salvation Judaizers & legalistic requirements attached to salvation 1 st Nicea 325 Trinity & Christ Christ is fully God, Nicene Creed Arius, Christ is a created being 1 st Constantinople 381 Trinity & Christ/Logos Ephesus 431 Nature of Christ, man-works salvation, free will &original sin 3 distinct persons of Godhead, Jesus had human spirit Jesus is fully human and fully divine, man is fallen from Adam s sin requires divine grace regeneration Modalism, Sabellianism Nestorianism, Pelagianism Chalcedon 451 Nature of Christ Affirm previous positions 2 nd Constantinople 553 Nature of Christ Affirm previous positions 3 rd Constantinople 680 Nature of Christ Human & divine will of Jesus coexist Jesus had one divine will that ruled the other 2 nd Nicea 787 Use of icons in worship Icons are permitted Iconoclasm
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, (only) begotten of the Father, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made (both in heaven and on earth); Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. And in the Holy Sprit. (Nicea 325) Nicene Creed who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven; he sits at the right hand of the Father and will come again to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, and spoke by the prophets. 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 life of the world to come. (additions from Constantinople 381)
{ Then { Judaizers & Law Gnosticism Montanism Arianism, heresies on Christ Pelagiansim Now 7 th Day Adventism New Age Pentecostalism Jehovah s Witness, Mormons Works-salvation What do we learn from doctrinal history?
Forging unity in the church is not easy and requires Christians to make every effort (Eph. 4:3)! Unity on essentials EG Polycarp and Anicetus on Easter celebration Watch for mixed motivations - pride, authority, competition EG Was Nestorius really a heretic? Exercise humility and soundness of speech Titus 2:7-9, James 3:1 Balanced use of Scripture EG Arius denies the Godhood of our Savior and preaches that He is only the equal of all others. Having collected all the passages that speak of His plan of salvation and His humiliation for our sake (his followers) ignore altogether the passages in which His eternal Godhood and unutterable glory with the Father is set forth. What do we learn?
Watch your life and closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. - I Timothy 4:16