The Nicene Creed: Did they create a new doctrine?

In my last post I gave a brief history and overview of the Council of Nicea.  Two of the most significant charges against this council are:

-this was the first time the deity of the Son was ever taught or mentioned

-the trinity was invented/created

This Council was convened to deal with Arianism, a new teaching that had sprung up in the 3^rd century. In this post I want to offer the Council’s own words about what they did. Then an excerpt from Athanasius’ letter about the Council, explaining the goal of the Council. And finally, the creed they agreed upon.

Letter from the Council of Nicea to the Church in Egypt [where Arius was a presbyter]

“Since, by the grace of God, a great and holy council has been convened at Nicaea, after our most pious sovereign Constantine summoned us out of various cities and provinces for that purpose, we at the sacred council thought it most necessary write you a letter, in order that you may know what subjects were considered and examined, and what was eventually decided on and decreed. In the first place, the impiety and guilt of Arius and his adherents was examined in the presence of our most pious emperor Constantine. We unanimously decided that his impious opinion should be anathematized, with all the blasphemous expressions he has uttered, namely that “the Son of God came to be out of nothing,” that “there was a time when he was not,” and even that “the Son of God, because he possessed free will, was capable either both evil and good.” They also call him a creature and a work. The holy Council has anathematized all these ideas, barely able to endure it as we listened to such impious opinions (or rather madnesses) and such blasphemous words. You must either have been informed of the verdict of our proceedings against him already, or you will soon learn. We will omit relating our actions here, for we would not trample on a man who has already received the punishment which his crime deserved.”

They spell out the teachings of Arianism. And notice, their decision was “unanimous.”

Athanasius

Athanasius was a champion of orthodoxy and suffered greatly for it. This battle with Arianism was not completely resolved by this council and Athanasius was banished a couple of times. After the Council he wrote a letter on the Council and the Arians who were the cause of it.

He first presents the teaching of the Arians:

“They [Arians] say . . . "Not always Father, not always Son; for the Son was not before His generation, but, as others, came to be from nothing; and in consequence God was not always Father of the Son; but, when the Son came to be and was created, then was God called His Father. For the Word is a creature and a work, and foreign and unlike the Father in essence; and the Son is neither by nature the Father's true Word, nor His only and true Wisdom . . . Wherefore the Son is not true God.”

He then explains what the Council’s goals:

“See, we are proving that this view has been transmitted from father to father; but . . . how many fathers can ye assign to your phrases? …the Ecumenical Council… committ[ed] to writing, not your doctrines, but that which from the beginning those who were eye-witnesses and ministers of the Word have handed down to us. For the faith which the Council has confessed in writing, that is the faith of the Catholic Church.”

In other words they wrote down the faith that the church had held “from the beginning” which had been given by the Apostles. This is “the faith” once delivered. If you read the fathers you will learn that there was something called “the rule of faith,” which was a brief summary of the faith. This “rule of faith” is very similar to the Apostles’ Creed and now this Creed. This creed is not new. It is an elaboration upon the faith always held by the Church. Arianism was new and was declared to be heresy.

The Creed composed at Nicea

It seemed appropriate to attach the following which was expounded at Nicaea:

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things seen and unseen.

And in one Lord, Jesus Christ the Son of God, begotten of the Father, the only-begotten, that is, of the essence of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of the same being as the Father, through whom all things came to be, both the things in heaven and on earth, who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made flesh, becoming man, who suffered and rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven, who is coming to judge the living and the dead.

And in the Holy Spirit.

The catholic and apostolic church condemns those who say concerning the Son of God that “there was a time when he was not” or “he did not exist before he was begotten” or “he came to be from nothing” or who claim that he is of another subsistence or essence, or a creation, or changeable, or alterable.

The Creed we use today was composed in 381

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Amen! I believe this is a summary of the faith once delivered to the saints. I believe Pastors should either preach through this on a regular basis or find some other way to emphasize this (perhaps in the newsletter). If you are not a pastor, ask your pastor to do this. What a depth this would add to the teaching/preaching of the church!

So, did they create a new doctrine? Was this the first time the deity of the Son was ever taught? Was this the first time the trinity was taught? No. And as to Arianism, whatever form it takes in whatever century, it has never been the faith of the church. It is heresy pure and simple!