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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 3rd 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

1st Nicea 325 Trinity & Christ Christ is fully God, Nicene Creed

Arius, Christ is a created being

1st Constantinople 381 Trinity & Christ/Logos

3 distinct persons of Godhead, Jesus had human spirit

Modalism, Sabellianism

Ephesus 431 Nature of Christ, man-works salvation, free will &original sin

Jesus is fully human and fully divine, man is fallen from Adam’s sin requires divine grace regeneration

Nestorianism, Pelagianism

Chalcedon 451 Nature of Christ Affirm previous positions

2nd Constantinople 553 Nature of Christ Affirm previous positions

3rd Constantinople 680 Nature of Christ Human & divine will of Jesus coexist

Jesus had one divine will that ruled the other

2nd Nicea 787 Use of icons in worship

Icons are permitted Iconoclasm

Nicene Creed

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)

…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)

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Gnosticism

Montanism

Arianism, heresies on Christ

Pelagiansim

Now 7th 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