How does the Nicene Creed refute the Arian position while defining essential doctrinal beliefs about Christianity?

Answer 1

A:

The Nicene Creed is a statement of faith, by which essential doctrinal beliefs are defined. In respect to Arianism, it defined, by majority vote, that Jesus is of one substance with the Father. Arius had defined Jesus as divine but created by God, whereas Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, was able to have the Council of Nicaea agree to reject that position. However, the Nicene Creed fell short of genuinely refuting the Arian position, because debate as to which position was really correct continued for more than half a century and there was a serious possibility that the Arian position would actually win the day. At the end of the fourth century, Emperor Theodosius required all Roman citizens to believe that the Arian view be regarded as heresy, thereby finally refuting that position.

Additional Comments:

The primary issue at the time of the Nicean Council of 325 AD was to become known as the Arian Controversy. Many scholars would now say that Constantine convened this council as much for political reasons - unity of his new empire - as religious ones. Here is an interesting summation:

"In the hope of securing for his throne the support of the growing body of Christians he had shown them considerable favor and it was to his interest to have the church vigorous and united. The Arian controversy was threatening its unity and menacing its strength. He therefore undertook to put an end to the trouble. It was suggested to him, perhaps by the Spanish bishoop Hosius, who was influential at court, that if a synod were to meet representing whole church both east and west, it might be possible to restore harmony.

"Constantine himself of course neither knew nor cared anything about the matter in dispute but he was eager to bring the controvery to a close and Hosius' advice appealed to him as sound" (Arthur Clushman McGiffert, A history of Christian Thought, 1954, Vol. 1, p. 258).

Lastly, Historian Henry Chadwick attests, "Constantine, like his father, worshipped the Unconquered Son" (The Early Church, 1993, p. 122). As to the Emperor's embrace of Christianity, Chadwick admits, "His conversion should not be interpreted as an inward experience of grace...It was a military matter. His comprehension of Christian doctrine was never very clear" (p. 125).

So the Nicene Council did not end the debate. In the aftermath of the Council, noted historian Will Durant writes, "Probably more Christians were slaughtered by Christians in the two years (342-343) than by all the persecutions of Christians by pagans in the history of Rome" (The Story of Civilization, Vol. 4: The Age of Faith, 1950, p.8).