Dr. Joy Clarkson and Angela MacKenzie at the Nicene Creed lecture at St. Mellitus College in London
Growing up in the Pentecostal tradition, I learned much about God, Jesus, His death and resurrection the Holy Scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit, but not too much church history; it was more about what God is doing right now, with the exception of the 1906 Azusa Street revival. I am very grateful for how that shaped me to be open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Recently, I’ve begun diving more into church history and exploring how God has worked through believers over the last two thousand years. There are so many significant moments that have influenced our faith. The Council of Nicea in 325AD, The Edit of Milan in 313AD, The Reformation in 1517, the King James Bible in 1611, the revivals led by George Whitefield and John Wesley in the 1700s and 1800s all stand out. Also the Welsh and Hebrides revivals of the 20th century. Each of these events has played a crucial role in shaping the faith we hold today.
This year, 2025, marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, a cornerstone of Christian orthodoxy. Tonight, I enjoyed an evening lecture from Rev Canon Professor Trevor Hart from the University of St Andrews in Scotland at St. Mellitus College in London, sponsored by the MacDonald Agape Foundation. It was a fascinating lecture and I was delighted to see a dear friend, Dr. Joy Clarkson, who teaches theology and arts at Kings College London.
The Nicene Creed is a profession of faith that communicates the essence of Christianity. It reads:
We 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 Son of God, the only-begotten,
Begotten of the Father before all ages.
Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made,
of one essence with the Father by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became man.
And He was crucified for us under Pontus Pilate,
and 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.
This declaration was crucial in unifying the early Church and clarifying essential beliefs about Christ’s divinity, shaping the course of Christian doctrine for centuries. My theology professor at Biola once said that all false theology lies squarely on the wrong interpretation of the Holy Trinity and the nature of Christ; and every generation must contend for the true faith.
The oldest extant manuscript of the Nicene Creed, dated to the 6th century | By Council of Nicea – http://enriqueta.man.ac.uk/luna/servlet/detail/ManchesterDev~93~3~23150~100963:Nicene-Creed#, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32768752
The Creed (statement of faith) established vital affirmations of truth: that Jesus is “true God from true God,” “begotten, not made,” and “of one substance with the Father.”
Fictitious depiction of Arius | By Unknown author – https://www.welt.de/multimedia/archive/01332/bs_10_07_DW_Kultur_1332681p.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15860779
It was written especially in response to Arianism (an interpretation of scripture which denied the full divinity of Christ). Arian refers to Arius, a Christian priest from Alexandria, Egypt, who lived in the early 4th century (c. 256–336 AD).
Here are five reasons why the Arian perspective is theologically erroneous:
- Biblical Witness to the Divinity of Christ: The New Testament provides compelling evidence of Jesus’ divine nature. For instance, John 1:1-14 states that “the Word was God” and became flesh in Jesus, directly contradicting the Arian assertion that He was merely created.
- The Doctrine of the Trinity: Central to Christian orthodoxy is the doctrine of the Trinity, which teaches that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one in essence yet distinct in persons. The Nicene Creed emphasizes the co-equality and co-eternity of the Son with the Father, while Arianism undermines this unity by claiming Jesus is of a different substance.
- Christ’s Redemptive Work: The effectiveness of Christ’s atoning sacrifice relies on His divine nature. As the God-man, Jesus has the authority to reconcile humanity with God. If He were merely a created being, His sacrifice would lack the infinite worth needed to satisfy divine justice and holiness.
- Early Church Consensus: The rejection of Arianism reflects the consensus of the early Church, as articulated in the Nicene Creed. The Council of Nicaea affirmed the deity of Christ as foundational to Christian belief, highlighting the theological significance of this understanding for orthodoxy.
- Nature of Worship: Worship is due to God alone, and the New Testament clearly indicates that Jesus is worshiped (e.g., Matthew 28:17, Revelation 5:12-14). If Jesus were a created being, worshiping Him would violate the first commandment, which emphasizes exclusive worship of God.
While Arianism itself is not widely held today, some contemporary religious movements and groups may share similar beliefs regarding the nature of Jesus. Here are a few:
- Mormonism: Mormons believe Jesus is divine and the Son of God, viewed as the firstborn spirit child of God the Father, which aligns with the idea of Jesus being created in a spiritual sense.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus is the Son of God and a created being, distinct from God the Father. They hold that Jesus is not part of a Trinity and that he was created before the world began.
- Unitarian Universalism: While this movement encompasses a wide range of beliefs, some Unitarian groups reject the notion of the Trinity and view Jesus as a significant prophet or teacher, but not as co-eternal with God.
- Islam: While Islam does not align directly with Arianism, it shares some similarities in that it regards Jesus (Isa) as a revered prophet and messenger of God, but not divine or the Son of God in the Christian sense. In Islam, the unpardonable sin is known as shirk, which is the act of associating partners with Allah or attributing divine qualities to anyone or anything other than Him. From an Islamic perspective, the Trinity cannot be reconciled with the belief in God’s oneness; the two views represent fundamentally different understandings of the divine nature.
Icon of St Athanasius | Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=611837
Athanasius of Alexandria, an influential early Church Father and theologian, provides profound insights into Jesus Christ, particularly in his work “On the Incarnation.” Key points about Jesus according to Athanasius include:
- The Incarnate Word: Athanasius emphasizes that Jesus is the Word (Logos) of God made flesh. He argues that the Word is not merely a messenger but fully divine, embodying God’s essence, which is essential for humanity’s salvation.
- True God and True Man: He asserts that Jesus is both fully divine and fully human, eternally begotten of the Father, not a created being. This dual nature is crucial for understanding how Jesus mediates between God and humanity.
- Savior and Redeemer: Athanasius teaches that Jesus came to save humanity from sin and death. By assuming human nature and suffering, He reconciled us to God, demonstrating divine love and justice.
- Victory over Death: The resurrection of Jesus is central to Athanasius’s theology. By conquering death, Jesus offers hope for eternal life and affirms the promise of resurrection for all believers.
- Revelation of God: Athanasius believed that in Jesus, the fullness of God’s character is revealed. Through His teachings, actions, and sacrificial death, Jesus shows us who God is and invites us into a relationship with Him.
In summary, Athanasius portrays (as did the apostles and writers of the New Testament) Jesus as the divine Word who became incarnate—fully God and fully man—who saves humanity through His death and resurrection, revealing God’s nature and love. Additionally, Hebrews 4:15 declares that we have a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, affirming Christ’s full humanity and divinity, which highlights His unique role in our salvation.
As we celebrate the 1,700-year milestone of the Nicene Creed, let us reflect on its importance in shaping a cohesive Christian identity and fostering unity among believers. It’s a powerful reminder that every generation must contend for the true faith. The early Church stood firm in defending the divinity of Christ and the oneness of the Trinity, setting a foundation that still shapes Christian belief today. In a world where theological confusion persists and where groups still question Christ’s nature, it’s more important than ever to know what we believe and why.
Have you ever explored the history of the faith beyond what you were taught growing up? How has learning about church history or studying the Nicene Creed deepened your understanding of Christ? Do you see parallels between the theological debates of the past and challenges facing believers today?
Let’s start a conversation—share your thoughts below or send me an email.
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