What Really Happened at Nicea?

Christian Research Institute ^ | June 10, 2009 | James R. White

[boatbums]

Summary

The Council of Nicea is often misrepresented by cults and other religious movements. The actual concern of the council was clearly and unambiguously the relationship between the Father and the Son. Is Christ a creature, or true God? The council said He was true God. Yet, the opponents of the deity of Christ did not simply give up after the council’s decision. In fact, they almost succeeded in overturning the Nicene affirmation of Christ’s deity. But faithful Christians like Athanasius continued to defend the truth, and in the end, truth triumphed over error.

The conversation intensified quickly. “You can’t really trust the Bible,” my Latter-day Saints acquaintance said, “because you really don’t know what books belong in it. You see, a bunch of men got together and decided the canon of Scripture at the Council of Nicea, picking some books, rejecting others.” A few others were listening in on the conversation at the South Gate of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City. It was the LDS General Conference, and I again heard the Council of Nicea presented as that point in history where something “went wrong,” where some group of unnamed, faceless men “decided” for me what I was supposed to believe. I quickly corrected him about Nicea — nothing was decided, or even said, about the canon of Scripture at that council.1

I was reminded how often the phrase “the Council of Nicea” is used as an accusation by those who reject the Christian faith. New Agers often allege that the council removed the teaching of reincarnation from the Bible.2 And of course, Jehovah’s Witnesses and critics of the deity of Christ likewise point to that council as the “beginning of the Trinity” or the “first time the deity of Christ was asserted as orthodox teaching.” Others see it as the beginning of the union of church and state in light of the participation of the Roman Emperor, Constantine. Some even say it was the beginning of the Roman Catholic church.

[boatbums]

Excellent study about the Council of Nicea and the critical importance of Sacred Scripture in establishing the major tenets of the Christian faith - specifically the Deity of Jesus Christ.

[SaveFerris]

[“You can’t really trust the Bible,” my Latter-day Saints acquaintance said]

Incredibly-hilarious given the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith “translation” of the Bible.

Oh, and the Kinderhook Plates.

I would mention the non-existent Golden Plates, but...

[Rurudyne]

In their “defense” they have a few more centuries to account for the truth being lost thing than the Muslims do ... never mind that they aren’t blowing stuff up or even sicking lawyers on people that they don’t like / don’t like them (almost as bad).

[boatbums]

That's true. They WILL, however, say you can trust the Bible that has been translated "correctly" - meaning theirs, of course! Recently, I was told here that we need their "Prophets" to interpret it all for us since we cannot just read it and understand God's revealed truth. JWs do the same thing with their Watchtower Bible. These cults sure discount the work of the Holy Spirit!

[17th Miss Regt]

At Nicaea Donald Trump forced the church to reject all LGBTs. And he placed women in subordinate positions in the church. He was going to establish slavery as well, but it was already common so his plan was foiled.

[iowamark]

The Council is best remembered today for the Nicene Creed:

https://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/nicene-creed
“” 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 Pontius 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.

[Following the controversy about the Son of God, the Divine Word, and essentially connected with it, was the dispute about the Holy Spirit. The following definition of the Council in Constantinople in 381, which has come to be known as the second ecumenical council was added to the Nicene statement:]

And [we believe] in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the 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. In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.””

[kalee]

For later

[BurrOh]

Bkmrk

[Yosemitest]

"And he shall speak GREAT words against the most High,
and shall wear out the saints of the most High,
and THINK to change TIMES and LAWS:
and they shall be given into his hand
until a time and times and the dividing of time.
But the judgment shall sit,
and they shall TAKE AWAY his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end."
Daniel 7:25-26

Don't be MIS-LEAD by the "MOTHER OF HARLOTS" !

What does the following references teach you ?

Malachi 3:6

Mark 2:27-28

Acts 20:28-30

A man I highly respect one wrote the following:

Dr. Samuele Bacchiochi’s book From Sabbath to Sunday says:
“The investigation shows that the adoption of Sunday in place of the Sabbath did not occur in the primitive church of Jerusalem by virtue of apostolic authority, but approximately a century later in the Church in Rome.
An interplay of Jewish, pagan and Christian factors contributed to the abandonment of the Sabbath and adoption of Sunday observance instead.”
It is demonstrated, for example, that it was the policy of Emperor Hadrian to prohibit the Jews to practice their religion, particularly their two characteristic customs: the Sabbath and circumcision.

Hadrian’s persecutions were catalytic to the gradual rejection by the apostate church of all that was considered “Jewish,” most especially the weekly Sabbath and the Passover.

Bacchiochi writes:
“The fact that as a result of Hadrian’s edict Judeo-Christian members and bishops were replaced by gentile ones, indicates that a clear distinction was made at that time between the two.
We would assume that the distinction was limited not only to the racial factor, but that it included also a new theological orientation in particular toward characteristic festivals such as Passover and the Sabbath.
This hypothesis is supported by the testimony of Epiphanius who in his lengthy report about the controversy over date of the celebration of Passover states:
‘The controversy arose [literally, was stirred up] after the exodus of the bishops of the circumcision [A.D. 135] and it has continued until our time.’ 
The bishop makes special reference to the fifteen Judeo-Christian bishops who administered the Church of Jerusalem up to A.D. 135
and who up to that time had practiced the quartodeciman Passover
[the Passover on the 14th of Nisan!]
since they base themselves on a document known as the apostolic constitutions – where the following rule is given:
‘You shall not change the calculation of time, but you shall celebrate it at the same time as your brethren who came out of the circumcision.
With them observe the Passover’” 
(From Sabbath to Sunday, p. 161).


Where the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) laid the groundwork for the ultimate expunging of all traces of “Jewishness” from the doctrines and customs of the church,
the Council of Laodicea (whose date is a subject of some controversy) positively confirmed it.

Canon 29 of the Council of Laodicea said:
“Christians should not Judaize and should not be idle on the Sabbath, but should work on that day;
they should, however, particularly reverence the Lord’s day [Sunday] and, if possible, not work on it, because they are Christians.”


For some period of time, because of the growing confusion in the apostate church, both the Sabbath and Sunday were being observed.
Two contemporary ancient historians, Sozomen (who lived about A.D. 440) and Socrates (who lived about A.D. 439) documented this dual observance.

Socrates wrote:
“Although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries [the Eucharist] on the Sabbath of every week,
yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this”
(From Sabbath to Sunday, p. 196).


Notice!
These historians, writing more than four centuries after the time of the resurrection of Christ,
more than twice the length of time the United States has existed as a nation,
admit that “almost all churches throughout the world celebrate … the Sabbath …”

Sozomen also wrote,
“[T]he people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath as well as on the first day of the week …” (ibid. p. 197).


Any serious student of ecclesiastical history MUST read Dr. Samuele Bacchiochi’s book From Sabbath to Sunday.
The absolute documentation of how Easter was substituted for the Passover, how Sunday was substituted for the Sabbath is totally conclusive!

Remember, God established His Sabbath day as the great IDENTIFYING SIGN, like a stamp, symbol, label, or MARK between Himself and His people!
But wait!
He said SabbathS, PLURAL!
Naturally He would have!
For God also gave His people Israel a series of seven annual Sabbaths, holy days,
which progressively, as the seasonal changes unfolded, opened up and revealed God’s marvelous plan for humankind, the very plan of salvation!

Christ said, “The Sabbath was made for man …” (Mark 2:27).
The Sabbath is something that was MADE.
It was created time, made HOLY by the Eternal Creator.
God injected His very presence into that day, resting from His creation, giving this span of time to mankind for a great blessing.
It’s a day of complete REST from labors, a day of rejuvenation, rehabilitation; a day to contemplate creation and God’s handiwork;
a day to pray, study, fellowship with brethren of like mind; a day of worship toward God.

The Sabbath was made during creation week; it was made when man was made.
It was made for MANKIND, not “for the Jews!”
No one called a “Jew” (from “Yehudi” or “Judah,” the eponymous ancestor of all Jews) was ever in existence until the children of Jacob (Israel) were born!
Yet the Sabbath had been in force and effect for thousands of years!
The Sabbath LONG predates the codification of the law at Sinai.

God established the Sabbath as a SIGN – like a symbol, or an identifying label – a “mark” of IDENTITY between Himself and His people!
He knew if they continually remembered His Sabbath day, it was pivotal to remembering Him as CREATOR – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Though the Jews rejected Christ, they have clung tenaciously to the Old Testament scriptures, to the weekly Sabbath, and to the annual Sabbaths.

The Jewish people have never lost sight of the Sabbath day!
The weekly cycle is nowhere observable in nature.
There is no movement of the planets, sun, moon, stars or earth that indicates the day of the week.
The Sabbath was established at creation by the One who became Christ, given again to Israel in the Decalogue, and has never been lost.

When Israel obeyed God, keeping His Sabbaths, they were blessed.
When they broke His Sabbaths and turned to idolatry (usually SUN worship in some form)  they were cursed, plagued, overcome by warring neighbors.

Throughout the history of the northern ten tribes, the House of Israel, God pled with them to return to Him,
to forsake their idols, lest they suffer unbelievable penalties – the curses that come as a natural result of breaking God’s laws – plus invasion by foreign armies, captivity, being reduced to slaves once again!
But they would not listen.

Eventually, in successive waves of invasion, the Assyrian armies under Shalmanezer took the Israelites into captivity!

“Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of His sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only!” (II Kings 17:6-18).

The nation of Israel was removed for Sabbath breaking – for abandoning God’s weekly and annual Sabbaths, which would have kept them in the knowledge of God’s plan, His PURPOSE for human life.
By rejecting the identifying SIGN between them and their God they lost sight of the fact that He is CREATOR of all things, and they turned to idolatry, to sun worship.

Having rejected the identifying SIGN God had placed upon them, they became quite literally LOST from history!
Millions suppose Americans are “Gomer,” of gentile stock!
Only a small minority understand the true identity of Britain, the United States, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, and portions of France and Switzerland, as well as members of the Commonwealth!

By the time of Christ, ten-tribed Israel had disappeared from history.
Only a tiny handful of peoples from a couple of the tribes are ever mentioned:
Anna, who was of Asher, and Paul, who said he was from Benjamin, who originally shared common borders with Judah.


But the Jews never became lost to history, because,
even though they also went into idolatry,
even though they suffered seventy year’s captivity in Babylon for their great national sin,
they never abandoned the weekly Sabbath, or the annual Sabbaths!
They retained the SIGN God had placed upon His people!

Every time there was a restoration of truth –
national repentance because of the decree of a righteous king, like Josiah
– the people got back to God’s Sabbaths, to His Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, to the annual Sabbaths, which keep us in mind of God’s PLAN.

Now, let’s understand!
The Mark of the Beast is NOT something that can be surreptitiously placed upon you.

Let me end it with this cry our Heavenly Father commanded one of His angels to deliver to His people that He LOVE:

"COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE,
that ye be not partakers of her sins,
and that ye receive not of her plagues.
For her sins have reached unto heaven,
and God hath remembered her iniquities."

[Philsworld]

I agree with everything you wrote. I have that book and I bought it from Samuel Bacchiochi after one of his lectures. He told me to call him “Brother Sam”

The end is coming and anyone who is serious about spending eternity with Christ had better open their eyes and study the bible for “truth”

I have come to realize one thing over the years and that is that many Christians will only believe the truth when they see the mark of the beast being enforced. They think it’s so impossible it could never happen or it won’t happen in their lifetime. It’s always been about love and obedience to God “if you love me, keep my commandments” the 7th day Sabbath is the same as it was at Creation. Same 7th day. Nothing has changed. “If you say you love me and you keep not my commandments, you are a liar and the truth is not in you” There are many other associated texts in the bible. There is way too much unsound doctrine out there. Thanks for the good post.

[Clutch Martin]

“The Council is best remembered today for the Nicene Creed”

Is it wrong to have faith, pray, as revere, but be in opposition to a chant? I have never been comfortable chanting any oath. I think it against my nature. Or perhaps it is an inner direction.

[Dont tread and Live]

me thinks that Moroni is full of baloni...lol

[ReaganGeneration2]

The Creed, and other written-out (”vocal”) prayers, are not meant to be chanted/recited without contemplation. Say them and savor every word or key parts. You can do both vocal prayer and your own words, or one or the other. As long as you’re conversing with God, it’s good.

The big waste that Christians need to be aware of: conversing with your “inner self”.

[Salvation]

**James R. White**

No need to read beyond that — non-Catholic opinions?

[Salvation]

The Nicene Creed

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

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[SkyDancer]

And if you really can't trust the Bible according to your LDS friend then ask him why JSjr took whole portions of it and incorporated it into his plagiarized book (Spaulding) with all the errors that were found in later years and corrected but not in the BOM - ask him also how modern words such as: Sam and the French word Adieu are in the BOM.

Mark Twain wrote: The BOM is chloroform in print.

"The most correct book ever written" had to be re-wrote hundreds of times to correct the original "most correct book"

[sportutegrl]

Revelation 1:10 refers to the “Lord’s Day” which is Sunday, the day Christ rose. First century Christians celebrated on Sunday, the Lord’s Day.

[MosesKnows]

There is way too much unsound doctrine

Bingo!

Organized churches are the biggest problem facing Christianity.

The New Testament covenant is the only doctrine any Christian church should observe.

[Campion]

Bacchiochi later changed his tune, and admitted that Sunday worship was the norm during the late apostolic age.

You find it all over the early fathers. Ignatius salutes his readers for "no longer sabbathing"; Hippolytus and I believe also Justin Martyr talks about Christians assembling "on the first day of the week". Hippolytus gives a description of what they did, which amounts to the Mass, down to some of the words being the same.

Sorry, SDAism is just Judaizing Christianity. It's not anything new, different, or better at all.

[Campion]

Give White some credit — he did a pretty good job with this one.