1,700 Years of the Nicene Creed

You have received a 1,700-year-old invitation, but it’s not too late to RSVP.

In the year 325, there was a fight in the church. It was a major disagreement, one that threatened to split the Christian community in half. The division wasn’t caused by the style of music or color of the carpet in the sanctuary.

No, the fight was caused by a disagreement about the nature of Jesus Christ.

Some considered Jesus to be a creation of God, made by the Creator before the beginning of time. Others said no — Jesus is God, and Jesus the Son is coeternal with God the Father. Because of this disagreement, the cities of the Roman Empire were disturbed by riots. Heated battles were breaking out between opposing sides. Bishops from the “Jesus is God” side were exiled from their posts and replaced by bishops from the “Jesus is not God” side.

All of this made the emperor Constantine very nervous. He did not want a split in Christianity, so he called for a council to resolve this theological division. Church leaders gathered in Nicaea, a...