The Ecumenical Councils “Christianity’s - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

The Ecumenical Councils

“Christianity’s

Roman Holiday,

Or,

How

We

Stopped Worrying about Being Jewish

&

Learned to

Love

the Pagans”Slide2

The Ecumenical CouncilsNicaea (325) to Chalcedon (451)‏

A “Council” is a gathering of

all

bishops to discuss important question of church teaching and practice.

The Councils are

the culmination of a move toward unanimity rather than multiplicity of

interpretation

The early Councils

focus on the “being” of Jesus as Christ rather than on his actions (teachings, ministry, or death)‏Slide3

They are part and parcel of the changing status of Christianity in the Roman Empire: from illegal to indispensable and from “Jewish” to “Greek”

Their language and concepts must be addressed by all Christian theologies that followSlide4

They draw on Greco-Roman philosophical ideas that contradict some and support other key aspects of Jewish thought

They establish the fundamental doctrines of:

Jesus Christ as

fully divine

(Nicaea 325)‏

Jesus Christ as

fully human

(Constantinople 381)‏Slide5

TIME LINE

Canonical Gospels written Ecumenical Councils

(“redacted”) 300's - 400's CE

70-100 CE (1

st

century) (4th & 5th Centuries)‏

70+ 80’s 90’s 314

318

324 325 381 [431] 451_|__|___|___|150-300ish|___|__|_ |_ |____|_____|____|___Mark Matthew John [Pre-Nicene | Arius’ | NICAEA CONSTAN- [EPH- CHALCEDON Luke Controversies] | pamphlet | TINOPLE E SUS] | | | | EDICT CONSTANTINE’S of MILAN Defeats LiciniusSlide6

REMINDER: (Small but Growing) Communities of the GospelsSlide7

Political Aspects of the 4

th

Century Councils: Part I

CHRISTIANITY & EMPIRESlide8

Setting the Stage: Time and Place

The Roman Empire – 1

st century CESlide9

Question: How did a

tiny Jewish

sect move from being first, ignored, then persecuted, to become the official religion of Rome, brutal ruler of the most powerful empire on earth?

A.

Political Backdrop (broad background)

1. Internal political instability

(So, you want to be

emperor

????)‏2. External threat of foreign invasion(Hordes of Huns)‏Answer: “It’s complicated.“ Harry Potter to Griphook; Griphook to Harry Potter “Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows,” film versionSlide10

REPERCUSSIONSFor the Empire: The desire for stabilityUnity grounds stability

For Christianity: Use as a point of shared unity

Push for “uniformity”Constantine: One God, One Emperor, One Church.Slide11

B. Theological & Philosophical Background

1

.

Church traditions

already in

place:

a. Baptizing in the name of F, S & HS

b. Praying to Jesus

c. Jesus as "Logos" in

Gospel of JohnImage source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OransFresco from catacombs showing Noah in the traditional “orans” or “orante” prayer posture.Slide12

2. Monotheism

Brought forward into Christianity from its origins in Judaism

The

SHEMA

:

"

Hear O

Israel, the

Lord Our God is One."

Image sources: http://worldreligionsslocomb.wikispaces.com/file/view/judaism.jpg/202060486/judaism.jpg ‘ ;ttp://api.ning.com/files/va8JWydWri1p6V3eH4CDTj*7MZeouoVT5Xwurbs7OGn1ltceLCAG5P8nXwwwnkk3jWMfhR1JxFZgGoVeZU0VcUC4EpdjTuZ3/TheShema.JPGSlide13

3. Greek Ideas of Divinity and Humanity

a. Greek idea of "being“ = essence

The “Platonic Tradition” –

a theory of

knowledge (aka, an epistemology)

ousia

(GK)

‏

Contrast with:

hypostasis (GK), persona (LT)‏

Wow! We’re all horses!Hmm..How do we know that?Slide14

Greek Ideas of Divinity and Humanity (cont.)

Hierarchy of being

Some “essences” are better than others!

Spirit

Mind

Immortality

Rationality

male

Body

Death

Irrationality

Emotion

femaleSlide15

Greek Ideas of Divinity and Humanity (cont.)

Idea of God: Negative Attribution

Human characteristics Divine characteristics

(known) (inferred)‏

Mortal _____________

Weak _____________

Limited in

knowledge _____________

Located, in only 1 place _____________

Multiple , divisible _____________Slide16

Greek Ideas of Divinity and Humanity (cont.)

Logos

: a shared word; different meanings

1

) Greek: Divine Mind (Mind of God)

‏; Reason

2

) Jewish: Pre-existent Wisdom

3) Near Eastern: Heavenly PersonImage Source: http://www.colindye.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Logos-is-the-greek-word-for-reason-or-for-word.jpgThe word “logos,” written in GreekSlide17

4. Pre-Nicene Controversies

a.

Justin

Martyr

(2nd century

)

Christ , the Logos, is a bridge between God and humanity (a

demiurge

)

b. Monarchians (3rd century)‏1) Modalist Monarchians (e.g., Sabellius)‏(See following slides)2) Dynamic Monarchians, aka, Adoptionists (e.g., Paul of Samosata)‏ (See following slides)Slide18

Modalist Monarchianism Version I: God(the)father’s Pizza Pie

Modalist

Heresy #1:

The Trinity is like a pizza with 3 equal slices! The 1 God is represented by the 3 members of the Trinity – Each is 1/3 of God. No conflict with monotheism!

The Church REJECTS

Modalism

#1

because: God cannot be divided. God is one.Each member of the Trinity is God-entire, not just a “part” of God.Each member of the Trinity is a separately-existing entity, not part of a larger whole.The logical problem with monotheism remains.

God the

Father

God the God the

Son Holy

Spirit

Slide19

Modalist Heresy #2 :The Trinity is like God with three different Halloween masks. God appears in different masks or

modes at different times and places. That is, God has 3 aspects or “faces.” But, God can only wear one mask at a time or be in one

mode

at a time. No conflict with monotheism.

Modalist

Monarchianism

:

aka,

Patripassianism or Sabellianism Version II: God Visits the Halloween Adventure StoreGod the Father? God the Spirit? God the Son?The Church REJECTS Modalism #2 because: All 3 members of the Trinity co-exist at the same time and eternally.Each member of the Trinity makes God fully present to creation, not just one aspect or mode of God.Suggests that God suffers when Christ suffers on the cross. God cannot suffer.The logical problem with monotheism remains. Slide20

Dynamic Monarchianism, aka Adoptionism

God the Adoptive Father

Image Source: http://www.globalserve.net/~yuku/pics/bapt.jpg

Types of

Adoptionism

Version 1

: God adopts Jesus

as his “son” at his baptism

because of his exemplary life Version 2: God adopts Jesus as his “son” at his birth In both versions, “sonship does not equal “being divine”. “Logos” is an honorary title.Slide21

The Council of Nicaea:

Prelude

Constantine the Great,

c

. 274-337

Immediate

Political

Context

& EventsSlide22

The Road to Nicaea:

Constantine and Christianity

Credits the “God of Christ” with his military victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge (312)

With Licinius, issues the Edict of Milan (Edit of Toleration (313)

Defeats Licinius (324)

Looks to Christianity as the “glue” to unite his Eastern & Western empire

Calls the Council of Nicaea in 325 to stop inter-church fighting and force a decision on the status (“essence”) of Jesus Christ in relation to God the FatherSlide23

Supplementary: Constantine’s

“Conversion”

Eusebius: The Conversion of Constantine

[Eusebius of Caesarea (4th century) was a Christian bishop and author of the

Ecclesiastical History

, from which this is an excerpt.]

BEING convinced, however, that he needed some more powerful aid than his military forces could afford him, on account of the wicked and magical enchantments which were so diligently practiced by the tyrant, he sought Divine assistance. . . . He considered, therefore, on what God he might rely for protection and assistance.

ACCORDINGLY he called on him with earnest prayer and supplications that he would reveal to him who he was, and stretch forth his right hand to help him in his present difficulties. And while he was thus praying with fervent entreaty, a most

marvelous

sign appeared to him from heaven, HE said that about noon, when the day was already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and bearing the inscription, CONQUER BY THIS. Slide24

Arch of Constantine, c. 315

built in

honor

of his victory

SupplementarySlide25

Supplementary: The Edict of Milan (313 CE)‏

When I,

Constantine Augustus

, as well as I,

Licinius Augustus

fortunately met near Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many,

those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity

ought certainly to be made first,

so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred

; whence any Divinity whatsoever in the seat of the heavens may be propitious and kindly disposed to us and all who are placed under our rule And thus by this wholesome counsel and most upright provision we thought to arrange that no one whatsoever should be denied the opportunity to give his heart to the observance of the Christian religion, of that religion which he should think best for himself, so that the Supreme Deity, to whose worship we freely yield our hearts) may show in all things His usual favor and benevolence…. we have also conceded to other religions the right of open and free observance of their worship for the sake of the peace of our times…. In all these circumstances you ought to tender your most efficacious intervention to the community of the Christians, that our command may be carried into effect as quickly as possible, whereby, moreover, through our clemency, public order may be secured. Let this be done so that, as we have said above, Divine favor towards us, which, under the most important circumstances we have already experienced, may, for all time, preserve and prosper our successes together with the good of the state. Slide26

The Church Declares the Divinity

of Jesus

The Council of Nicaea – 325 CE

The Council of NicaeaSlide27

A Short Timeline …

…and Locations

Map insetSlide28

If we want to know who Jesus, the Christ, is….If we want to know what it means to says that he is the Logos, the Word of God, the Son of God is….

We have to know his “essence”! Therefore, the theological question of the Council of Nicaea is:

“What is the essence of Jesus Christ, the Logos, Son of God?”

Does he have A DIVINE essence?

Does he have A HUMAN essence?

Is he SOMETHING IN-BETWEEN?

The Road to Nicaea:

The BIG Theological QuestionSlide29

The Council of Nicaea (

325): Key

Players And Their

Points

ARIUS (the loser)

Starting point: monotheism

"There was when he was not."

There is only one God: God, the FatherThus, the Son (the Logos) cannot be GodThe Son (the Logos) is created perfect, but not divine.Son does not have same essence as the Father. Not homo (Grk: same) + ousios (essence)How Jesus saves us: he teaches us the path to God.

Christ is

NOT Homo-

ousios

with God the Father

(Not same essence;

NOT Fully Divine)Slide30

SUPPLEMENTARY

The

Council of Nicaea (325):

Key

Players And Their Points:

ARIUS

Concern:

RATIONAL monotheism

:

God cannot be divided. This God = God theFather.Thus, Son = Logos = a creature (perfect).Created from nothing before time by the Father: "There was when he was not." Subject to physical and moral change.Draws on Scriptures such as Prov. 8:22, Acts 2:36, Romans 8:29, and Colossians 1:15.Son does not have same ousia (essence) as Father.

Titles given to Jesus are courtesy titles. NOT homoousios.How Jesus saves us: teaches us the way to get to God. Slide31

ATHANASIUS, Alexander & Friends (winners)

Starting Point: human salvation

If Jesus is not God, then we are not saved

.

Athanasian

syllogism

(if “a” and “b,” then “c”):

a. Only God can save us

b. Christ (the Logos) is the Savior

c. Therefore, Christ , the Logos, is divineSon and Father are of the same essence Homo (Grk: same) + ousios (essence)How Jesus saves us: he reconnects humanity to God The Council of Nicaea (325): Key Players And Their Points

Christ ISHomo-ousioswith God the Father(Same essence= Fully Divine)Slide32

Concern:

REDEMPTIVE monotheism

If Jesus is not God, then we are not saved.

Christianity is a monotheistic faith:

Accuses Arius of polytheism: Jesus the Logos a

demiurge

(demigod)‏

Says Arius undermining the Christian doctrine of God by saying Father, Son and Holy Spirit aren't eternal

Says Arius undermining Christian liturgical custom: baptism and prayer in Jesus' name.Son and Father ARE of the same ousia (essense)--ARE homoousiosHow Jesus saves us: by reconnecting us to God, Godself.SUPPLEMENTARY

The Council of Nicaea (325): Key Players And Their Points: ATHANASIUSSlide33

Supplementary: The Creed of the Council of NicaeaSlide34

RESULTS

Arius condemned.

Language of

homoousios

adopted.

The Nicene

Creed

begins its development, based on an earlier creed, and adding anti-Arian language.Slide35

From Nicaea to Constantinople

Review: At Nicaea (325 CE):

Jesus Christ, the Logos, is declared to be fully divine (homoousios

with God the Father)

Roman emperor is now

Theodosius I

(who makes Christianity the “official”

religion of the empire)After Nicaea, 2 new questions for the bishops:Is the divine Christ also fully human? How can a being have two identities?Review: Is the Holy Spirit also fully divine? (See Doctrine of God slides)Emperor Theodosius I(378-395)Slide36

The Council of Constantinople (381)

The

Humanity

of Christ

(also featuring, The Doctrine of the Trinity!)

Detail from “The Supper at Emmaus” by Rembrandt van Rijn (1648)

STARTING POINT OF AGREEMENT:

All

participants in the Council of Constantinople agree that the decision made about Christ’s fully divinity is

CORRECT!Slide37

The Council of Constantinople (381)

Part I: The Trinity

Declaration on the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit is also of the same essence as God the Father and Christ the Son: fully divine

THE TRINITARIAN FORMULA

God is ONE ESSENCE

in THREE BEINGS:

Father, Son, & Holy Spirit

Co-equal and Co-existingQ: But what about MONOTHEISM? Doesn’t Christianity have 3 Gods now, instead of 1 ? A: No, see the Council of Nicaea!Slide38

The Council of Constantinople (381)

PART II

AGREEMENT ENDS

Apollinarus

:

Jesus’ body is human; but the “divine Logos” (the Word of God) takes the place of his human mind. Thus, he is one person with only one essence (one nature) – a fully divine one.

Gregory of Nazianzus (representing the

Cappadocian

Fathers)

: “What is not assumed (taken on) is not redeemed.” In order for us to be fully saved, Jesus as Christ must assume (take on) our whole humanity, not just part of it. By doing so, all of our humanness (body, mind and soul)– which has been separated from the divine – is reunited with God in one person with two essences (two natures): fully human and fully divine.Gregory of Nazianzus at ConstantinopleSlide39

Nicaea + Constantinople =The Christological Formula:

“

Jesus Christ is one person with two natures

(2 essences, 2 ousia, 2 natures):

full divinity & full humanity.”

Christological Results of Constantinople:

1. Nicaea

re

-affirmed: Christ is

fully divine. 2. New affirmation: Christ is ALSO fully human.(GO FIGURE!!) Jesus Christ’s full humanity is affirmed. Slide40

Supplementary: The Creed of the Council of ConstantinopleSlide41

What does the Christological Formula do?Names the status of the Christ in relationship to God and to human beingsIdentifies Jesus as the definition both of what God is like and what human beings can become like (Karl

Rahner, SJ)Claims that God experiences human joys and sufferings with usAffirms that the path to the divine is through our own humanity and the human relationships around us Slide42

Constantinian Church at Trier

The First Four Ecumenical Councils:

The Limits of Appropriate Speech

God is a

Trinity

:

One God (monotheism) = one divine essence, undivided, in Three distinct Beings: Father, Son, Holy Spirit

(

Constantinople 381)

Jesus Christ is fully divineHomoousios (of one essence) with God the Father (Nicaea 325)Jesus Christ is fully human In all things like us (but without sin) (Constantinople 381)The Final Formulae: from Greek to LatinJesus Christ is two natures in one person.God is one nature in three persons.(Chalcedon 451)

Mary is the Mother of God:Theotokos -- God-bearer (Ephesus 431)Slide43

The Language of Christology in the West: From Greek to Latin

Greek Terms

ousia

hypostasis,

prosopon

homoousios

homo

i

ousios- rejected)Theotokos Latin Termsnatura, substantia personaEnglish

essence, natureentity, person, beingsame substancelike substanceMother of God (God bearer)The Language of Mystery

The Council of Chalcedon (451):

Mystery

is that which we cannot

understand, but accept on faith.

Karl Rahner, S.J. (20

th

-c.):

Mystery

is

not

that which we cannot

understand, but that which

we cannot exhaust.Slide44

ALL SLIDES FROM THIS POINT ARE SUPPLEMENTARYThe declaration of the doctrine of the Trinity (God is 3 in 1, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 3 co-equal persons with the same (divine) nature) is the other major Christological issues that emerges from the Council of Constantinople. The slides that follow are from my THE 154 class’ study of the Trinity. You may find them interesting and useful.Slide45

God as Trinity:

A Singular

Christian Claim

Father = Son = Holy Spirit

Creator = Redeemer = Sanctifying Spirit Slide46

A Wee Bit of History

Canonical Gospels written

Ecumenical Councils

70-100 CE 300's - 400's CE

(1

st

century) (4th & 5th Centuries)‏

70+ 80’s 90’s 150-300ish 324 325

381 451_|__|___|__|_________|________|___________|_____________|___Mark Matthew John [Pre-Nicene Constantine Council of Council of

Council of Luke Controversies] NICAEA CONSTANTINOPLE CHALCEDON | |

Divinity

Doctrine of the

of Jesus X

TRINITY

declared

formulated

Slide47

Jewish traditions of the Spirit, Wind, Breath of God: Ruach

,

The NT witness to the experience of Jesus’ early followers

Early church experience – Jesus as revelation of God

Baptism in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit

Jesus promise of the

Paraclete

(the Comforter)

The presence of Christ after his ascension

God’s spirit alive and always new in the worldThe Council of Nicaea (325)Jesus is “divine,” of the same “divine” essence as God the FatherThe Holy SpiritThe next logical question: what is the relation of the Holy Spirit to God the Father and Jesus the Christ?Some Historical BackgroundSlide48

The Church’s Theo-Logical ClaimThe doctrine of the Trinity

(God is 1 essence in 3 persons):is not arithmetically logical (1 + 1+ 1 = 3), but…is logical

in a different kind of way:It is theo-logical

.

That is, in order for early orthodox Christians to express their experience of Jesus and his importance for their lives, they find it

necessary

to understand him as God-truly-with-them in the world. The same goes for the Holy Spirit as the presence of God within and around them in all times and places

.

Its monotheism is:

not about there being 3 members of the Trinity…but about each member of the Trinity: (Creator, Redeemer, Spirit) fully expressing the one essence of God’s infinite love multiplied throughout creation (1 x 1 x 1 = 1)Slide49

Two Aspects of Trinitarian Relationship

The

Economic Trinity

– the members of the Trinity in relationship to the world

The

Immanent Trinity

– the members of the Trinity in relationship to one another Slide50

God and Christ as male and female

Julian of Norwich

(1342-1423)

English Benedictine mystic

God as Mother and Father

The nature of God is goodness

Jesus as our Brother and Savior

Jesus as our true Mother

We as children of God and Jesus

The Trinity as moving beyond only male imagesto embrace new images of GodImplications for Justice ISlide51

The Trinity as moving beyond

only

male images

to embrace new images of God

God as Creator, Teacher, Mother, Artist, Friend

God as Redeemer, Child, Teacher, Guide, Model

God as Spirit, Comforter, Sanctifier, Presence, Newness

Contemporary Feminist Philosophers & Theologians:Mary Daly, Rosemary Radford Ruether, Elizabeth Johnson, CSJMeinrad Craighead, “God, the Mother”Implications for Justice I (cont.)Slide52

Implications for Justice II

Catherine

Mowry

LaCugna

:

The Trinity as a model of hospitality and openness

Abraham and Sarah visited by Yahweh

and two angels in disguise.

(Gen. 18:1-15)

Rublev’s icon of the Trinity based onthe Abraham and Sarah storyGod may be among us as a strangerGod is among us in communityGod is revealed “in the breaking ofbread

” with others. (Luke 24:13-35)Icon: Andrei Rublev, early 15c, Russia. Three angels at Eucharistic table, inspired by Genesis 18:1-15.Slide53

Implications for Justice III

Leonardo

Boff:

The Trinity as a model of equality and

inclusivity for human relations

All persons should be treated as

of equal value: the poor & oppressed

have the right to life’s basic needs:

food, shelter, safety, meaningful work

All persons should have the power of participation: the voices of the poor and the oppressed must be listened to and heard Slide54

Source Notes for Trinity SlidesBackground image for all Trinity slides: http://metrobibleblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/cathedra-holyspirit1.jpgThe mathematical formula: 1 x 1 x 1 = 1 as an analogy for the Trinity was suggested to me by one of my former students.

Slide “Implications for Justice I “(cont): Image, http://greencanticle.com/2008/08/11/meinrad-craighead-god-the-mother/Slide “Implications for Justice III”:

http://www.aangirfan.blogspot.com