Episode 101 - Hired Philosophers vs. Smelly Shepherds: The Surprising Heroes of Nicaea

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On May 20th, 325 AD, a gathering began that would forever shape Christianity. The Council of Nicaea stands as perhaps the most consequential theological assembly in church history, and this episode takes you directly into the debates and confrontations that occurred 1,700 years ago today.

Drawing from eyewitness accounts and historical records, we explore the fascinating dynamics between opposing camps at Nicaea. On one side stood Arius and his "mercenary philosophers"—highly educated men hired to provide academic credibility to teachings that denied Christ's full deity. Opposing them were orthodox bishops who relied not on philosophical speculation but on faithful interpretation of Scripture.

What emerges is a striking contrast between approaches to theological understanding. While sophisticated philosophers constructed elaborate arguments, simple believers like Spyridon of Trimythous—a shepherd who still smelled of his flocks—demonstrated that knowing "nothing except Jesus Christ and him crucified" could prove more powerful than all the philosophical learning of the ancient world.

Perhaps most moving is the account of a humble bishop confronting one of Arius's philosophers. Though other bishops worried this simple man would become "a laughingstock," his straightforward confession of faith rendered the philosopher speechless and ultimately led to his conversion. "Divine power emerged from the mouth of my adversary," the philosopher admitted, "for man cannot resist God."

The story of Nicaea reminds us that theological truth isn't about intellectual prowess but faithful reception of divine revelation. Even the brilliant young Athanasius appears to have learned at Nicaea to value the simple faith of uneducated monks and shepherds—a lesson that would shape his approach to church leadership for decades to come.

Whether you're a theology enthusiast, church history buff, or simply curious about Christianity's formative moments, this episode offers fresh insights into how a gathering of bishops—many still bearing the scars of persecution—articulated a vision of Christ that Christians worldwide still confess today.

The theme music is "Wager with Angels" by Nathan Moore

Rod Dreher wrote “to order the world rightly as Christians requires regarding all things as pointing to Christ”

Christ is the One in Whom in all things consist and humanity is not the measure of all things. If a defining characteristic of the modern world is disorder then the most fundamental act of resistance is to discover and life according to the deep, divine order of the heavens and the earth.  

In this series we want to look at the big model of the universe that the Bible and Christian history provides.

It is a mind and heart expanding vision of reality.

It is not confined to the limits of our bodily senses - but tries to embrace levels fo reality that are not normally accessible or tangible to our exiled life on earth.

We live on this side of the cosmic curtain - and therefore the highest and greatest dimensions of reality are hidden to us… yet these dimensions exist and are the most fundamental framework for the whole of the heavens and the earth.

Throughout this series we want to pick away at all the threads  of reality to see how they all join together - how they all find common meaning and reason in the great divine logic - the One who is the Logos, the LORD Jesus Christ - the greatest that both heaven and earth has to offer.

Colossians 1:15-23

• No. of episodes: 106
• Latest episode: 2025-06-19
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