Episode 98 - The Word that Made Christian History: Homoousios at Nicaea 325 AD

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The 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea marks a watershed moment in Christian history that still shapes how believers understand God today. This episode tackles the fascinating philosophical and theological background of the Council's most crucial contribution: the declaration that Jesus Christ is "homoousios" (of the same substance) with God the Father.

Far from being a straightforward affirmation, this Greek philosophical term arrived at Nicaea with complex baggage. We unpack why many orthodox Christians were initially hesitant to adopt language that had previously been associated with both Gnostic teachings about spiritual emanations and Sabellian beliefs that Father, Son and Spirit were merely different modes of a single divine person.

The conversation travels from Plato and Aristotle's philosophical concepts of "being" through Philo of Alexandria's attempts to express biblical truths in Greek philosophical language, revealing how these intellectual currents created the theological climate that produced both the Arian controversy and its Nicene solution. The word "homoousios" could mean either "the exact same thing" or "the same kind of thing" – a distinction with profound implications for Trinitarian theology.

Through explanations of these complex philosophical ideas, we demonstrate why getting the language right about God matters so deeply. The Nicene Creed didn't invent new doctrine but provided precise language that has become Christianity's gold standard for orthodox belief, regardless of denomination or tradition.

Whether you're fascinated by church history, theological development, or simply want to understand one of Christianity's most fundamental doctrines better, this episode offers valuable insights into how ancient debates continue to shape Christian faith and practice today. Join us as we examine the language that helped define who Christians believe Jesus is in relation to God the Father.

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: 100
• Latest episode: 2025-05-08
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