Theological discussion in about 300 centered on the nature of Christ. While few Christians understood the fine distinctions of the theologians, they sensed the importance of the issue. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews spoke of him as a high priest who is able to take away human sin. John in his Gospel made Jesus the incarnate Logos. Origen of Alexandria contributed the explanation that Jesus Christ was of the same nature as God. The problem was how to explain Christ so that he would not lose his divine dignity and at the same time keep his human values. The more the deity of Christ was stressed, the greater seemed the danger of making two Gods. The reaction produced Monarchianism, the government of one God. They stated that while on earth Christ’s existence as man was a temporary mode of God. This gave them the name of Modalists. Their close identification of the Son with the Father made it possible to charge them with teaching that it was God the Father who suffered on the Cross. Those who liked to emphasize the true humanity of Christ explained that Christ was merely the human Jesus until at his baptism he became the adopted Son of God. These believers were called Dynamic Monarchians. Neither Monarchian theory was a satisfactory explanation of the incarnation. It was difficult to be specific in teaching and escape the accusation of heresy. Such division of forces weakened the Christian Church, and when Constantine decided to make Christianity legal he resolved to unify Christendom. For the West, the issue had virtually been settled by Tertullian’s teachings on the Trinity. In the East, the fourth century brought the debate to a boiling point with the specific argument between Arianism, a form of Monarchianism, and Athanasianism, a form of Catholic theology. The controversy was precipitated by Arius, a presbyter in the church of Alexandria. The dispute between Arius and his bishop, Alexander, was so keen that Emperor Constantine summoned the Christian bishops to a council at Nicea near his own capital in order to establish unity of doctrine for all the churches. A general council to include all the dignitaries of the Church had never met before. The Council of Nicea, which met in the year 325, ranks as the most important in the history of the Christian Church. An Alexandrian synod had condemned Arius already, but he was supported by Eusebius of Nicomedia and a considerable following. Arius himself was present. Among the supporters of Alexander was Athanasius, at that time a youthful deacon of the church at Alexandria and a few years later its bishop. It was agreed that Jesus was of the same “substance” as the Father and the creed was adopted as orthodox.
Impact: The emperor was pleased with the result and sent Arius and his supporters into banishment. Outside of the Holy Scriptures, the Nicene Creed is the most important document the Church holds to establish orthodoxy.