The Classic Christological Creeds

1
The Classic Christological Creeds

• The Councils of Nicea and Chalcedon

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The Council of Nicea

• Jesus is one in being (homoousios) with the
  Father
• Is this term in the New Testament?
• No!
• But it clarified what the NT said made explicit
  an implicit teaching
• A turning point
• concern over use of philosophy to define doctrine
• The aftermath of Nicea?
• Constantinople reaffirmed Nicea, added doctrine
  of Holy Spirit

3
The humanity and divinity of Jesus

• Two approaches
• (Alexandria) logos-sarx logos combines with
  flesh
• preserves unity
• but divinity overshadows humanity (Apollinarius)
• (Antioch) logos-anthropos
• preserves distinctiveness of the two natures
• but treats Jesus like two separate beings
• Example Nestorius Mary the mother of Christ
  (Christotokos) but not God (theotokos)

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The Council of Chalcedon (451 CE)

• Person unity
• Nature duality (human and divine)
• Jesus is one person in two natures
• Does Chalcedon think it is innovating?
• No! Just clarifying the biblical revelation as it
  appears in the prophets and Jesus himself
• The key point Jesus is fully human and fully
  divine -- doctrine a rule of language