Over the coming weeks, I’m inviting you to join me on a journey through an important part of the history of the Christian church. Many Christians today aren’t aware of the substantial debt we owe to our forebears who paved the way for us to grasp concepts that we now learn about in Sunday school. By wrestling with issues like God as Trinity, the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and the inerrancy of Scripture, they hammered out for future generations a clear understanding of these significant doctrines. Essentially now our Christianity 101, these crucial theological positions that make up the foundation of orthodox Christianity were formed at councils and by creeds, some over many years. Orthodox here is defined as “conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early church” so a departure from any of the tenets that we’ll be looking at over the next several weeks marks a departure from Christianity as attested and accepted by two millennia of faithful followers.
In summary, this is important stuff.
This series is a primer; a quick (but hopefully helpful) look at significant events and documents that have aided in the establishment and defence of orthodox Christian doctrine throughout the centuries. Each article will present the conflict or controversy that called for a response, then focus on the resulting doctrine or document and demonstrate why it has such lasting value for the Christian church today.
Whether you’re new to the Christian faith, or you’re familiar with these events already, I hope you’ll join me. We have much to benefit from examining our rich heritage, and much to learn from those who have gone before.
We truly stand on the shoulders of giants. Watch this space.
More articles in Councils & Creeds:
