The First Council of Nicaea

Note: It is common to claim that there were many competing versions of Christianity but that at the Council of Nicaea, one strand predominated and imposed one form of orthodoxy on the rest of the church. You will hear that (or echoes of it) in some of the resources. It is largely a myth. Be sceptical about any over-emphasis on division within early Christianity.

• Christian History Institute study module #109: Council of Nicea

• The First Council of Nicea - Christian History Magazine, one of the 100 most important events in church history.

• A Hammer Struck At Heresy - Christian History Magazine

• The Final Act - Christian History Magazine

• What Happened At The Council of Nicaea - Welsey Huff, blog post

Did the Council of Nicaea make up, and impose, the doctrines of modern Christianity (divinity of Jesus, canon, etc.)

When did the church decide that Jesus was divine?

It is sometimes suggested that this was a late decision, made at the Council of Nicaea. The reality, of course, is that it is in the Bible itself, that is, it goes back to the beginning of people's understanding of who Jesus is. People have to decide whether or not they believe it but the belief itself originated with Jesus and was confirmed by His miracles, words and character, and by what God said about Him. It was a fundamental plank of basic Christian belief. Peter famously said, "You are the Christ/Messiah, the Son of the living God" and Jesus affirmed that as a revelation that had come from God (Matthew 16:16). There are many other indicators of Jesus' divinity in the scriptures themselves.

See this page on Jesus' divinity.

The Council of Nicaea did not decide that Jesus was divine; it simply confirmed the centuries-old understanding when that was challenged by Arius. It was not an innovation but a confirmation of the established belief.

Who decided what books would be in the Bible?

The Council of Nicaea did not determine the canon, despite what people say!

See The Canon (Which Books Were Included And Why?)