Human Nature and Church

¶ … Church Councils The first four major Church Councils -- at Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus and Chalcedon -- set key definitions and foundations for the early Church. The First Council of Nicaea was held in 325, the First Council of Constantinople in 381, the First Council of Ephesus in 431, and the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Thus, in little more than a century and a quarter, the Church was able to address critical issues that were present among the faithful and answer questions regarding the Faith.

The First Council of Nicaea was convoked by the Roman Emperor Constantine and it was called to address the issue of Arianism, which had arisen as a major heresy of the times. Arianism questioned the nature of Christ. Those in attendance included the bishops of the Church, such as Hosius of Cordova, Eusebius of Nicomedia, Eusebius of Caesarea and many others. In all it is likely that there were between 250 and 300 bishops in attendance.

The Council thus sought to definitively state that Christ had 2 natures -- a human and a divine. The Creed was also defined -- which today is known as the Nicene Creed and is still repeated in churches. Arias was also deemed anathema and Christ was defined as being consubstantial with the Father, i.e. God -- not a created being. The First Council of Constantinople was convoked by Emperor Theodosius.

The major issues of the time included the rise of the Macedonian heresy, the desire to reconcile the semi-Arians with the Church, and the confirmation of the Nicene Creed. Constantinople also needed a new bishop, and the Church wanted to ensure that the bishop chosen was a Catholic and not an Arian. Thus, the first order of business was for St. Gregory Nazianzen to be selected as bishop for Constantinople. The second order was to further address the issue of Arianism.

Constantine had died and his successor leaned towards the Arian conception of Christ. St. Athanasius, the most vocal opponent of Arianism, was exiled as Church leaders swung back to Arianism. Meanwhile, the Macedonian heresy denied that the Holy Ghost was divine (Arianism attacked the divinity of Christ). Thus, the Council was convoked to address all of these issues and attempt to unify the Church. The Nicene Creed was re-confirmed and the heresies condemned.

The First Council of Ephesus was convoked by Emperor Theodosius II to address the heresy of Nestorianism and Pelagianism as well as the concept of Theotokos (which was promoted by Nestorius who said that Mary bore Christ but not God -- she was not the Theotokos but rather the Christokos). Nestorius had been condemned by Pope Celestine I and faced opposition from Cyril of Alexandria for his views.

Rather than be excommunicated, he appealed to Theodosius II in the East for a council where he might express himself fully to all in attendance. Cyril won the sway of the Council, however, and Nestorius's ideas were made anathema. Nestorius did not recant and had.