“We Believe”

Trinity, Creed, Councils

Wednesday, April 2

Chapter #5

Agenda God the Father. Who is Jesus Christ? Who is the Spirit?

The Creed

Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed “symbolum” is recited at Mass as a profession of faith. It takes its roots from the Council of Nicea and the First Council of Constantinople

Apostles Creed is an early Baptismal Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,of the Virgin Mary,under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended into hell.The third day He arose again from the dead.He ascended into heavensits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy *catholic church,communion of saints,forgiveness of sins,resurrection of the body,life everlasting.Amen.

Apostle’s Creed(Nicea 325 AD)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,begotten, not made,

one in Being with the Father.Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirithe was born of the Virgin Mary,

and became man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered died and was buried.On the third day he rose againin fulfillment of the Scriptures;

he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in ONE HOLY CATHOLIC and APOSTOLIC Church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene Creed(Constantinople 381 AD)

“I believe in God…”

God is one Revealed to ancients

in mystery– “YaHWeH” – “I AM”.

Deuteronomy 6: 4-5 Jesus affirms God as

One, Lord, Father Keeper of covenant God is Love

“I believe in God…”

Implications/consequences of belief in God?CCC 222-227

– God reveals himself in greatness, majesty and mystery.

– We live in thanksgiving to our creator– All humanity possesses dignity and worth

Made in God’s likeness and image; male and female

– We make good use of all created things: stewardship

– We are called to trust God in all things

Who is Jesus Christ?

YeHoSHua = = Joshua = Jesus“Yahweh is salvation”

Who is Jesus Christ?

= ChristAnointed One

Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus is Divine God from God; Light from Light; True God from True God Begotten, not made One in Being (consubstantial) with the Father

Jesus is Human He came down from heaven By the power of the Holy Spirit he became Man Suffered, died, and was buried

Jesus… Dualism?

Human person as harmony of body + soul Jewish anthropology vs. Greek anthropology

What does it mean that God became Man???– Can God remain God while being man?– Can man remain man while being God?

Early Christianity: Jews vs. Greeks

Differing Anthropology, leading indirectly to: Crisis in the early Church (Acts 15) Council of Jerusalem

– Note role of Apostles – Note role of Peter

Early Christianity: Greeks vs. Jews

Over the next two centuries, two camps formed:– The School of Alexandria (Greek philosophy)

Emphasis on Christ as Divine Gnostic tendencies, neo-Platonists

– The School of Antioch (Jewish philosophy) Emphasis on Christ as Human Jesus has a certain human autonomy from God See Acts 11:26 (…first named “Christians”)

From extremes in these two schools, two natural departures from orthodoxy developed

Antioch *

Two extremes: humanity vs. divinity

Humanity “adoptionism” God adopted

Jesus, a man, as his special Son

“subordinationism” Jesus is man kidnapped by God

“Arianism” Jesus is created as Son of God

“Nestorianism” Mary is mother of Jesus, not Mother of God

Divinity “docetism” Jesus only

seemed human “modalism” God functions as

Father, Son, and Spirit “Appolonarianism” Jesus is

God, simply using body for mission

“monophysitism” Jesus is God and man, but moreso God (divine will crushes humanity)

Heresy: theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition to the ‘catholic’ or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church

Two extremes: humanity vs. divinity

How did the Church solve these problems?– Call a Council! 21 times in Christian History– 4 Golden Councils:

325 AD: Nicea (against Arianism)

350 AD: Chalcedon (vs. monophysitism)

481 AD: Constantinople I (vs. Appolinarianism)

425 AD: Ephesus (against Nestorianism)

No such thing as a new heresy…

The Holy Spirit

I believe in the Holy Spirit; the Lord the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque**). With the Father and the Son he is glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.** “Triadology”

The Holy Spirit

(I believe…) in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, the communion of the saints, forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the dead, and life of the world to come. Amen.

The Trinity

F

HS

S

F

HS

S Three

Persons

One God

1.

2.

3.

F

HS S

The Trinity: St. Augustine

Lover Loved

Love

4 Hallmarks of our Faith

ONEHOLYCATHOLICAPOSTOLIC

Next Week

Try again:

Ancient Jewish History & Early Christian History