History of the Council of Nice: A World's Christian Convention, A.D. 325

By Dean Dudley

Delve into one of the most pivotal events in the history of Christianity with Dean Dudley's History of the Council of Nice: A World's Christian Convention, A.D. 325. This comprehensive account offers an in-depth exploration of the First Council of Nicaea, a landmark gathering that significantly shaped the foundations of Christian doctrine and ecclesiastical structure.

Dean Dudley, a respected historian, meticulously reconstructs the events leading up to and following the council, providing readers with a detailed understanding of its historical, theological, and political contexts. The book vividly recounts the assembly of bishops and church leaders from across the Roman Empire, convened by Emperor Constantine, to address the pressing theological disputes of the time, particularly the Arian controversy.

History of the Council of Nice delves into the key figures, debates, and decisions that defined the council. Dudley offers insightful analysis of the theological arguments presented, the formulation of the Nicene Creed, and the establishment of critical precedents for church governance and orthodoxy. His narrative captures the intense intellectual and spiritual fervor that characterized the discussions and decisions of the council.

Beyond the theological implications, Dudley explores the broader impact of the Council of Nicaea on the development of the Christian Church and its enduring legacy. The book examines how the council’s outcomes influenced subsequent councils, doctrinal developments, and the consolidation of Christian doctrine in the centuries that followed.

This book is an essential resource for students of church history, theology, and anyone interested in the formative events of early Christianity. Dudley's scholarly yet accessible writing style ensures that History of the Council of Nice is both informative and engaging, providing a clear and thorough account of one of the most significant councils in Christian history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porirua Publishing
• Release date: Jun 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9781991305800

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Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

PREFACE. 4

THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF NICE. 5

CHAPTER I 5

PROLOGUE.-OBJECTS AND RESULTS. 5

CHAPTER II. 6

THE DATE, AND SOURCES OF ITS HISTORY. 6

CHAPTER III. 8

HE CAUSES WHICH LED CONSTANTINE TO CONVOKE THIS UNIVERSAL SYNOD, COMMONLY CALLED THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF NICE. 8

CHAPTER IV. 10

INCREASE OF THE OPPOSITION TO ARIUS AND HIS HERESY. 10

CHAPTER V. 13

LETTER OF ARIUS TO HIS FRIEND, EUSEBIUS OF NICOMEDIA, DESCRIBING HIS DOCTRINES WHICH OCCASION THE OPPOSITION AND SEVERITIES OF ALEXANDER; AND LETTER OF EUSEBIUS OF NICOMEDIA, TO PAULINUS OF TYRE, ON THE SAME SUBJECT; ETC. 13

CHAPTER VI. 16

THE GENERAL COUNCIL OF NICE.—THE EMPEROR CONVOKES THE BISHOPS FROM ALL CHRISTENDOM. 16

CHAPTER VII. 18

THE COUNTRIES WHICH WERE REPRESENTED AT THE UNIVERSAL SYNOD.—INTERESTING CHARACTERS, CONFESSORS, ETC., PRESENT.—PRELIMINARY DISPUTATIONS.—THREE DISTINCT PARTIES.—ARIUS SUMMONED.—ATHANASIUS APPEARS. 18

CHAPTER VIII. 22

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL IN THE IMPERIAL PALACE.—PRESENCE OF CONSTANTINE.—HIS SPLENDID APPEARANCE, AND SPEECHES. 22

CHAPTER IX. 25

THE FINAL DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL UPON THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF DOCTRINE.—CONSTANTINE PARTICIPATES IN THE DEBATES.—THE ARIAN CREED REJECTED.—THE HOMOÖUSIAN ESTABLISHED FOREVER.—LETTERS OF THE COUNCIL AND CONSTANTINE, DESCRIBING THE UNANIMOUS DECISIONS RESPECTING THE CONSUBSTANTIAL CREED.—ARIUS ANATHEMATIZED AND HIS THALIA CONDEMNED; ALSO THE ARIANS BANISHED, AND THEIR WORKS PROSCRIBED BY THE EMPEROR. 25

CHAPTER X. 30

THE PASTORAL LETTER OF EUSEBIUS PAMPHILUS, OF CÆSAREA, CONCERNING THE SAME THINGS, WITH OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. 30

CHAPTER XI 34

ACCOUNTS FROM EUSTATHIUS CONCERNING THE SAME THINGS; ALSO FROM ATHANASIUS, OF ALEXANDRIA, AS QUOTED IN THEODORET’S HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. 34

CHAPTER XII. 38

DISCIPLINARY LAWS DISCUSSED.—THE CELIBACY OF THE CLERGY PROPOSED.—THIS QUESTION SETTLED IN FAVOR OF HONORABLE MARRIAGE.—CERTAIN CANONS DECREED AND ESTABLISHED. 38

CHAPTER XIII. 45

THE LETTER DESPATCHED FROM THE COUNCIL OF NICE TO THE CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA.—STATEMENT OF WHAT HAD BEEN DECREED AGAINST THE INNOVATIONS OF MELETIUS, AS WELL AS THE COUNCIL’S OPINION OF ARIUS AND HIS PARTICULAR HERESIES. 45

CHAPTER XIV. 48

THE EMPEROR’S KINDNESS TO THE BISHOPS AT THE VICENNALIA.—HIS ENTERTAINMENT OF THEM.–HE KISSES THEIR WOUNDS.—HIS MUNIFICENCE.–HE SETTLES THEIR PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES IN A PECULIAR WAY.–HIS ADMONITIONS TO THEM.–CONCLUSION.—EPILOGUE. 48

CONCLUSION. —CONSTANTINE EXPRESSES MUCH JOY AT THE SUCCESS OF THE COUNCIL, AND ORDERS LARGE SUMS OF MONEY TO BE DISTRIBUTED. 50

EPILOGUE.—APOLOGIES AND ADDITIONS. 51

ERRATA. 54

HISTORY OF THE COUNCIL OF NICE:

A World’s Christian Convention,

A.D. 325.

BY

DEAN DUDLEY,

ATTORNEY AT LAW AND MEMBER OF VARIOUS HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.

PREFACE.

I AM not unaware, that the field of research, occupied by this work, has been traversed by another, even within a quarter of a century.{1} There seems to be room enough, however, for us both; for my reverend predecessor took altogether a Trinitarian view of this Council. On page twenty-nine of his book, I find the following statement of the learned author:

The remarkable unanimity of the Synod on the subject of our Saviour’s true and proper Divinity, the only one examined by that convention, which excites much interest at the present day, may be considered, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, as affording a powerful confirmation of the truth of this important doctrine.

I chose the documentary style, on account of its simplicity, and because it would preclude the necessity of my passing judgment upon the motives and characters of those early Christian fathers, whose propriety and righteousness many deem unquestionable, and not to be doubted by any ordinary writer without displaying, in him, unpardonable malignity.

Since beginning this compilation, several antiquarian friends have kindly encouraged the enterprise, as being an appropriate and needful work; and, at the same time, they have advised me to undertake, next, a history of the Bible; which may, ere long, be done, many materials for that purpose having been already collected.

D. D.

BOSTON, JULY 25, 1860.

THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF NICE.

CHAPTER I

PROLOGUE.-OBJECTS AND RESULTS.

THE principal object of this famous Synod was to discuss and settle, upon a firm basis, the true Christian doctrine respecting the Divine nature of Christ, and his precise relation to the Almighty Creator and Sustainer of the Universe; because the churches, and even the public, had been recently disquieted by the Arian controversy. But there were other questions of doctrine and discipline to be determined by this World’s Assembly of Christian Prelates; the more prominent of which questions were those relating to the Meletians, for having agitated a novel dogma; and the Novatians, for the same reason, and the most appropriate day for celebrating the Passover.

Constantine the Great, the first Christian emperor of the Roman World,{2} having been appealed to by some of the most noted bishops to take cognizance of these affairs of the church, being now relieved from his political antagonists, conceived and executed the design of summoning the Council of Nice; in which Synod he might exert all his influence to effect a reconciliation among the contentious prelates and churches, as well as conciliate their favor, and unite all in support of his character and his dominion.

These objects were all attained by means of the Council, except the principal one. Arianism, though checked for a short time, again burst forth with ten-fold energy, and long agitated the religious world. However, it finally was completely vanquished and eradicated from the high places of Christendom. And the Synod of Nice, on account of its antiquity, its universality, and its princely splendor, as well as the magnitude of its deliberations, as it had no precedent, so it has no equal in ecclesiastical history.{3}

CHAPTER II.

THE DATE, AND SOURCES OF ITS HISTORY.

This Council was convened at the city of Nicæa, in the Roman province Bithynia, a country of Asia, lying between the Propontis and Black Sea, in the six hundred and thirty-sixth year from the commencement of Alexander the Great’s reign and A.D. 325, the twentieth year of the reign of Constantine the Great, and in the consulate of Paulinus and Julian of Rome. The transactions of the Council are related by the ancients in a partial, imperfect, and disjointed, manner, as I will briefly show by quoting several of the varying statements of its precise date, although there is no discrepancy respecting the year. Socrates Scholasticus{4} says, "It was convened on the twentieth day of May. But the Emperor had assigned the tenth day before the nones of June, that is, the 25th May, as I glean from Baronius’ Annals of the Church, tome IV. The date of the Formulary, or Confession of Faith, established by the Council, and found prefixed to that document, is the nineteenth day of June, A.D. 325.{5} A letter from Hosius, and others of the Council, to Sylvester, the Roman pope, bears date, as I find in Baronius, thus: VIII Kalen. Julias;" that is, the eighth day before the first of July. Finally, the very learned ecclesiastical historian, Dr. Augustus Neander, asserted that the assembling of the great Synod must have been as late as July. This last mentioned writer points out, in his following excellent observation, the plan I shall endeavor