Research Paper Example on Christian Ecumenical Councils

The early Christian ecumenical councils are known as the meetings of the bishops that symbolized the entire Church. According to the early Christians, there are three main divisions of the Christian Church, and they include the Protestant Church, the Catholic Church, and the Orthodox Church. The three branches acknowledge seven early ecumenical assemblies. They include first, the Council of Nicaea that was held in 325 AD, second, the Council of Constantinople took place in 381 AD, third, the Council of Ephesus that took place in 431 AD, fourth, the Council of Chalcedon that took place in 451 AD, fifth, the Council of Constantinople II which took place in 553, sixth, the Council of Constantinople III that occurred in 680 AD, and lastly, the Council of Nicaea II which took place in 787 AD. All the listed seven early ecumenical councils signified various ways of understanding the nature of Jesus. However, they, in the end, created the main principles of the Christian doctrine. The essay will discuss how the early ecumenical councils established the Churchs knowledge of the nature of Jesus.

The major task of the first Ecumenical Council that occurred in Nicaea, in Asia Minor was to deliberate the matter regarding the nature of Jesus. The meeting was precisely debating the relationship between the Father and the Son. The council which had been called by the Roman emperor Constantine was made up of approximately three hundred bishops. They give out the first Ecumenical Creed which is well known as Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed states that God the Father, the creator, and Son of God, the Redeemer, were of the similar nature. It also recognizes that the only begotten son of God, the Father is Jesus. (Elsaie, 25). It was professed that Jesus is of the same nature as the Father and in that case, Christ is equivalent to the Father. The duality of God was proven by this council since Jesus and Father are of the same substance. (Mueller 12)

A new form of Nicene Creed was issued by the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople. In the new version, before all worlds, Jesus is the begotten son of God the Father. The second council paid more attention to the function of the role of Holy Spirit when the bishops deliberated on the concept of the threesome of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The dogma was later declared a Church doctrine. This second meeting was convened by the Great emperor Theodosius (Davis 27).

The Third Council of Ephesus took place in 431 AD, and it deliberated more issues on the nature of Christ. The nature of Jesus was discussed in the following ways. The Ephesus Council specified that Jesus was one being rather than two persons. Initially, Jesus had been declared as two being precise, man and God who had his body and his soul. The other issue that the Council discussed and declared is that the Virgin Maria gave birth to God as a man. Lastly, the council discussed the issue of Jesus union. (Davis 52).

The Forth Chalcedon Council occurred around 451 AD in a place called Bithynia. The Chalcedon Council said that there exist two dissimilar natures in Jesus Christ. However, according to the Chalcedon Council, these natures of Jesus were different but united. Also, the two natures were united without any change, confusion, separation or division. It is the fourth Council that gave out the Chalcedonian Creed that provided an adequate description of the divinity of Jesus and full humanity. It was declared a doctrine of the entire Christian church, and it detailed out that the human nature and the divine nature of Jesus are united. (Dulles 2)

The Fifth Council of Constantinople II took place in 553 AD, and it was conveyed by the Roman emperor Justinian. It is also referred to as the council of acclamation in many theological sources. This council had a different version of the nature of God since it stated that He died. In the third council, it was stated that God was born and therefore this council shows that God is not immortal. (Elsaie 71)

The Sixth Constantinople III Council took place in 680 AD. The Council also deliberated on the duality nature of Jesus. Furthermore, the Council explored the matter regarding Jesus will, and it was indicated that he had two wills. One another side he had a human will and could make wishes as a human, but on another side, he had a divine will and could make wishes a holy being. Jesus had two will because he was a son of God the father but born with a body like a man. Having agreed on the two will of Jesus, the council stated that Jesus is both human and divine. (Davis 37)

The Seventh Council of Nicaea II took place in 787 debated the function of icons that later became the acceptable images to worship. These icons include the Virgin Mary, the pictures of Jesus, the Angels and the Saints (Davis 52). It is at this point that the worship of one religion also known as the monotheistic religion of Jesus was transformed into a polytheistic one.

In conclusion, the early ecumenical councils held seven meetings to discuss the nature of Jesus Christ. The councils discussed Jesus nature to develop the true doctrines of Christians which are applicable even today. The Nicene Creed developed in the first council states that God the Father, is the creator, Son of God, is the Redeemer, were of the similar nature. It also recognizes that the only begotten son of God, the Father is Jesus. The Chalcedon Council said that there exist two dissimilar natures in Jesus Christ. However, according to the Chalcedon Council, these natures of Jesus were different but united. Also, the two natures were united without any change, confusion, separation or division. The council declared that the Virgin Maria gave birth to God as a man. Jesus was also declared to have to will since he was divine and born as a man of the Virgin Mary. The historical data reveals that the Christian religion fundamental concepts were established by humans who played an important role in the teachings of Jesus Christ (Elsaie 87). The first four ecumenical councils define and discuss the main meaning of Christian religion and faith hence they are the most significant ones.

Works Cited

Elsaie, A. History of Truth: The Truth about God and Religions. AS Noordeen Press. 2004. Print.

Dulles, A. Saving Ecumenism from Itself. A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life. Issue 178. December 2007.

Mueller, J.J. Theological Foundations: Concepts and Methods for Understanding the Christian Faith. Winona: Saint Marys Press, 2007. Print.

Davis L., The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology. Collegeville, Minn. Liturgical Press. 1983. Print.