Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - Early Expression of Christian Theology

In response to those who wish to 'deconstruct' Christianity, I propose the Nicene Creed as starting point.

The Nicene Creed is the earliest and broadest statement of faith by the Christian community. The Apostles Creed may have been earlier, but we lack the documentary evidence to confirm that.

I don't want to give critics or skeptics like Migisi any wiggle room here, so I'm picking the one that not even she can dispute. EVERYONE who is anyone agrees that the Nicene Creed was approved by the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. It was revised in 381. We'll use the earlier version.

From the Nicene Creed, we can pivot back to the earlier history of the church to deepen our understanding of Christian orthodoxy at that time. And, of course, we can look forward from it to see how the Christian community began to fragment and evolve.

Here's an English language rendering of the original Nicene Creed...

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible;

and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father. By whom all things were made, both which be in heaven and in earth. Who for us men and for our salvation came down [from heaven] and was incarnate and was made man. He suffered and the third day he rose again, and ascended into heaven. And he shall come again to judge both the quick and the dead.

And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost.

And whosoever shall say that there was a time when the Son of God was not, or that before he was begotten he was not, or that he was made of things that were not, or that he is of a different substance or essence [from the Father] or that he is a creature, or subject to change or conversion--all that so say, the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes them.

This represents the majority view of the early Christian congregations at the time Constantine came to power in the Roman world. It's as good a starting point as any.

» pink101 - Early Expression of Christian Theology

In response to Early Expression of Christian Theology posted by BrianTubbs:

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Good starting place, Brian.
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Let's see if we get some other comments on it.
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-- posted by pink101