Abstract

Manfred Hauke:
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, of One Essence with Him
The Significance of the Council of Nicaea for the Christian Faith Today
(FKTh 2025-4, p. 243–265)

The article begins with a brief look at the testimony to Christ in the New Testament, which is assumed to be authoritative by the Council of Nicaea. The first ecumenical council in 325 was intended to set standards for the entire world church. The binding rule of faith (regula fidei) had, of course, existed from the very beginning and was already evident in the faith in Christ of the early church long before Nicaea, even if the existing faith was specified at the Council. In order to understand the Council of Nicaea, we then need to take a look at the heresy of Arius, which is condemned. As the Nicene Creed uses a philosophical term from the Greek language (homooúsios, ‘equal in essence’), the Council was criticised for having philosophically alienated the biblical faith. This accusation of the ‘Hellenization’ of Christianity is also ad dressed. Above all, however, it is ultimately about the lasting significance of the Council of Nicaea for the faith in Christ.