Councils

Question 1

Nicean Councils:

Answer 1

325: Arianism
787: veneration of icons

Question 2

Constantinople Councils:

Answer 2

381: HS and Apollinarianism
553: Nestorianism
680: Monothelitism

Question 3

List all 7 councils and dates

Answer 3

1. Nicea 325
2. Constantinople 381
3. Ephesus 431
4. Chalcedon 451
5. Constantinople II 553
6. Constantinople III 680
7. Nicea II 787

Question 4

Council of Nicea

Answer 4

325

a. Called by Constantine to settle the dispute of Arianism. Arius, an Alexandrian presbyter, argued that the Son was created, classically saying, ‘There was a time when he was not.’
b. Legend says that 318 bishops opposed Arius and affirmed the Nicene Creed, which claims that the Son is begotten not made.

Question 5

Council of Constantinople

Answer 5

381

a. This council bulked up the creeds statements about the Holy Spirit.
b. It also opposed Apollinarianism, the belief that Jesus had a human body, but not a human mind or soul.

Question 6

Council of Ephesus

Answer 6

431

a. Called by Theodosius II, this council met to settle the Nestorian challenge.
b. Nestorius opposed the use of Theotokos (God-bearer) for Mary. According to Nestorius, there were two separate persons in the incarnate Christ.
c. Cyril of Alexandria brought up the good point that this would mean that on some level you are worshipping an entirely human person. We can worship Christ because he is the God-man, but we would not want to worship just a man.

Question 7

Council of Chalcedon

Answer 7

451

a. The council of Chalcedon provided a definition of Christology, mostly utilizing apophatic theology (speaking in the negative about what is not true).
b. Chalcedon specifically opposed Apollinarianism, Nestorianism, and Eutychianism (Monophysitism).

Question 8

Council of Constantinople II

Answer 8

553
aThis council was convened because of fear that the “Three Chapters” were close to affirming Nestorianism, due to their perceived overemphasis of the humanity of Christ. (Theodore of Mopsuestia, Ibas of Edessa, and Theodoret of Cyrus.)

Question 9

Council of Constantinople III

Answer 9

680

The Third Council of Constantinople opposed monothelitism (the idea that Jesus had only one will).

Question 10

Council of Nicea II

Answer 10

787

a. Convened by Emperor Constantine V for the purpose of restoring the veneration of icons, thus ending the first iconoclastic movement.
b. John of Damascus was pivotal in this debate.