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Discussion Board Initial Post – Adam Matthew
Many key theological concepts had a major impact on the early church. The biggest theological concept of the early church was Christology. Understanding who Christ is, is critical to understanding the church and the work of Christ. There were many theological controversies from early on. One of these controversies that shaped the early church was the divinity of Christ and the Arian controversy.
The Arian controversy was a heresy that took place very early on in the church but was eventually able to be addressed in the 4th century. Arianism was the belief that Christ is not divine but is a created being. This was a massive problem that the early church needed to discuss, because from the very beginning of the church they had worshiped Jesus. The Arian controversy would force Christians to either stop worshiping Christ or be forced to worship a creature. Alexander of Alexandria believed that either conclusion was wrong. Eventually in 325 AD the Council of Nicea was convened to hopefully bring unity to the church. The result was the Nicene Creed which declared that Christ is of the same substance as the Father and not a created being. Most of the Bishops at the council Of Nicea signed this creed and only a handful did not. While this is what the council decided, it did not stop Arianism. Athanasius of Alexandria took up this cause of battling the Aryan controversy after Alexander died.
The understanding of who Christ is was a key theological concept that the early church fought for. Eventually, the Council of Nicea and its Doctrine was ratified at the second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople in 381 AD. The work that the early church did shaped the church today. The willingness to stand up for what is true even in the face of opposition is a core foundation of the Christian faith.