Church Councils

church fathers

For 300 years, Christianity was an outlawed religion

In 380 AD, a whole 347 years after Jesus' Crucifixion, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire.

From thereon, Christian doctrine began its evolutionary journey.

The Bishop of Rome ('Pope') could call a Church Council of bishops to discuss religious matters. At the end, the Pope would officially sanction the decrees passed.

The table below lists ten major Church Councils and the decrees sanctioned.


Jesus' Crucifixion
33 AD
Although, the crucifixion of Jesus was not a formal Council, it was a gathering of 'a few women' followers of Jesus. What these women discussed as they watched on is unknown.
Year: 33 AD
Ecumenical: * NO
Attendance: A few women, based on gospel accounts
Discussed: Unknown
Council of Jerusalem I
48 AD
According to Acts, Jesus' disciples called the Council of Jerusalem to discuss major differences between two parties. This was not an official Council under Rome's rulership.

Peter & James
Jesus' disciples, Peter and James stressed the importance of Judaism, its laws and upholding the views of the stringent Jewish-Christian community that had lived and studied with Jesus in his lifetime. At the time, Jesus' followers were Jewish by birth, and even new Christian converts were considered within Judaism.

Paul
The other party, led by Paul stressed the mission of Christians to the whole inhabited world, with particular emphasis on the Gentiles (or non-Jews).

Christianity, a new religion for the Gentiles was born
Paul succeeded. Christianity would no longer be contained within Jerusalem. Christian theology would be updated in subsequent church councils and designed to appeal to mass audiences across the world.
Year: 48 AD
15-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: NO
Attendance: Unknown
Discussed:
  1. Relevance of Judaism
Council of Nicaea I
325 AD
The First Council of Nicaea, the first ecumenical council, devoted itself to the problem of the Trinity, in an attempt to settle the controversy raised by Arianism over the nature of the Trinity.

Jesus Christ is, 'God of God, and of one substance with the Father'
It was the decision of the council, formalized in the Nicene Creed, that God the Father and God the Son were consubstantial and co-eternal

The Arian belief that Jesus was created by and thus inferior to the Father was deemed heretical. Arius himself was excommunicated and banished.

The council was also important for its disciplinary decisions concerning the status and jurisdiction of the clergy in the early church and for establishing the date on which Easter is celebrated.
Year: 325 AD
292-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 318
Discussed:
  1. Arianism, the nature of Christ
  2. celebration of Passover (Easter)
  3. ordination of eunuchs
  4. prohibition of kneeling on Sundays and from Easter to Pentecost
  5. validity of baptism by heretics
  6. lapsed Christians
  7. sundry other matters
Council of Constantinople I
381 AD
Constantinople I was called primarily to confront Arianism. It re-affirmed the doctrines of the Nicene Creed and condemned Apollinarianism. The council affirmed the doctrine that Jesus was fully human and fully God.

The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father
The council defined the position of the Holy Spirit within the Trinity; it described the Holy Spirit proceeded from God the Father, co-equal and consubstantial with him.
Year: 381 AD
348-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 150
Discussed:
  1. Arianism
  2. Apollinarism
  3. Sabellianism
  4. Holy Spirit
  5. successor to Meletius
Council of Carthage
397 AD
The Bible Canon as we have it today, was finalized
Carthage formally decided on the Bible canon for the first-time ever, some 60 years after Constantine's death and 360 years after Jesus' crucifixion.

What we know of Carthage is limited, as the only surviving records are indirect accounts and depictions in other sources.

The actual compilation of the Bible was an incredibly complicated project that involved churchmen of different beliefs, in an atmosphere of dissension, jealousy, intolerance, persecution and bigotry.

It was also determined that besides the Canonical Scriptures nothing be read in the Church under the title of divine Scriptures.

The Canonical Scriptures are these: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua the son of Nun, Judges, Ruth, four books of Kings, two books of Paraleipomena, Job, the Psalter, five books of Solomon, the books of the twelve prophets, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezechiel, Daniel, Tobit, Judith, Esther, two books of Esdras, two Books of the Maccabees.

Of the New Testament: four books of the Gospels [Mark, Matthew, Luke, John], one book of the Acts of the Apostles, thirteen Epistles of the Apostle Paul, one epistle of the same [writer] to the Hebrews, two Epistles of the Apostle Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude, one book of the Apocalypse of John.
Year: 397 AD
364-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: Unknown number
Discussed:
  1. Bible canon
  2. books to include and exclude
Council of Ephesus I
431 AD
Ephesus was significant for its dogmatic decrees on the position of the Virgin Mary and he nature of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It was in response to the Nestorian teachings that Mary was the 'mother of Christ', and not the 'mother of God'.

Mary is the mother of God
After lengthy debates, the council reached a decision: Mary is the 'mother of God', was decreed by the council and accepted by all.

The council also refined the dogma on the human and divine nature of Jesus; two separate natures, though perfectly united in Christ.
Year: 431 AD
398-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 200-250
Discussed:
  1. Nestorianism
  2. Theotokos
  3. Pelagianism
Council of Chalcedon
451 AD
Chalcedon defined how the divine and the human elements related in Jesus ("unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably"), used some terms that are unfamiliar to contemporary ears.

Jesus' is fully-God and fully-human
Chalcedon was in response to the confusion among the early theologians on the idea of the one divine person being both God and man, or were their two natures: human and divine, in the one person of the Word?
Year: 451 AD
418-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 520
Discussed:
  1. Nature of Jesus' divinity
Council of Orange
529 AD
Augustine held that all humans required God's help to do good and His grace was a free gift from God regardless of human merit.

God decides who will receive Salvation
Thus God alone determines who will receive the grace that alone assures salvation; God predestines some to salvation.

Augustine's teaching was generally upheld by the church, but the further idea that some are predestined to condemnation was explicitly rejected at the Council of Orange.
Year: 529 AD
496-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 15
Discussed:
  1. Salvation, pre-destined by God
Council of Constantinople II
553 AD
Constantinople II was convoked to condemn the Nestorian writings and re-confirm the doctrine that Jesus's two natures, one human and one divine, are perfectly united in one person.
Year: 553 AD
520-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 152
Discussed:
  1. Nestorianism Origenism
Council of Constantinople III
680 AD
Constantinople III condemned Monothelitism and affirmed that Jesus has two wills, one human and one divine, and they are without division or confusion.
Year: 680 AD
647-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 300
Discussed:
  1. Monothelitism
  2. human will of Jesus
  3. divine will of Jesus
Council of Nicaea II
787 AD
This Council ruled on the use of saints' images and icons in religious devotion, declaring that whereas the veneration of images was legitimate and the intercession of saints effective, the veneration of icons must be carefully distinguished from the worship due God alone.
Year: 787 AD
754-years after Jesus
Ecumenical: YES
Attendance: 350
Discussed:
  1. Iconoclasm


* Ecumenical Council is a conference of ecclesiastical dignitaries and theological experts convened to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice.

CREDIT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_seven_Ecumenical_Councils
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_the_Catholic_ecumenical_councils
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_ecumenical_councils
https://www.gotquestions.org/Constantine-Bible.html
http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/nicaea.html
http://mb-soft.com/believe/txs/councils.htm
  Share Article if you found it useful
9156 views · 2 hrs ago |   Author: Guest   •   Updated: 11 Jun 2019
ALL ARTICLES ARE INTENDED FOR GENERAL EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. ALL INFORMATION IS BELIEVED TO BE CORRECT, ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL. YOU ARE ADVISED TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH. ARTICLES ARE LIVE DOCUMENTS AND MAY BE UPDATED WITH NEW CONTENT AT ANY TIME. WHERE AVAILABLE, SOURCES AND REFERENCES ARE CREDITED. IF YOU SPOT ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS OR GIVE FEEDBACK KINDLY CONTACT US WITH DETAILS
117-christian-church-councils

5  Videos with 'Church+council'
Video: 24:18
3979 views · 7 hrs ago | 8 years ago
1 of 5   
Video: 50:14
8585 views · 14 hrs ago | 7 years ago
2 of 5   
Video: 7:32
4686 views · 14 hrs ago | 7 years ago
3 of 5   
Video: 5:42
9043 views · 1 hr ago | 7 years ago
4 of 5   
Video: 56:50
7407 views · 3 hrs ago | 6 years ago
5 of 5   


News on 'Church council'

Results: 0 News Items
Displayed in Date Order (most recent first)
Watch Video 
NAVIGATE ARTICLES
ORDER: Article Title A-Z
Articles
All Articles (154)
10 Commandments - Bible vs Quran
22390 views · 2 hrs ago
10 Commandments - Christian vs Muslim
14536 views · 2 hrs ago
10 Red Heifers (Cows)
15588 views · 2 hrs ago
5 reasons Abraham sacrificed Ishmael
12899 views · 2 hrs ago
Abrahamic Religions
17225 views · 2 hrs ago
Angels - 41 Angels from the Abrahamic Religions
19891 views · 2 hrs ago
Are you a Muslim?
41918 views · 48 mins ago
Arius vs Bishop Athanasius
16901 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - 12% of New Testament copied from Old Testament
12114 views · 1 day ago
Bible - 18 Ego Eimi (I AM) statements, like John 8:58
16096 views · 1 hr ago
Bible - 27 Verses on Yahweh, Elohim(s) and The Gods
18007 views · 40 mins ago
Bible - 400 NT Jesus Prophecies copied from OT
9463 views · 40 mins ago
Bible - 75 Verses on drinking Wine & Alcohol
16187 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Exodus 3:14 Translations
11821 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - King James (KJV) & 37 'Disputed' Verses
9700 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Lost Books of the Bible
10352 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Mark 16:9-20 Text Analysis
10969 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Matthew 28:19: Greek vs Hebrew
18144 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Pagan Texts in the Bible
9820 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Revelation, A Forgery
10829 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible - Scholars on John's Gospel
10757 views · 53 mins ago
Bible - The Synoptic Problem
10436 views · 15 mins ago
Bible - Violence & Killings
9355 views · 1 hr ago
Bible Authors: Who Wrote It?
11164 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible Errors - 672 Variants
10113 views · 1 hr ago
Bible History - KJV vs NIV
11325 views · 1 hr ago
Bible NT - 55% of New Testament Papyrus contain under 3% of Biblical Text
9755 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible NT - Codex Sinaiticus exposes 312 year gap since Jesus crucifixion
10640 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible NT Canons - Church Fathers, Councils & Apocrypha
7899 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible OT - Dead Sea Scrolls expose a 1303 year gap since Moses life
8229 views · 7 mins ago
Bible OT Canons - Church Fathers, Councils & Apocrypha
8430 views · 2 hrs ago
Bible Verses - KJV vs NIV
11510 views · 1 hr ago
Blasphemy Laws in 35 Christian Countries
7988 views · 2 hrs ago
Book Burnings in Roman, Catholic and Protestant society
12582 views · 2 hrs ago
Catholic vs Protestant - Bible
9766 views · 1 hr ago
Catholic vs Protestant - Christianity
10661 views · 2 hrs ago
Child Abuse & Grooming Gangs (UK)
7079 views · 2 hrs ago
Child Abuse, Sexual Crimes & Prison Figures (UK)
8824 views · 1 hr ago
Child Marriage - Muhammad married 9-year old Aisha
18112 views · 3 mins ago
Christian Heresies
9692 views · 24 mins ago
Christian: 28 Heretical Sects
11011 views · 2 hrs ago
Christian: 32 Church Denominations
7698 views · 38 mins ago
Christianity: Founded by Paul on Road to Damascus, Syria
9212 views · 1 hr ago
Church Councils
9156 views · 2 hrs ago
Church Fathers - Quotes from 18 Men of God
10013 views · 56 secs ago
Church Fathers on Jesus Divinity
11744 views · 2 hrs ago
Codex Sinaiticus & Vaticanus - Corruption in the KJV Bible books
15429 views · 2 hrs ago
Codex Sinaiticus & Vaticanus - Corruption in the KJV Bible verses
13368 views · 2 hrs ago
Constantine and Christianity
12704 views · 33 mins ago
Constantine, Nicaea and History
10363 views · 2 hrs ago
Council of Nicaea 325 AD
10670 views · 14 mins ago
COVID deaths vs Other Causes
5519 views · 2 hrs ago
COVID: 7 Medical Studies on why Face Masks fail
6130 views · 56 mins ago
COVID: Lockdowns & Contact Tracing in 78 Countries
9383 views · 2 hrs ago
COVID: Monthly UK deaths compared over 5 Years (2015-20)
6097 views · 2 hrs ago
COVID: Weekly UK deaths compared over 5-Years (2015-20)
5575 views · 1 hr ago
Did Jesus pray to God or Allah?
18056 views · 37 mins ago
God (Allah) - His Names & Attributes
13213 views · 2 hrs ago
God vs Allah
11307 views · 2 hrs ago
God, Evidence For
7813 views · 2 hrs ago
Gods & Roman Emperors
7837 views · 2 hrs ago
Gods - 6 Dying & Rising Mythical Gods
12865 views · 2 hrs ago
Gods - 60 Pagan deities in the Bible
28071 views · 2 hrs ago
How do Muslims pray?
12942 views · 2 hrs ago
Ishmael and Isaac in Bible and Quran
16468 views · 1 hr ago
Islam: Biggest Threat to Europe?
6659 views · 2 hrs ago
Islamic Countries. Who are they?
7982 views · 57 mins ago
Jesus - 91% chance he was a fictitous Mythical-Hero (Raglan Scale)
9036 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus - 17 'Crucified' Savior Gods
8430 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus - Crucifixion in the Gospels
9717 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus - Crucifixion Timing
9534 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus - God of 99 Faces
15312 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus - God with No Face
7895 views · 26 mins ago
Jesus - Resurrection in the Gospels
8565 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus - Resurrection Theories
8939 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus - Sons of God
12488 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus and the 12 Disciples
13878 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus in the Quran
10851 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus on the Cross or Tree?
11321 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus the God
12731 views · 59 mins ago
Jesus the Jewish Prophet
10546 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus the Muslim
11144 views · 3 hrs ago
Jesus the Son of God
8033 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus the Sun-God over 12 Zodiac Star Gods
25481 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus vs Isaac - The Sacrifice
12507 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus vs Jonah & Whale
11507 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus vs Krishna
15900 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus vs Paul
12080 views · 9 mins ago
Jesus vs Romulus - 50 Reasons both are Mythical Gods
12713 views · 4 hrs ago
Jesus vs Zeus
30403 views · 41 mins ago
Jesus was 30, 40 or 50 years old?
13691 views · 2 hrs ago
Jesus, 12 Disciples and Paul Interview
11166 views · 1 hr ago
Jesus, from Iesous and Yeshua
12710 views · 3 hrs ago
Jesus, Serapis & 7 Pagan Gods
28280 views · 1 hr ago
Jewish Laws & Rituals
8742 views · 2 hrs ago
Judaism - Maimonides 13 Principles of Jewish Belief
10533 views · 43 mins ago
Mark, Matthew, Luke and John
13891 views · 2 hrs ago
Messiah - His Aims & Objectives
8400 views · 2 hrs ago
Messiah - Jesus?
8771 views · 2 hrs ago
Monotheism vs Polytheism
8927 views · 2 hrs ago
Muhammad - Most Influential Man in History
11082 views · 2 hrs ago
Muhammad in Bible: He is is altogether lovely - Song 5:16
17768 views · 1 hr ago
Muhammad in Bible: Kedar rejoice and Sela sing - Isaiah 41/42
22009 views · 1 hr ago
Muhammad in Bible: Prophet like unto Moses - Deuteronomy 18:18
21512 views · 1 hr ago
Muhammad in Bible: Select Verses
12498 views · 2 hrs ago
New Age - Alice Bailey's 10 Point Charter
19219 views · 46 mins ago
Nicene Creed - Council of Nicaea 325 AD
10813 views · 1 hr ago
Nicene Creed - Foundation of Christianity
8320 views · 2 hrs ago
Noahide Laws
10164 views · 1 hr ago
Palestine and Creation of Israel in 1948
14215 views · 2 hrs ago
Paul - 50% of his Writings are Inauthentic Forgeries
8946 views · 1 hr ago
Paul copied 152 Old Testament verses
8207 views · 2 hrs ago
Paul vs James
10064 views · 19 mins ago
Prophets - Sinful Beings in the OT Bible
7974 views · 1 hr ago
Prophets of God
52537 views · 1 min ago
Prophets were Sinners?
22330 views · 1 hr ago
Purpose of Life
9392 views · 1 hr ago
Quran - 5 Recitations: Hafs, Warsh, Hisham, Qalun & Al-Duri
18150 views · 3 hrs ago
Quran - A Mathematical Miracle
18543 views · 30 mins ago
Quran - Chapter & Verse Miracle
8850 views · 2 hrs ago
Quran - Comparing Hafs & Warsh for 51 textual variants
61515 views · 32 mins ago
Quran and Violence
11515 views · 1 hr ago
Quran refers to Torah & Gospel
16993 views · 1 hr ago
Quran vs Science
10679 views · 52 mins ago
Roman Calendar
11344 views · 1 hr ago
Roman Emperors in Bible
6688 views · 1 hr ago
Rome, Caesar & Emperors in the Bible
9308 views · 2 hrs ago
Sin Atonement: Jesus Blood vs 21 Offerings
4981 views · 1 hr ago
Terrorism, the Risk to Americans
7074 views · 1 hr ago
The Lost Gospels
13202 views · 20 mins ago
The Prophets Prayer
11327 views · 2 hrs ago
Timeline of Bible
8023 views · 2 hrs ago
Timeline of Church Councils
9847 views · 2 hrs ago
Timeline of Muhammad
8570 views · 4 mins ago
Timeline of New Testament Bible
10745 views · 5 mins ago
Timeline of Old Testament Bible
11494 views · 2 hrs ago
Timeline of Prophets
35663 views · 2 hrs ago
Timeline of Quran
18258 views · 2 hrs ago
Timeline of Roman Empire
8879 views · 1 hr ago
Timeline of Trinity
9245 views · 1 hr ago
Torah - Did Moses Write It?
10403 views · 1 hr ago
Torah - Wellhausen/JEDP Theory
10938 views · 41 mins ago
Trinity - 13 Three God Pagan concepts
11318 views · 2 hrs ago
Trinity - 27 Attributes of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
15209 views · 2 hrs ago
Trinity - 4 Creeds: Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian to Chalcedon over 418 years
11852 views · 2 hrs ago
Trinity - Different Views
9978 views · 2 hrs ago
Trinity - Three Are One
10347 views · 2 hrs ago
Trinity in the Bible
8763 views · 2 hrs ago
UN Agenda 21/2030: 17 Sustainable Goals of the New World Order
8115 views · 2 hrs ago
War - 46 Major Conflicts ranked by Religion
10200 views · 1 hr ago
War - 67 Bloody Christian Conflicts
7673 views · 2 hrs ago
War - From Yinon, 9/11 to Springs, Invasions, ISIS & 6M Dead
10300 views · 39 mins ago
What does LGBTQ+ mean?
8034 views · 1 hr ago
Women in Religion
10561 views · 2 hrs ago

Submit Article


Latest videos  •  4,934 videos  •  0 viewed/24 hour
About Us  |  Help/FAQ  |  Contact Us    •    Terms  |  Privacy/Disclaimer
Be Informed on Social :      Facebook Page  |    Twitter  |    Youtube
MuslimProphets.com is an educational website on the Prophets of God: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, who established the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. MuslimProphets.com explores contemporary social themes through Scripture, Evidences, Photo, Video, Maps, Current Affairs, Debate and 'alternative' Views held by Theologians, Apologists, Scholars and Street Preachers. Take a Site Tour

In accordance with Islamic etiquette, all prophet names should be followed with 'Peace Be Upon Him (PBUH)'. This is omitted to minimise text.

DISCLAIMER: All website content is for general information and educational purposes only and available in the public domain. Whilst all information comes from sources believed to be reliable, this cannot be guaranteed. External links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They do not constitute endorsement or approval for any products, services or comments by organizations or individuals. Title and Text links may be edited for external SEO, internal site and keyword search purposes. We bear no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content found on any external website or its subsequent links. Unless indicated, all images and content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License distributed by Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Pxhere, Pexels, Unsplash or Flickr. All Torah, Psalms, Old and New Testament Bible quotes are from the King James Version (KJV) Holy Bible in the public domain. All Quran quotes are from Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali/Muhsin Khan English Quran translation. You are invited to always conduct your own research. If you spot any mistake, error or omission of information, contact us so we can correct it.