Why the councils matter
Between AD 325 and 787 the Church answered the most basic questions of the faith — Is Jesus truly God? Truly man? Who is the Holy Spirit? — in seven councils received by the whole Church. They did not invent doctrine; they defended and defined it. The Nicene Creed comes from the first two.
The seven (free preview)
- Nicaea I (325) — the Son is one essence with the Father (vs Arianism)
- Constantinople I (381) — the deity of the Holy Spirit
- Ephesus (431) & Chalcedon (451) — Christ is one person in two natures
- Constantinople II & III, Nicaea II (553–787) — and the rest
What’s in the full member PDF
- A master table: council, year, heresy addressed, definition, key figures
- A summary of the doctrines defined
- An honest note on which traditions receive which councils
Members: download the full printable chart below. Support for $1/month or more to unlock the whole library.