Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church: Canons and Dogmatic Decrees

Throughout Christian history, there has always been disagreement about the correct doctrine of the Christian faith. In response to such disagreements, councils were organized where the leaders of the church could debate disputed topics and settle on a correct formulation, hoping that the Holy Spirit would work through the body of believers gathered together. Perhaps the earliest account of this is the Council of Jerusalem held around 50 AD, as recorded in Acts of the Apostles, chapter 15. There have been many councils since then, mostly in local regions.

Of all such ecumenical councils, the first seven are perhaps the most widely accepted. These are: 1) the First Council of Nicaea (325) 2) the First Council of Constantinople (381) 3) the Council of Ephesus (431) 4) the Council of Chalcedon (451) 5) the Second Council of Constantinople (553) 6) the Third Council of Constantinople from (680 - 681) 7) the Second Council of Nicaea (787)

These councils are regarded as authoritative by both the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church, and are widely regarded as defining the basics tenets of the Christian faith. To deal with major issues, world-wide (ecumenical) councils have been convened.

In this work, the texts associated with each council are provided, which usually include a doctrinal statement, a set of canons (legal rules), letters, and acts. In addition to this, an introductory note is provided by the author.

The First Council of Nicaea (325) was convened to address the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. The council affirmed the full divinity of Christ, stating that he is "of the same substance" (homoousios) as the Father. The council also established the date for the celebration of Easter.

The First Council of Constantinople (381) was called to address the Macedonian heresy, which denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit. The council affirmed the full divinity of the Holy Spirit and expanded the Nicene Creed to include a clearer statement on the Trinity.

The Council of Ephesus (431) was convened to address the Nestorian heresy, which taught that Christ had two separate persons, one divine and one human. The council affirmed that Christ has a single, divine-human person and that the Virgin Mary is rightly called the "Theotokos" (Mother of God).

The Council of Chalcedon (451) was called to address the Monophysite heresy, which taught that Christ had only one, divine nature. The council affirmed that Christ has two natures, fully divine and fully human, united in one person.

The Second Council of Constantinople (553) was convened to address the Three Chapters controversy, which involved the writings of three theologians who were seen as sympathetic to Nestorianism. The council condemned these writings and affirmed the Christology of the Council of Chalcedon.

The Third Council of Constantinople (680-681) was called to address the Monothelite heresy, which taught that Christ had only one will, the divine will. The council affirmed that Christ has two wills, the divine and the human, and that these two wills work together in harmony.

The Second Council of Nicaea (787) was convened to address the Iconoclast controversy, which involved a dispute over the use of religious images (icons) in worship. The council affirmed the legitimacy of venerating icons, while also affirming that the ultimate object of worship is God, not the image itself.

Throughout the history of these councils, the church sought to preserve the core teachings of the Christian faith, while also addressing the specific theological challenges of each era. The texts associated with these councils provide a rich and authoritative resource for understanding the development of Christian doctrine.

product information: