Semper Theologia

This May marks the 1700 anniversary of the start of the Council of Nicea. In the Year 325, bishops from all across Christendom met in Nicea for an ecumenical council to define the orthodox position regarding Jesus' relationship in the Godhead. Convened by Emperor Constantine, this first ecumenical council put an end to the Arian controversy and solidified the doctrine of Jesus as God the Son having full divinity. Background of Nicea     The original controversy requiring the need for a council was a dispute among the clergy in the city of Alexandria, Egypt. The original actors in the dispute where Archbishop Alexander of Alexandria and a presbyter named Arius. While Alexander taught that Jesus as God the Son was coeternal with the Father and not a created being, Arius taught that God the Son had a point of creation or generation because the Father alone is eternal and therefore subordinate to the Father. Arius had then accused Alexander of teaching Sabellianism, a teaching tha...

Apparently in some online circles, the Theotokos debate has picked up steam again. To no surprise, some so-called "reformed" folks online are responding with a theological overcorrection at the faintest scent of Roman Catholicism that has completely ignored the Council of Chalcedon. For example, let's look at a John MacArthur quote found in a recent X post. "In fact, Roman Catholics refer to her as the God bearer. They say she gave birth to God and thus is to be elevated and adored. She gave birth to God. That is a terrible misconception. She gave birth to Jesus in His humanity. She did not give birth to God. God was never born." What John MacArthur has done here is overcorrected his Christology to avoid associating with Roman Catholic Mariology. The doctrine of Theotokos is not to elevate Mary in order to require adoration for her. The doctrine is to keep the two natures of Christ unified in one person as we will now see. What is Theotokos? Theotokos is a Gree...

The resurrection of Jesus is the focal point of the Christian faith. The entirety of our belief hinges on the historicity of this single event. In fact, in 1 Corinthians 15:17, the Apostle Paul writes:  "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sin." More so than ever, the doctrine of the resurrection of our Lord is under constant attack by skeptics. Calls for proof of the resurrection are loud but do we know how to defend our belief in this essential and important belief? If not, we certainly need to! Peter, writing to the Church in what is now modern day Türkiye, told them to: "...in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,  always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and  respect..." -1 Peter 3:15 Evidence and Proof  Peter does not tell us to provide proof for the hope that is in us; he tells us to make a defense when we are asked for ...