For reference, see the full documentation of the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.
Here is the summary of the council taken directly from dailycatholic.org:
“Though the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15 and Galatians 2) was the first Church Council, attended by the Apostles, the first Ecumenical (world-wide) Council was called by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great with Pope Saint Sylvester I sitting on the Throne of Peter as the 33rd successor of Christ’s appointed Apostle. The site was the city of Nicaea, just south of Constantinople in Asia Minor. The greatest periti was the Bishop of Alexandria, Saint Athanasius who, amidst his struggles with the Arians, argued convincingly for condemning Arius and, as a deacon, St. Athanasius was at the forefront in defining the Consubstantiality of the Son with the Heavenly Father.”
Most believers have never read the full documentation of the Council of Nicaea. Surprisingly, it’s not long, and an average reader could read through everything in about 10 minutes. The problem lies in what people told us about this gathering. Without reading or understanding all that was discussed at this first-century gathering, most Christians have been told that this council is absolutely foundational to the Christian faith. To which I would respond by showing these 5 major issues.
1) Pope Sylvester the 1st. Who was the spiritual authority over the Council of Nicaea? The pope. Catholicism calls Sylvester I the 33rd successor of Peter. Because the apostle Peter wasn’t the first pope, Sylvester the 1st was actually the 32nd pope. The New Testament never speaks of Peter, or any other man, as the head of the church, nor does it establish any kind of succession line to replace the Messiah as the “Vicar of Christ”. Instead, Peter identifies himself simply as an apostle, elder, and witness of Christ, but certainly not the head of the church; that role is for Jesus only for eternity.
2) Constantine’s Involvement & Anti-Semitism. The council was called by Emperor Constantine, not by the apostles. This is a red flag, as it reveals early political entanglement. Jesus told His disciples in Mark 8:15 to beware of getting entangled in worldly backbiting politics coupled with selfish corruption (also known as the leaven of Herod). Constantine’s role highlights how ignorant and unstable people were being influenced by secular kingdoms—a clear deviation from the New Testament model established by Jesus.
Galatians 5:15 (AMPC) – But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another.
Here’s a direct quote from Constantine in his letter to Christian communities around 337AD: “it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin… we ought not therefore to have anything in common with the Jews, for the Savior has shown us another way… let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd…” – Eusebius, The Life of Constantine by Eusebius of Caesarea. Unfortunately, this foolishness shows that Constantine didn’t read or understand God’s wisdom contained in the book of Romans.
3) Catholic to the Core. “Bishop of Rome”, “penance”, “catholic church”, “holy synod”, “lent”, “easter”, “dioceses”, and “most pious emperor Constantine”, are just some of the common words and phrases scattered throughout the council meeting documentation that clearly reveal that Nicaea is birthed from the man-made religion of catholicism.
4) Replacing Your Bible. Unfortunately, the vast majority just simply accept Nicaea as being so close to Scripture that it is basically at the same authoritative level as God’s Word. This idea comes from catholicism, which exalts man-made tradition to the same level as God’s Word. Please see Ephesians 2:19-22. “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles (New Testament) and prophets (Old Testament), Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,”
Notice what is not said here in Ephesians 2. It doesn’t say, “Having been built on the foundation of the early church fathers and church council meetings,”
The soul of the believer should be entirely founded upon God’s Word, with Jesus Christ Himself being most preeminent and exalted in the temple (that is, the human body of a believer being the temple of the Holy Spirit). You will do well to not base anything in your life on any church council meetings, but instead entirely on God’s Word alone. (Acts 2:42, Galatians 1:8-9)
5) Removing Passover. It’s almost unthinkable that a human council would meet together to try and remove what God established in Exodus 12 and Leviticus 23. If you went to a church meeting where they were trying to delete parts of the bible, my advice to you would be to run as far away as you can from that gathering.
“We also send you the good news of the settlement concerning the holy pasch, namely that in answer to your prayers this question also has been resolved. All the brethren in the East who have hitherto followed the Jewish practice will henceforth observe the custom of the Romans and of yourselves and of all of us who from ancient times have kept Easter together with you. Rejoicing then in these successes and in the common peace and harmony and in the cutting off of all heresy, welcome our fellow minister, your bishop Alexander, with all the greater honour and love. He has made us happy by his presence, and despite his advanced age has undertaken such great labour in order that you too may enjoy peace.”
I’m not against easter. I’m not against believers who celebrate easter. I’ve attended many easter church services in the past and plan to attend many more. But it’s deeply troubling to realize that the origins of easter are rooted in man-made Catholic tradition, born from a fusion with the Roman Empire (the 4th beast of the book of Daniel). It was an intentional move to create a new holiday that would replace Passover, one of God’s appointed times. This is very, very concerning.
While the Council of Nicaea affirmed the deity of Christ (which is biblically sound), its Roman political origins and papal authority are problematic. This council is often held up as a victory for orthodoxy, but in reality, it marks a point where many began drifting from solid biblical roots into institutionalized religion, upholding man-made tradition.
Here are some of Charles Spurgeon’s thoughts on the pope and the religious system of catholicism:
“It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is, no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the popery in the Church of Rome, there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name… Popery is contrary to Christ’s gospel, and is the Antichrist, and we ought to pray against it.” – Charles Spurgeon, Sermon No. 205: Antichrist and Her Brood, 1861
“It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is, no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the popery in the Church of Rome, there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name… Popery is contrary to Christ’s gospel, and is the Antichrist, and we ought to pray against it.” – Charles Spurgeon, Sermon No. 205: Antichrist and Her Brood, 1861
“It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is, no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the popery in the Church of Rome, there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name… Popery is contrary to Christ’s gospel, and is the Antichrist, and we ought to pray against it.” – Charles Spurgeon, Sermon No. 205: Antichrist and Her Brood, 1861
“It is the bounden duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is, no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the popery in the Church of Rome, there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name… Popery is contrary to Christ’s gospel, and is the Antichrist, and we ought to pray against it.” – Charles Spurgeon, Sermon No. 205: Antichrist and Her Brood, 1861
tags: church history