First seven ecumenical councils
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| - | :''[[Persecution of early Christians by the Romans]]'' | ||
| - | '''Early Christianity''' is commonly defined as the [[Christianity]] of the three centuries between the [[Crucifixion of Jesus]] (c. 30) and the [[First Council of Nicaea]] (325). The term is sometimes used in a narrower sense, referring only to the very first [[Disciple (Christianity)|disciples]] (students) of [[Jesus|Jesus of Nazareth]] and the faith as preached and practiced by the [[Twelve Apostles]], their contemporaries, and their immediate successors as [[bishops]], a sub-period generally called the [[Apostolic Age]]. | ||
| - | Early Christianity, which began within first-century Judaism, became clearly distinct from [[Rabbinic Judaism]]. It continued to revere the [[Hebrew Bible]], generally using the [[Septuagint]] translation that was in general use among Greek-speaking Jews and Gentile [[Godfearers]], or the [[Targums]] in use among [[Aramaic]] speakers, and added to it the writings that would become the [[New Testament]], thus developing the first [[Development of the Christian Biblical canon|Christian Biblical canons]]. It defended Christian beliefs against criticism by non-Christian Jews and followers of other [[Roman religion]]s, [[Persecution of Christians|survived various persecutions]], consisted of divisions that accused each other of [[heresy]], and developed church hierarchy. What started as a religious movement within [[Second Temple]] Judaism became, by the end of this period, the favored religion of the [[Roman Empire]] under [[Constantine the Great]] (leading later to the rise of [[Christendom]]), and a significant religion also outside of the empire. According to [[Will Durant]], the [[Christian Church]] prevailed because it offered an attractive doctrine and because the church leaders addressed human needs better than their rivals. The First Council of Nicaea marks the end of this era and the beginning of the period of the [[first seven Ecumenical Councils]] (325 - 787). | + | In the [[history of Christianity]], the '''first seven Ecumenical Councils''', from the [[First Council of Nicaea]] (325) to the [[Second Council of Nicaea]] (787), represent an attempt to reach an [[orthodoxy|orthodox]] consensus and to establish a unified [[Christendom]]. The [[East-West Schism]], formally dated to 1054, was still almost three centuries off. [[Eastern Orthodox]], [[Catholic]], and [[Anglican]] churches all trace their clergy by [[apostolic succession]] back to this period and earlier, see [[Early Christianity]]. However, breaks of unity that still persist today had occurred even during this period. The [[Assyrian Church of the East]] rejected the [[First Council of Ephesus|Council of Ephesus]] (431). The [[Oriental Orthodox]] churches recognise the first three and consider the [[Second Council of Ephesus]] (449) to be the [[Fourth Ecumenical Council]]. The [[Roman Catholic Church]] rejects the [[Quinisext Council]] which attempted to establish the [[Pentarchy]]. |
| - | According to the [[Acts of the Apostles]], the [[Ecclesia (church)|church]] was first centered in [[Jerusalem in Christianity|Jerusalem]]. [[James the Just|Jesus' brother James]] was martyred, the [[Siege of Jerusalem (70)|Temple was destroyed]], and Jews were banned from the city after the [[Bar Kokhba revolt]], weakening the Jerusalem Church. Churches of the eastern part of the empire, notably in [[Alexandria]] and [[Antioch]], used [[Koine Greek|Greek]] and developed [[Hellenistic]] theologies. Churches of the western part of the empire eventually took to using [[Latin]] and excelled at the Roman virtues of discipline and rule. | + | This era begins with the First Council of Nicaea, which enunciated the [[Nicene Creed]] that in its original form and as modified by the [[First Council of Constantinople]] of 381 was seen as the touchstone of [[orthodoxy]] on the doctrine of the [[Trinity]]. At this point, though the emperors had already ceased to reside habitually at [[Rome]], the church in that city was seen as the first church among churches<ref name="CC">[[Will Durant|Durant, Will]]. Caesar and Christ. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1972</ref> In 330 [[Constantine I and Christianity|Constantine]] built his "New Rome", which became known as [[Constantinople]], in the East. And all the seven councils were held in the East, specifically in [[Anatolia]]. In 410 the [[Visigoths]] sacked Rome, but then withdrew. In 568 the [[Lombards]] invaded [[Italy]] and established a [[Kingdom of Italy (medieval)|Kingdom of Italy]] that lasted until 774, for nearly all of which period (until 751) Rome was governed by the [[Exarchate of Ravenna]], representing the [[Byzantine emperor]] at Constantinople. |
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| + | The first scholar to consider this time period as a whole was [[Philip Schaff]], who wrote ''The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church'', first published after his death in 1901. The topic is of particular interest to proponents of [[Paleo-orthodoxy]] who seek to recover the church before the [[Schism (religion)|schisms]]. | ||
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| + | ==Councils== | ||
| + | The First Seven Ecumenical Councils, as commonly understood, are: | ||
| + | # First Council of Nicaea (325) | ||
| + | # First Council of Constantinople (381) | ||
| + | # Council of Ephesus (431) | ||
| + | # Council of Chalcedon (451) | ||
| + | # Second Council of Constantinople (553) | ||
| + | # Third Council of Constantinople (680) | ||
| + | # Second Council of Nicaea (787) | ||
| + | |||
| + | However, not all of these Councils have been universally recognised as [[Ecumenical Council|ecumenical]]. As indicated above, the Assyrian Church of the East accepts only the first two, and Oriental Orthodoxy only three. Present-day [[Nontrinitarianism|nontrinitarians]], such as [[Unitarianism|Unitarians]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|Latter-day Saints]] and other [[Mormonism|Mormon]]s, and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], reject all seven Councils. | ||
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In the history of Christianity, the first seven Ecumenical Councils, from the First Council of Nicaea (325) to the Second Council of Nicaea (787), represent an attempt to reach an orthodox consensus and to establish a unified Christendom. The East-West Schism, formally dated to 1054, was still almost three centuries off. Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican churches all trace their clergy by apostolic succession back to this period and earlier, see Early Christianity. However, breaks of unity that still persist today had occurred even during this period. The Assyrian Church of the East rejected the Council of Ephesus (431). The Oriental Orthodox churches recognise the first three and consider the Second Council of Ephesus (449) to be the Fourth Ecumenical Council. The Roman Catholic Church rejects the Quinisext Council which attempted to establish the Pentarchy.
This era begins with the First Council of Nicaea, which enunciated the Nicene Creed that in its original form and as modified by the First Council of Constantinople of 381 was seen as the touchstone of orthodoxy on the doctrine of the Trinity. At this point, though the emperors had already ceased to reside habitually at Rome, the church in that city was seen as the first church among churches<ref name="CC">Durant, Will. Caesar and Christ. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1972</ref> In 330 Constantine built his "New Rome", which became known as Constantinople, in the East. And all the seven councils were held in the East, specifically in Anatolia. In 410 the Visigoths sacked Rome, but then withdrew. In 568 the Lombards invaded Italy and established a Kingdom of Italy that lasted until 774, for nearly all of which period (until 751) Rome was governed by the Exarchate of Ravenna, representing the Byzantine emperor at Constantinople.
The first scholar to consider this time period as a whole was Philip Schaff, who wrote The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Undivided Church, first published after his death in 1901. The topic is of particular interest to proponents of Paleo-orthodoxy who seek to recover the church before the schisms.
Councils
The First Seven Ecumenical Councils, as commonly understood, are:
- First Council of Nicaea (325)
- First Council of Constantinople (381)
- Council of Ephesus (431)
- Council of Chalcedon (451)
- Second Council of Constantinople (553)
- Third Council of Constantinople (680)
- Second Council of Nicaea (787)
However, not all of these Councils have been universally recognised as ecumenical. As indicated above, the Assyrian Church of the East accepts only the first two, and Oriental Orthodoxy only three. Present-day nontrinitarians, such as Unitarians, Latter-day Saints and other Mormons, and Jehovah's Witnesses, reject all seven Councils.
