carolinajazz
Well-Known Member
....personally, I think it more fun, beneficial and appropriate to discuss the: The First Council of Nicaea (/naɪ'si:ə/; Greek: Νίκαια /'ni:kaɪja/ Turkish: Iznik) was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325. This first ecumenical council was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.
Its main accomplishments were settlement of the Christological issue of the nature of the Son of God and his relationship to God the Father, the construction of the first part of the Creed of Nicaea, establishing uniform observance of the date of Easter, and promulgation of early canon law.
Regarding the results of that council, the Encyclopaedia Britannica says: “Constantine himself presided, actively guiding the discussions, and personally proposed .*.*. the crucial formula expressing the relation of Christ to God in the creed issued by the council, ‘of one substance [ho·mo·ou′si·os] with the Father.’ .*.*. Overawed by the emperor, the bishops, with two exceptions only, signed the creed, many of them much against their inclination.”
Did this pagan ruler intervene because of his Biblical convictions? No. A Short History of Christian Doctrine states: “Constantine had basically no understanding whatsoever of the questions that were being asked in Greek theology.” What he did understand was that religious disputes threatened the unity of his empire, and he wanted them resolved.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, Volume*14, page*299, acknowledges: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th*century. .*.*. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”
The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1985, Micropædia, Volume*11, page*928, says under the subject of Trinity: “Neither the word Trinity nor the explicit doctrine appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O*Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.’ (Deut. 6:4)”
The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, Volume*14, page*299, acknowledges: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th*century. .*.*. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”
Thus, the Trinity doctrine is not Scriptural, but it was officially adopted at the Council of Nicaea in the year 325*C.E. The doctrine incorporated a pagan idea that had originated long before in ancient Babylon and Egypt and was in use in other lands as well. Historian Will Durant observed in The Story of Civilization: Part*III, page*595: “Christianity did not destroy paganism; it adopted it. .*.*. From Egypt came the ideas of a divine trinity.”
History confirms that the Trinity was borrowed from pagans and was in existence centuries before Jesus came to the earth. Long after his death, it was promoted by those who had been influenced by pagan philosophies and who had apostatized from the true worship of God as taught by Jesus and the apostles.
....in conclusion...I voted 9th. pick and 22nd place. As you guys know, when it comes to the NBA....I'm ALWAYS a half EMPTY type of guy!
