The Da Vinci Code claims: Did Constantine make up the deity of Jesus?
The Council of Nicea from where we get the Nicene Creed was controlled by Constantine to consolidate his power. Establishing Christ?s divinity was critical to the further unification of the Roman Empire and to the new Vatican power base. By officially endorsing Jesus as the Son of God, Constantine turned Jesus into a deity who existed beyond the scope of the human world, an entity whose power was unchallengeable.? (Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code p.232, 233)
History’s version:
In 325 AD there was a council of Nicea where Constantine permitted some 300 church leaders representing the consensus of the church to meet. The council was convened to address a fragment teaching that was in conflict with the teaching of the New Testament scriptures.
The heresy was Arianism, named after Arius who was teaching that Jesus was not completely divine. Arius taught that Jesus was not fully God because God created Him, and yet even Arius did not believe Jesus was a mere ?mortal
.?
Constantine convened the Council to address this problem and restore peace in the church. The Council of Nicea was convened to define the faith based on the consensus of early church and let the debate take place. Athanasius represented the consensus and Arius and his supporters were overwhelmingly defeated and banished…
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March 28th, 2006 at 9:48 pm
Although Constantine called for the council to be held and also attended it, he was hardly in control. Pope Sylverster sent two legates to the council to represent him (he was to old and sick to go himself). The pope opposed the error and the majority of bishops supported him.
April 7th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Interesting! I must admit that I am really, really weak on church history but this is whetting my appetite to learn more! Thanks!
April 7th, 2006 at 2:38 pm
It is really interesting because out of the Council of Nicea came the Nicene Creed and in the Nicene Creed it says
“We believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.”
It cleary defines what they were discussing at the council of Nicea and to this day some churches still recite this creed.
May 19th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Can anybody recommend a good book or site with a detailed history of the early church? I’m thinking about the first milennia AD.
Thanks!
Omar
May 20th, 2006 at 3:50 am
You might start with:
The Nag Hammadi Library, James M. Robinson, General Editor, HarperCollins, 1988, ISBN 0-06-066935-7.
The Gospel of Judas (from Codex Tchacos), Kasser, Meyer, Wurst, Editors, National Geographic, Washington, D.C., 2006, ISBN-10: -4262-0042-0.
These will get you some insight into the Gnostic movement which was radically different from the current Christian thought and concepts. A battle raged for about 200 years within the realm of religion. Unfortunately, the Roman side won.
Good reading.
MLW
May 20th, 2006 at 8:21 am
Omar, the book I have and read is Church History In Plain Language Updated 2nd Edition (Paperback) by Bruce L. Shelley. I thought it to be fair.
February 15th, 2007 at 1:50 am
Cool blog, interesting information… Keep it UP