The benefit of hindsight—historical observation and related reflection—provides opportunities for assessing and revising our thought and practice today. Hermeneutical hindsight is no exception. What have we learned from Nicaea, hermeneutically? What assumptions, authorities, crises, and criteria informed and shaped the Creed’s substance, scope, and stability? Which hermeneutical concerns fueled the Creed’s defenders and opponents? What major hermeneutical outcomes have carried significant weight for biblical and theological interpretation since Nicaea—including now? Assuming the Creed’s profound doctrinal importance, what hermeneutical factors substantially influence the diverse evangelical views of the Nicaean formulation? (“Creed” herein refers to the 325 AD Council of Nicaea, unless otherwise noted.)
Broadly, I will argue that particular hermeneutical elements deeply shaped the formation, content, and controversies concerning the Creed, demonstrating how these same or similar elements continue to shape evangelical attitudes toward the Creed today. To support my claim, I will provide foundational descriptions/explanations of “hermeneutics” before focusing primarily on four types of hermeneutics—biblical, theological, philosophical, cultural—operating prior to, during, and subsequent to the Nicaean Council. Related to the Creed, I hope to demonstrate each type’s (1) clear employment, (2) shaping importance, and (3) value for our own understanding, reflection, and practice today.
To narrow this paper’s scope, I will concentrate primarily on philosophical hermeneutics involved with Nicaea, focusing on (1) preunderstandings, presuppositions, and precommitments; (2) metaphysical perspectives; (3) epistemological views; (3) key philosophical and theological terms; (4) central questions and concerns; (5) differing interpretations; and (6) the aforementioned foci in conversation with—compared and contrasted, and at times through the lens of—contemporary philosophical hermeneutics: evangelical and alternative approaches.
Several key “hermeneuts,” particularly vis-à-vis their original or integrative approaches, will serve as sources or interlocutors for the paper. Ancient voices will include those central to the ecclesial, intellectual, and contextual background and/or the doctrinal discussions/debates and content pertaining to the Creed (for instance, Scripture, the “rule of faith,” other early creeds, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Greek philosophy, Origen, Alexandrian and Antiochene biblical scholars/theologians, Arius, Eusebius, Alexander, Athanasius, and Constantine). Contemporary evangelical voices and other hermeneuts engaging the conversation will include K. Vanhoozer, D. Treier, A. Thiselton, M. Westphal, R. Wall, S. Fowl, T. Work, G. Osborne, R. Olson, T. Oden, D.H. Williams, C. Carter, C. Bartholomew, G. Bray, A. Yong, C. Keener, B. Lonergan, H.G. Gadamer, P. Ricoeur and others).