This paper will explore why some evangelicals shift from creedal Christianity which has stood the tests of time to theological liberalism. What are the possible motivations or reasons for this move from biblical doctrine? Throughout all my decades of teaching, I have wrestled with the question of why some evangelicals turn away from biblical truth … Read more
The Nicene Creed is more than a doctrinal statement—it is a declaration of allegiance to Christ’s reign. In a world of shifting beliefs, it anchors Christians in the unchanging reality of God’s kingdom, shaping how we follow Christ, live in His church, and engage the world. Kingdom Discipleship: Living Under Christ’s Rule Christianity is not … Read more
What hath Northampton to do with Nicaea? This paper examines kingdom and monarchical language in the sermon set A History of the Work of Redemption by Jonathan Edwards and compares such language’s resonance with the theological constructs affirmed by the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (381). The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed affirms, “And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten … Read more
My concern it with the arguments from Scripture that led to this widespread and long-lasting agreement with the second version of the Nicene Creed. To my knowledge, the subsequent Christian literature has not presented a comprehensive distillation of the biblical basis on which the Church Fathers persuaded their rivals and formulated the Nicene Creed, so … Read more
In their theological debate with Eunomius of Cyzicus, it is well-known that the Cappadocians strongly disputed their opponent’s claim that “God knows no more of His own substance than we do” (Socrates, Church History IV.7) by appealing to the absolute incomprehensibility of God’s essence (e.g., Gregory of Nazianzus, Or. 28). What is less often recognized … Read more
The interpretation of the Apostles’ Creed by Martin Luther has been the subject of scholarly debate, with some suggesting that his understanding diverged from traditional Church teachings. Jaroslav Pelikan (1984) argues that Luther’s emphasis on the personal application of the Creed might overshadow its communal interpretation, while Heiko Oberman (1989) claims that Luther’s focus on … Read more
During the late 20th Century, American evangelicals placed renewed emphasis on the spiritual disciplines through influential writings like Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, Dallas Willard’s The Spirit of the Disciplines, and Donald Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. These books, with combined sales in the millions, have exerted a generational influence regarding Christian spiritual … Read more
This paper argues that Timothy George constructs a Protestant model of theological retrieval rooted in the Nicene Creed’s four marks of the Church: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Rather than treating these ecclesial attributes as abstract doctrinal affirmations, George operationalizes them as a theological framework for engaging church history. His method of retrieval, deeply informed … Read more
Cyprian of Carthage (bishop 248–258) paved the way for the West to reject Arianism and accept the Creed of Nicaea (325) through ascribing divine language and work to Jesus Christ. Few studies have explored Cyprian’s Christology, even though he lived merely seventy-five years before the Council of Nicaea (325). Cyprian did not just hold a … Read more
It is a well known idiom that those who are ignorant of history are doomed to repeat it. Creeds are not merely statements of faith from ancient churches. There were historical events that precipitated the need for each creed and shaped what select few doctrines were included. It is easy to look at historical creeds … Read more