What was the Council of Nicaea?
Quick answer
The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) was the first ecumenical council of the church, convened by Emperor Constantine to settle the question of Christ’s deity against the teacher Arius. It produced the Nicene Creed and affirmed that the Son is fully God.
Arius taught that the Son was the highest created being but not eternal God. The council, led by Athanasius and others, rejected this firmly.
The famous word "homoousios" (of the same substance with the Father) was used to declare Christ’s full deity.
It did not invent Christ’s deity but defended what the apostles always taught. Nicaea remains a hinge of Christian history.
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.