Jesus Declared God
There has been a lot of resurging discussion lately on when Jesus was declared and worshiped as God. It appears that many believe that Jesus was declared God in AD 325. This was recorded at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD in what has become known as the Nicene Creed.
The argument that many antichrist apologists make from this council meeting, is that the church did not see Jesus as God until 300 years after his death. That is became a part of church doctrine, but the original followers of Jesus and early church did not believe that Jesus was God, and they did not worship him as such. This argument is spread way to easy by those who do not understand history or church doctrine. Unfortunately many Christians do not study their own cultural history, or scriptures and leave themselves vulnerable to such an attack, which can be so easily defeated with the TRUTH.
This council of the Christian church was called by the emperor Constantine I. It was the hope of the emperor to put to rest a problem created in the Eastern church by Arianism. This problem stemmed from a heresy brought about from the teachings of Arius of Alexandria that stated that (Jesus) Christ was not divine but was a created being. The council condemned this as heresy and incorporated the work homoousios. This word is the key doctrinal term that affirms Jesus is the Son of God in equality with the Father. Thus, Jesus is divine. The Nicene Creed is the only ecumenical creed because it has been repeatedly reaffirmed in subsequent church councils, and it is accepted as authoritative by the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox, Church, the Anglican Church, and the Protestant churches of the Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Methodist. Although the Baptists do not subscribe the use of creeds in general, they are in agreement with the affirmation of the Nicene Creed.
The following is the wording of the Nicine Creed as shared by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sin, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.[i]
Therefore, the edit and resulting creed was not to establish Jesus as the Son of God and divine, but to affirm the belief that already existed in the face of an unfounded heresy. It simply confirmed the truth already accepted by the church.
There are other historical references that show this belief that include the following.
Thales – Palestinian historian – 232-245 A.D.
Tertillian – “Founder of Western Theology”, “Father of Latin Christianity” – 220 A.D.
Titus Flavius “Clement of Alexandria” – Theologian, Philosopher, Teacher – 200 A.D.
Bishop Irenaeus – 185 A.D.
Justin Martyr – author – 150 A.D.
Josephus – Jewish historian – 94 A.D.
These are just a few to show that there are extrabiblical writings showing that the church worshiped Jesus as divine long before the council of Nicene. Perhaps the most compelling arguments that support that the early church believed that Jesus is the Son of God comes from the scriptures themselves. All of the books of the New Testament were written no later than 110 A.D. It is commonly accepted that Jesus was resurrected around the year 33 A.D.
In these:
The gospel of John is believed to have been written as early as 90 – 110 A.D. John 10:30 reveals that Jesus claimed to be God. “I and my Father are one.” It further shows evidence that the Jewish leaders understood this claim made by Jesus (John 8:52-59). Later Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples who at first doubted Jesus’ resurrection declared that Jesus was his Lord and his God. (John 20:28).
The gospel of Mark is believed to have been written between 64-70 A.D. In his gospel we hear of the Roman Centurian’s believe that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 15:39)
When we factor in that these gospels and early writings had to be circulated and generally accepted by the early church through public readings, teachings, and personal studies, it is easy to draw the conclusion that the church has always believed that Jesus it the Son of God, divine, and always in existence.
Please, my dearly children, beloved of God and Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, arm yourself with the truth. Believe upon the name that is above every name, Jesus the Christ. Remember the words of the apostle Paul to the Colossians where he declares that Jesus is the dear Son of God (1:13), “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Colossians 1:14) Walk in strength of knowledge and in the power of heavenly wisdom. Be at peace and answer the heretic with unwavering faith, love, and hopeful anticipation that the truth will set them free also.
[i] (United Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2025)https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe
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