The Nicene Creed

As of late, I've been somewhat fascinated with early church history. 

One of the joys of homeschooling is that I get to re-learn all

that I never had a chance to learn as a child, 

or all I simply couldn't wrap my head around at such a young age. 

Who knows how much of this my kids will remember,

but it sure has been good food for thought for me! 

Two of my favorite books that we have been reading are:

Trial and Triumph by Richard Hannula

(stories from church history) and

A Child's History of the World by Virgil M. Hillyer

This week we have been learning about the first Christian emperor, Constantine.

As the story goes, 

he had a "vision" of a cross in the sky with the words "By This Conquer" underneath.

He took this to be a sign from God.

Shortly after, he had a dream in which Christ appeared to him

and told him to make a likeness of the sign (the cross) and use it as a safeguard in battle. 

He did, and he won the title of emperor. 

Up until this time in history (A.D. 312) Christians had been severely

persecuted for their unwavering faith in an "unseen" God. 

Constantine freed the Christians from Roman persecution. 

It was during his rule that a man named Arius

stirred up strife among the believers, declaring that 

Christ was created by the Father and inferior to Him. 

Constantine called the council at Nicea (paying for it all),

where hundreds of bishops and churchmen attended to discuss the issue. 

The men debated for months, and in the end declared that

Christ was not inferior to the Father but was equal to Him. 

Jesus is God. (John 1:1-4, 10:30, 20:28-31)

The trinity is a mystery. It cannot be explained by man.

Three in ONE. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

This is when the Nicene Creed was written, summarizing

the beliefs of the early church. . . 

The Nicene Creed - A.D. 325

I 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 His 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 Ghost 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.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, 

the Lord and giver of life, 

who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified,

who spake by the prophets.

And I believe in one Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. 

And I look for the Resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. 

Loved, loved, loved learning about and understanding the history of this creed,

that is often recited in worship services. 

This week-end our family is having a "Roman Feast."

Lord willing, I'll soon have some more pictures to share of our homeschooling journey!