Out of Africa, For the World: The Creed of Nicaea 325

Abstract

The original Nicene Creed of 325 is of particular importance to those who are interested in African theology.  The debates which led to the Council of Nicaea had been sparked by the great third-century African theologian Origen, and they were worked through by Arius, Alexander, and the Egyptian church well before the advent of Constantine.  Athanasius of Alexandria was the Creed’s main champion for most of the fourth century.  His stalwart confession of it in the face of imperial violence became the inspiration for the Coptic and Ethiopian Churches to put Nicaea’s theology at the centre of their own theological self-understanding.