An Attempt to Date
the Ancient Church Councils
June 16, 2014
G.D.O'Bradovich III
introduction
In this installment of the "Attempt to Date" series, we will research the first seven councils that are recognized by the Greek and Roman churches. A list of the councils with their accepted dates are found below.
First Council of Nicaea
First Council of Constantinople Council of Ephesus Council of Chalcedon Second Council of Constantinople Third Council of Constantinople Second Council of Nicaea |
325
381 431 451 553 680 787 |
the nicene council
The following sections are listed chronology (courtesy of the Oxford English Dictionary).
The below list references to the Council of Nicaea or the Nicene creed. Books that cite earlier works are in red. The two references to the Council of Constantinople are found in 1577 and 1676.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 105
He was i-martired under Dacianus, þe iuge, by doom of the counsaile of Nicene.
1475?a (▸?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1874) V. 119
Silvester the secunde..kepede the firste grete cownsayle of Nicene.]
1475a? (1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1874) V. 105 (MED),
The legende of whom is hade amonge scriptures apocriphate by the decrete of þe cownesayle Nicene.
All references before the year 1500 are from secondary sources.
1526 Pylgrimage of Perfection (de Worde) f. 192v,
In the Crede of Nycene counsyle.
1553 Articles agreed vpon in Conuocacion in Short Catechisme f. lxxi,
The thre Credes, Nicene crede Anathasius Crede, and that which is commonly called the Apostles Crede, ought throughly to be receiued.
1564 Briefe Exam. ****j, Certayne sectaries layde to the Fathers charge of Nicæne counsell, that they tooke an order..for keping Easter day.
1567 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. ii. i. §i. 83
Beinge learned, & hauinge traulled through the Ancient Writers, you muste needes haue seene..the Nicene Creede.
1573? H. Cheke tr. F. Negri Freewyl iii. iii. 108
Some thynke Pope Damasus, at the request of this Hieronimus aboue named, added the Nicene Crede.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. sig. ¶.ivv,
Excellent learned men, who wrote the Creede commonly called the Nicene Creede.
1577 W. Fulke Answer True Christian 97 in Two Treat. against Papistes, Alexander Bishop of Constantinople of the Constantinopolitane [Councell].
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xlii. 83
They alwayes professed loue and zeale to the Nicene faith.
There are seven references from the years 1501 to 1600.
1602 J. Rhodes Answere Romish Rime sig. C3,
You Protestants doe daily read, in Nicen and Apostles Creed, The Church of God must holy bee.
1609 T. Heywood Troia Britanica 425
Three hundred eighteene Byshops now applide The Nycene Counsell.
1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia 57
The Emperour, at his approaching death, Griev'd for his changing of the Nicene faith.
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. ii. 350
As we learn from the acts of the second Nicene Council.
1664 J. Owen Vindic. Animadv. Fiat Lux xxi. 490,
I presume you are well pleased with these Nicenians, who gave so great a lift to the setting up of your Idols.
1672 T. Godden Catholicks No Idolaters 124
Dr. St. perhaps will rank them for this..with the Nicen Fathers.
1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. E,
The Constantinopolitan Creed.
1692 R. Ames Jacobite Conventicle 13
Any Prayer, Which in the Liturgy we read, From the Lord's Prayer to Nicene Creed.
There are eight references from the years 1601 to 1700.
1719 D. Waterland Vindic. Christ's Divinity 210
The Nicene Fathers explain their meaning, both in the Creed it self, and in the Anathemas annex'd to it.
1744 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 652/1
The Nicene Council in fixing the time of Easter in the 1st place following the Julian year without correction.
1756 E. Perronet Mitre 108 (note)
Even the Nicene creed,..however orthodox it is esteemed, is really the reverse.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxvii. 17
He..offered that Arian prelate the hard alternative of subscribing the Nicene creed, or of instantly resigning..the cathedral.
There are a total of 19 references to the Council of Nicaea from 1501-1800.
The below list references to the Council of Nicaea or the Nicene creed. Books that cite earlier works are in red. The two references to the Council of Constantinople are found in 1577 and 1676.
1387▸a J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 105
He was i-martired under Dacianus, þe iuge, by doom of the counsaile of Nicene.
1475?a (▸?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1874) V. 119
Silvester the secunde..kepede the firste grete cownsayle of Nicene.]
1475a? (1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl.) (1874) V. 105 (MED),
The legende of whom is hade amonge scriptures apocriphate by the decrete of þe cownesayle Nicene.
All references before the year 1500 are from secondary sources.
1526 Pylgrimage of Perfection (de Worde) f. 192v,
In the Crede of Nycene counsyle.
1553 Articles agreed vpon in Conuocacion in Short Catechisme f. lxxi,
The thre Credes, Nicene crede Anathasius Crede, and that which is commonly called the Apostles Crede, ought throughly to be receiued.
1564 Briefe Exam. ****j, Certayne sectaries layde to the Fathers charge of Nicæne counsell, that they tooke an order..for keping Easter day.
1567 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. ii. i. §i. 83
Beinge learned, & hauinge traulled through the Ancient Writers, you muste needes haue seene..the Nicene Creede.
1573? H. Cheke tr. F. Negri Freewyl iii. iii. 108
Some thynke Pope Damasus, at the request of this Hieronimus aboue named, added the Nicene Crede.
1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. sig. ¶.ivv,
Excellent learned men, who wrote the Creede commonly called the Nicene Creede.
1577 W. Fulke Answer True Christian 97 in Two Treat. against Papistes, Alexander Bishop of Constantinople of the Constantinopolitane [Councell].
1597 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie v. xlii. 83
They alwayes professed loue and zeale to the Nicene faith.
There are seven references from the years 1501 to 1600.
1602 J. Rhodes Answere Romish Rime sig. C3,
You Protestants doe daily read, in Nicen and Apostles Creed, The Church of God must holy bee.
1609 T. Heywood Troia Britanica 425
Three hundred eighteene Byshops now applide The Nycene Counsell.
1657 N. Billingsley Brachy-martyrologia 57
The Emperour, at his approaching death, Griev'd for his changing of the Nicene faith.
1660 Bp. J. Taylor Ductor Dubitantium I. ii. ii. 350
As we learn from the acts of the second Nicene Council.
1664 J. Owen Vindic. Animadv. Fiat Lux xxi. 490,
I presume you are well pleased with these Nicenians, who gave so great a lift to the setting up of your Idols.
1672 T. Godden Catholicks No Idolaters 124
Dr. St. perhaps will rank them for this..with the Nicen Fathers.
1676 A. Marvell Mr. Smirke sig. E,
The Constantinopolitan Creed.
1692 R. Ames Jacobite Conventicle 13
Any Prayer, Which in the Liturgy we read, From the Lord's Prayer to Nicene Creed.
There are eight references from the years 1601 to 1700.
1719 D. Waterland Vindic. Christ's Divinity 210
The Nicene Fathers explain their meaning, both in the Creed it self, and in the Anathemas annex'd to it.
1744 Gentleman's Mag. Dec. 652/1
The Nicene Council in fixing the time of Easter in the 1st place following the Julian year without correction.
1756 E. Perronet Mitre 108 (note)
Even the Nicene creed,..however orthodox it is esteemed, is really the reverse.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall III. xxvii. 17
He..offered that Arian prelate the hard alternative of subscribing the Nicene creed, or of instantly resigning..the cathedral.
There are a total of 19 references to the Council of Nicaea from 1501-1800.
homoousion
One of the important decisions of the council was determining the nature of Jesus. As the OED explains-
"Homoousion (τὸ ὁμοούσιον): the term ὁμοούσιος as used, e.g. in the formula promulgated by the Council of Nicæa in a.d. 325, to express the doctrine that the Son is ‘of one substance’ with the Father (τῳ̑ πατρί); the doctrine itself: opposed to the termὁμοιούσιος (see Homoiousion n.). The masc. form Homoousios is also used."
1683 W. Cave Ecclesiastici 164
They rejected both the ὁμοούσιον and the ὁμοίουσιον [sic], as Expressions unknown to Scripture.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxi. 251
Their [sc. the Arians'] patron, Eusebius of Nicomedia,..confessed, that the admission of the Homoousion, or Consubstantial..was incompatible with the principles of their theological system.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxi. 252
The mysterious Homoousion, which either party was free to interpret according to their peculiar tenets.
If we are disappointed that there are only three references to this important theological position from the council of Nicaea concerning the nature of Christ up to the year 1800, then we are sorely disappointed there are only two authors and one, Gibbon, is a secular historian.
"Homoousion (τὸ ὁμοούσιον): the term ὁμοούσιος as used, e.g. in the formula promulgated by the Council of Nicæa in a.d. 325, to express the doctrine that the Son is ‘of one substance’ with the Father (τῳ̑ πατρί); the doctrine itself: opposed to the termὁμοιούσιος (see Homoiousion n.). The masc. form Homoousios is also used."
1683 W. Cave Ecclesiastici 164
They rejected both the ὁμοούσιον and the ὁμοίουσιον [sic], as Expressions unknown to Scripture.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxi. 251
Their [sc. the Arians'] patron, Eusebius of Nicomedia,..confessed, that the admission of the Homoousion, or Consubstantial..was incompatible with the principles of their theological system.
1781 Gibbon Decline & Fall II. xxi. 252
The mysterious Homoousion, which either party was free to interpret according to their peculiar tenets.
If we are disappointed that there are only three references to this important theological position from the council of Nicaea concerning the nature of Christ up to the year 1800, then we are sorely disappointed there are only two authors and one, Gibbon, is a secular historian.
robber council
Pope Leo I [d. 461] describes the council of Ephesus as not a legal assembly but robbery with violence. Because no references to the "Robber Council" of 431 exist before the year 1800, reference dates up to the year 1900 are included.
1810 C. O'Conor Columbanus's 3rd Let. 22
The first attempt to exclude Presbyters was made by the Nestorian Bishops, who had signed the Latrocinium of Ephesus.
1853 L. Darwall Church of Eng. 58
Which condemnation [of Eutyches] was annulled by the Pseudo-Council of Ephesus, called the Latrocinium, or Robber-Council.
1897 J. J. Lias Nicene Creed 153
The Synod obtained the name of the Latrocinium, or Robber Synod, from the brutality which disgraced its proceedings.
The earliest references to the 5th century council of Ephesus are from the 19th century.
1810 C. O'Conor Columbanus's 3rd Let. 22
The first attempt to exclude Presbyters was made by the Nestorian Bishops, who had signed the Latrocinium of Ephesus.
1853 L. Darwall Church of Eng. 58
Which condemnation [of Eutyches] was annulled by the Pseudo-Council of Ephesus, called the Latrocinium, or Robber-Council.
1897 J. J. Lias Nicene Creed 153
The Synod obtained the name of the Latrocinium, or Robber Synod, from the brutality which disgraced its proceedings.
The earliest references to the 5th century council of Ephesus are from the 19th century.
nice
The following are references to "Riviera","Marseilles" and residents of Nice (France), "nizzards".
1589 J. Eldred in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 231
This rode [sc. Tripoli] is..frequented with Christian marchants, to wit, Venetians, Genouois, Florentines, Marsilians, Sicilians, Raguses, and lately with English men.
1599a Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 30, sig. C3v,
For in Spaine there was..letters anciently used, whether brought unto them by the Phenicians,..or from Marsellis,..of which Marsilians it is said, that the Gaules learned them first.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 440
And from those Seas, where in the steed of Keeles Of winged Shipps they rowle their Chariot wheels, To the Marsilian, Morean, and Thyrhenian; Ligurian Seas, and learned Sea Athenian, [etc.].
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 25
The Riuiera of Genoa, along the Mediterrean sea.
1644 A. Hume tr. Petrarch Triumphs of Love iv. 46
Flocchetto, who from Genua was estrang'd And call'd Marsilian, he wisely chang'd His name, his state, and countrey.
1662 J. Dauncey Eng. Lovers ii. 20
About a twelvemoneth, as I said, being past in the pleasures of Genoua and the Riviera, I received Letters from my Father, commanding me to attend him.
1665a K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 5,
To make good Meath, good White and thick Marsilian or Provence-honey is best.
1764 T. Smollett Let. 10 Nov. in Trav. (1766) I. 333
Among the French, a Nissard piques himself on being Provençal.
1766 J. Northall Trav. through Italy vi. ii. 471
The dominions of this State consist of the countries extending along the sea-coast, on both sides, from the city of Genoa, which are called the eastern and western Rivieras. This word in Italian signifies a strand.
1770 T. Smollett Trav. (1979) xiv. 133 [MS addition]
Beyond the mouth of the Var upon the Ligurian coast, the Marsilian colonies are Nice, Port Hercules, Trophæa and Monaco.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VII. 426/2
The people of Genoa revolted..and reduced a great part of the Riviera.
1589 J. Eldred in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations i. 231
This rode [sc. Tripoli] is..frequented with Christian marchants, to wit, Venetians, Genouois, Florentines, Marsilians, Sicilians, Raguses, and lately with English men.
1599a Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 30, sig. C3v,
For in Spaine there was..letters anciently used, whether brought unto them by the Phenicians,..or from Marsellis,..of which Marsilians it is said, that the Gaules learned them first.
1605 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Deuine Weekes & Wks. ii. ii. 440
And from those Seas, where in the steed of Keeles Of winged Shipps they rowle their Chariot wheels, To the Marsilian, Morean, and Thyrhenian; Ligurian Seas, and learned Sea Athenian, [etc.].
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. i. 25
The Riuiera of Genoa, along the Mediterrean sea.
1644 A. Hume tr. Petrarch Triumphs of Love iv. 46
Flocchetto, who from Genua was estrang'd And call'd Marsilian, he wisely chang'd His name, his state, and countrey.
1662 J. Dauncey Eng. Lovers ii. 20
About a twelvemoneth, as I said, being past in the pleasures of Genoua and the Riviera, I received Letters from my Father, commanding me to attend him.
1665a K. Digby Closet Opened (1669) 5,
To make good Meath, good White and thick Marsilian or Provence-honey is best.
1764 T. Smollett Let. 10 Nov. in Trav. (1766) I. 333
Among the French, a Nissard piques himself on being Provençal.
1766 J. Northall Trav. through Italy vi. ii. 471
The dominions of this State consist of the countries extending along the sea-coast, on both sides, from the city of Genoa, which are called the eastern and western Rivieras. This word in Italian signifies a strand.
1770 T. Smollett Trav. (1979) xiv. 133 [MS addition]
Beyond the mouth of the Var upon the Ligurian coast, the Marsilian colonies are Nice, Port Hercules, Trophæa and Monaco.
1797 Encycl. Brit. VII. 426/2
The people of Genoa revolted..and reduced a great part of the Riviera.
Nice (Nicaea, Greek: Νίκαια,) was probably founded around 350 BC by the Greeks of Massilia (Marseille), and was given the name of Νικαία ("Nikaia") in honour of a victory over the neighbouring Ligurians (Nikeis the Greek goddess of victory).
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Nicaea ( Greek: Νίκαια) and is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea (the first and seventh Ecumenical councils in the early history of the Christian Church).
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Courtesy: Wikipedia
It is interesting that both Nice and Nicaea were founded as Greek colonies and the origin of their name is identical, that is, from the Greek word for victory. Although Nice is an ancient city, it did not have a bishop until the year 1542, Girolamo Recanati Capodiferro (vide).
select dates
The following is a list of relevant words after the year 1500. Words referring to the Riviera are in blue. The year of the Bishop of Nice's appointment and the third session of the Council of Trent have been included for completeness.
1526 Nycene counsyle.
1542 First Bishop of Nice, France 1546 Third Secession of the Council of Trent refers to the Symbol of Faith 1553 Nicene crede 1564 Nicæne counsell, . 1567 Nicene Creede. 1573?Nicene Crede. 1577 Nicene Creede. 1577 Constantinopolitane [Councell]. 1589 Marsilians, 1597 Nicene faith. 1599aMarsellis,..of which Marsilians. 1602 Nicen...Creed, 1605 Marsilian, ... Seas, 1609 Nycene Counsell. 1632 Riuiera , 1644 Marsilian, 1657 Nicene faith. 1660 Nicene Council. |
1662 Riviera, .
1664 Nicenians, 1665a Marsilian 1672 Nicen Fathers. 1676 Constantinopolitan Creed. 1683 ὁμοούσιον and the ὁμοίουσιον [sic], 1692 Nicene Creed. 1719 Nicene Fathers 1744 Nicene Council . 1756 Nicene creed, 1764 Nissard 1766 Rivieras. 1770 Marsilian...Nice... 1781 Homoousion, 1781 Homoousion 1781 Nicene creed, 1797 Riviera. 1810 Latrocinium of Ephesus. 1853 Latrocinium, or Robber-Council. 1897 Latrocinium, or Robber Synod |
dates of western councils
The reader who is ignorant of church history might assume the adjective "Nicene" refers not to Nicaea, Turkey, but to Nice, France. The Council of Trent does not refer to the creed as "Nicene", but calls it the "Symbol of Faith" (vide).
First Council of Lyon (1245)
Second Council of Lyon (1274)
Council of Vienne (1311–1312)
Council of Pisa (1409)
Council of Constance (1414–1418)
Council of Siena (1423–1424)
Council of Basel, Ferrara and Florence (1431–1445)
Fifth Council of the Lateran (1512–1517)
Second Council of Lyon (1274)
Council of Vienne (1311–1312)
Council of Pisa (1409)
Council of Constance (1414–1418)
Council of Siena (1423–1424)
Council of Basel, Ferrara and Florence (1431–1445)
Fifth Council of the Lateran (1512–1517)
Although our conclusion is speculative, we feel confident that early English commentators, upon hearing about the Council of Nicaea or the Nicene Creed, looked at their maps and assumed the council was held in a city that was in the region as previous councils were held (see above). They would innocently reason that the adjective Nicene would refer to the noun, "Nice". Our conclusion seems to be validated by the dates of the initial references to Nice, Marseilles, and the Riviera and that none of the citations listed indicate that the council was in the east.
conclusion
We have focused on the first ecumenical council and mostly ignored the remaining six councils, for two reasons. Firstly, the first council created the Nicene Creed that is accepted and used by all ancient churches and the importance of this creed can not be overstated when discussing heresies, both ancient and modern. Secondly, except for two references to the council of Constantinople and three citations for the "Robber Council", there were no more references in the Oxford English Dictionary pertaining to the ancient councils.
The references before the year 1500 are not from primary sources and have been ignored. While we do not dismiss these secondary citations a priori, we do treat them with extreme caution. All remaining references to the Nicene council or the Nicene Creed, except for one "straggler" assigned to the year 1526, date from after the beginning of the Council of Trent.
As always, the Gentle Reader is allowed to make the final and informed conclusion.
The references before the year 1500 are not from primary sources and have been ignored. While we do not dismiss these secondary citations a priori, we do treat them with extreme caution. All remaining references to the Nicene council or the Nicene Creed, except for one "straggler" assigned to the year 1526, date from after the beginning of the Council of Trent.
As always, the Gentle Reader is allowed to make the final and informed conclusion.