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Start Date
17-9-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
17-9-2025 1:45 PM
Keywords
luther, nicene creed, doctrine, melanchthon, lutheran, nicaea, arianism
Description
Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon both received the Nicene-Constantinopolitan (325/381) as a liturgical symbol of orthodox Christianity and a catholic confession of faith for the church of all times. Ever since the rise of liberal Protestantism in the 19th century, however, many theologians have assumed that Luther and Melanchthon either uncritically adopted the early church’s creed and therefore misunderstood it, or else that they saw something lacking in it which needed further development. With attention to the primary sources from Luther, Melanchthon and their students, this sectional will demonstrate the importance of the Nicene Creed in the Lutheran church of the 16th century. Since Rome and many churches still today believe and confess this ecumenical creed, special attention will be given to the reformers’ biblical exegesis. The reformers’ great confidence in the Creed derived from their conviction that the Nicene Creed agrees beautifully with Holy Scripture and is an excellent summary of Scripture’s teaching. This sectional will explore the implications of this conviction for the church and her fellowship today.
Submission Type
Bible Study; Lecture; Sermon Prep
Scripture References in this Resource (separated by semi-colons)
Romans 13:1-7; Colossians 1:14; Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:16-17; Hebrews 12
Submission Audience
Laity; Ministers; Scholars
Submission Cost
Free
The Importance of Nicaea for Luther, Melanchthon and the Lutheran Church of the 16th Century
Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon both received the Nicene-Constantinopolitan (325/381) as a liturgical symbol of orthodox Christianity and a catholic confession of faith for the church of all times. Ever since the rise of liberal Protestantism in the 19th century, however, many theologians have assumed that Luther and Melanchthon either uncritically adopted the early church’s creed and therefore misunderstood it, or else that they saw something lacking in it which needed further development. With attention to the primary sources from Luther, Melanchthon and their students, this sectional will demonstrate the importance of the Nicene Creed in the Lutheran church of the 16th century. Since Rome and many churches still today believe and confess this ecumenical creed, special attention will be given to the reformers’ biblical exegesis. The reformers’ great confidence in the Creed derived from their conviction that the Nicene Creed agrees beautifully with Holy Scripture and is an excellent summary of Scripture’s teaching. This sectional will explore the implications of this conviction for the church and her fellowship today.
