Origin of councils and founding debates of Christianity

1. First crisis

The “affair” of which this extract of the acts of the apostles speaks is the dissemination of the gospel among the pagans, beyond the first circle of the disciple Jews of Christ. Should we really demand Christians of non-Jewish origin to follow all the prescriptions of the Torah: circumcision, food prohibitions, etc. ?

2. We have to talk

Then on an evangelization mission in Antioch (current Türkiye), Paul and Barnabé oppose those who consider respect for Jewish law. To appease the conflict, both go to Jerusalem to meet the “apostles and the ancients”. Then undertake “intense discussions”, told in detail in the acts of the apostles (chapter 15).

3. Decisions to be made

This first “council” of Jerusalem makes important decisions: drafting a text clarifying the obligations of Christians, and sending two delegates to Antioch with Paul and Barnabé, to explain this text. The reception of a council is indeed capital. In the acts, it is said that when reading the letter transmitted to the Christians of Antioch, “all rejoiced in the comfort they brought”.

5.

It was not until the year 325 that, for the first time, the vast majority of bishops met in Nicée under the aegis of the Emperor Constantine I. This council will give birth to the Creed of Nicea, of which we celebrate the 1700th anniversary.

Other councils will follow over the centuries. Seven are officially recognized by the Orthodox, six by the Protestants of the Reformation and 21 by the Catholics.

4. New questions

With the emergence of the figure of the bishops at the head of the communities during the 2nd century AD, the regional synods multiplied: in 144, in Rome, a Christian was auditioned, a Christian who severely criticizes the influence of the Old Testament on the Christian faith.

In 170, we must react to the words of Montanus, a Phrygian Christian who says he is himself … the Holy Spirit. Other meetings will follow to fix the date of Easter or discuss the attitude to have with the Lapsi, these persecuted Christians who have denied their faith to survive.