Creeds and Councils: What are they?

[@39Thorns]

As a former Protestant, then Orthodox Christian Convert, I had to study the councils as part of my catechism. And I was taught that the earliest councils are the gatherings written about in Acts, and that later councils had to adhere to the core characteristics of these early gatherings. Councils, as I was taught, were not meant to define the mystery, but to prevent people's limiting ideas to be passed off as doctrine. Much like a Quaker meeting, the Holy Spirit had to be the main voice, and there was consensus over time. The universally inclusive nature of the Council, presided over by the Holy Spirit, was the only guarantee of quality, and their pronouncements were apophatic. Protestants can imagine them pouring over scripture, to analyze new ideas in relation to it, but there was a more holistic approach. Tradition, oral teaching, liturgical and sacramental considerations were of equal importance to scripture, and indeed was used to determine which scriptures were most appropriate.

[@MalTomlin]

I love these videos - the greatest compliment I can give is that I am learning incredibly interesting and joyous pieces of the historical puzzle......mt

[@MrStubb60]

Dr. Reeves I really enjoy your posts. Thank you for putting this information out here in such a clear and understandable manner. As a conservative Christian in Oklahoma I find them a great source of history and context. Once again thank you, Dave Adams

[@CloverPickingHarp]

I've recently become a subscriber to this channel. Thank you for all this material, very engaging and rich especially considering the length of the videos. Awesome. In which of the other videos was Montanism covered, would like to view that.

[@RyanReevesM]

+CloverPickingHarp // Thanks! It's the video titled 'Christian Apologists and Early Heresies'....right about the 26:00 minute mark specifically. Click on playlists to get to the full course and you'll see it. :)

[@richardlee033]

Hi Dr Reeves, Thank you so much for these posts. They are of great help for me a lay person. One question I am a bit curious regarding this post is that you have mentioned those early councils gathered together to solve doctrinal controversies according to the scriptures. I want to ask by 'scriptures', do you mean the OT or something else? Since to my knowledge, the scriptural canon haven't been formed until the 4th century. Thank you!

[@motorhead6763]

They canonized the bible you use and some of the creeds you keep...Sunday easter Christmas Trinity....why do Protestants maintain any creeds of translations from roman church...?

[@Jesusandbible]

Cannot see a wiki article on Montanism.

[@daledheyalef]

Speaking of pagan influence, aren't the names of the months in the Jewish calendar the names of Persian Gods?

[@RyanReevesM]

+daledheyalef // Roman, actually. August....August Caesar, July....Julius Caesar, etc. Days of the week have elements of medieval Germanic/Norse (Thursday....Thor's Day, etc.)

[@daledheyalef]

I said the Jewish calender. i.e. Tamuz, Adar, Elul, etc

[@johnstewart3244]

Its seems that Tammuz at least is Babylonian. It also seems that it has been adopted into the arabic calendar too. very good question!

[@WorshipinIdols]

Just Tammuz

[@JRobbySh]

Look at out English days of the week. In Spanish, its is (English translation) the Lord’s Day. We say Sunday. In Germany, Mitwoch (Middle of the week). We say Wednesday (Wodenden’s Day). The Puritan mind is always treating cultural survivals as pagan corruptions. Easter is such a thing.In other languages we have a variation of Pascha.

[@cgm778]

So constantinianization is a euphemism for theocracy?

[@RyanReevesM]

Sort of, but it depends on what one means by theocracy. It certainly is theocratic in some senses, but we tend to say this is the entangling of church and state. Theocracy tends to be a unifying of church and state as one.

[@RedFlagSaid]

They are the way the state (Roma) and capital (Mamon) made a Covenant in their own image.

[@halwag]

Reeves suggests that there was a 'Church' in 325 ad, or that Ch. theological disputes were resolved, or that Constantine was some sort of P.ope. In those days there was no real, unified church, just a mishmash of cults, sect, prophets, each arguing that 'my doctrine is the pure one'. (eg. Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism, Mithra ism, etc.). The disputes were never really resolved, the synod bishops just compromised with each other, ostracized others, declared that all other sects were heretics. The Trinity dispute continues on today. Conny, was a Roman warlord (who killed his wife, son) who never understood what all the fuss was about. He just wanted some unity, some resolution, for political reasons, declaring that henceforth Chr. would no longer be persecuted. Then, as a state religion, he could persecute all those heretics. Eusebius was merely a court appointed hero worshiper. ---HW Mch 2017.

[@richunixunix3313]

Dr. Reeves, you need to rephrase your remark concerning some Christian holidays, it is a well-known historical facts within Theology academia the church DID incorporate pagan holidays into the Christian holiday practices. Otherwise, I do enjoy your videos. --Thanks

[@rev.j.rogerallen9328]

You need to listen to Dr. Reeves more carefully. It is a well known historical myth that the Church incorporated pagan holidays into her practices.

[@richunixunix3313]

Mr. Allen, you are making no sense whats so ever, with your statement. I will take it, we both in agreement concerning Church and incorporating earlier religious/pagan beliefs.

[@rev.j.rogerallen9328]

Richunix Unix No sir, I don't think we are in agreement at all.

[@richunixunix3313]

Mr. Allen, then please continue in the belief of mythology with Gods & Demons, neither never existed, but they do in the minds of the weak and fearful. The truth is with each of us, moral value do not come from a belief in iron age book, or that some God will set the world right. Once we are free from religion and its hatred & bigotry we can do great things for mankind. "I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." ...Stephen F Roberts Mr. Allen conversation is closed

[@rev.j.rogerallen9328]

Richunix Unix I see, conversation closed! I never have met an Atheist that was honest enough to defend their position once it starts to become clear that their position is untenable.

[@zzbottom4904]

I think maybe the advertizer with the fancy car and the big big mansion can teach us all how to appear in public unshaven, and not much else.If he really does have money he should be able to handle this. If not, he should get his fingers out of his a....., and stop trying to scam people.

[@mitzvahgolem8366]

Passover is 14th day of Nissan evening. Not "Aviv". Trinity 1john5:7-8 was invented by Tertullian around 180ce. Many rejected this pagan idolatry as Arius and even Martin Luther excluded it from his first edition . Catholic s took it out of their NT. Look up "Comma Johanna debate" wars fought over this admitted addition to NT. Hundreds of other words and ideas also added into scripture such as Mark16:9-20 and John 7:53 not found in original earliest koine Greek scriptures. Jewish calendar is base on Torah readings. Constantine,Tertullian,Eusebius ,Origen all were vicious anti Semites in their writings and sought to completely separate Easter from Passover date. Only Martin Luther s writings about the Jews saying to burn them and their books is more vicious. Mein Kampf quotes Luther and passion play. They also persecuted and burned alive Arian's and any others who disagreed. Entire church is built upon violence and evil political motives to convert all Europe into one church to control them and destroy Judaism and any connection to it. What's strange is why and how most Protestants maintain edicts and rituals established by these evil romans posers in Jesus suits . Council of Laodicea established pagan Sunday as the sabbath even though Jesus and apostles were observant Jews following the Torah seventh day yom rishon. There are over 30,000 different churches and hundred s of Christian bibles today all claiming to be the "truth". Yet not one Christian bible matches the koine Greek or Hebrew original scriptures. I left years ago and only study the Hebrew Tanakh now which matches dead sea scrolls from 350bce written long before these evil roman lunatics took over . Watch Tenak Talk if you are interested . שלום