You must write an original paper of your own composition on the topic of “Nicene Christology.” Your paper must be 1200 to 1800 words long, double-spaced, in a standard 12-point font in turbian format. should utilize multiple sources). In your paper, you must examine the major Christological controversies that are discussed in the Ecumenical Councils of the fourth and fifth centuries (the Councils of Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon). Structure your paper in the following manner:

The Controversies

First, drawing from your course texts, briefly discuss the controversies over the deity and humanity of Jesus. What were the positions of the different parties (concentrate on their views about Christ)? Why did they hold these views?

The Outcome

Second, describe the outcome of these councils, including the “Chalcedonian Definition.” What conclusions were reached at Nicaea and the subsequent councils? Why did the church fathers reach these conclusions? What difference did these specific conclusions make in the life of the church?

Application and Analysis

Third, apply what you have learned to your contemporary Christian fellowship/church experience. Possible questions for your reflection in this third section would be 1) What is the Christology (the understanding of who Christ is) of your contemporary Christian fellowship/church?; 2) How does this Christology compare or contrast with Nicene orthodoxy?; 3) How does your Christian fellowship’s/church’s adherence or departure from Nicene orthodoxy affect the message of salvation (and it does!)?; and 4) Why should (or shouldn’t) the thinking of contemporary Christians be/ become aligned with the Nicene Creed?

Your papers should draw primarily (but not exclusively) from the three course textbooks (Bingham, Pocket History of the Christian Church,Kerr, Readings in Christian Thought , and Lane, A Concise History of Christian Thought).