Nicaea for Today Why an Ancient Creed (Still) Matters

by Ford, Coleman M.; Wilhite, Shawn

• ISBN13: 9781430091547
• ISBN10: 1430091541
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-09-15
• Publisher: B&H Academic

Summary

The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. While the historical and theological intricacies of Nicaea have been extensively analyzed within academic scholarship, its significance often remains underexplored within broader Christian understanding. The Nicene Creed stands as an early and pivotal ecumenical confession, marking key theological priorities that continue to resonate in the church’s understanding of divine mysteries. 

In Nicaea for Today: Why an Ancient Creed (Still) Matters, Coleman M. Ford and Shawn J. Wilhite draw on insights from leading Nicaea scholars to unpack the history and theology of this ancient creed in accessible language while demonstrating its powerful relevance for the modern church. The primary objective of this work is to facilitate intellectual engagement with Nicene theology among academic and pastoral readership and the creed’s enduring capacity to enrich spiritual life in the contemporary context.

Author Biography

Coleman M. Ford (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of humanities at Texas Baptist College. He is the co-director of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies and is a fellow of the Center for Pastoral Theologians (St. Basil Fellowship).

Shawn J. Wilhite (PhD, Durham University) is Associate Professor of New Testament at California Baptist University and is co-director of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies.

Table of Contents

Preface 
Foreword 
The Nicene Creed (325) 
The Niceno-Constantinople Creed (381) 
Introduction: Theologians as Doctors of Sacred Things 

Part 1: The Context and Nicaea
Chapter 1: “There Was a Time When He Was Not”: The Road to Nicaea 
Chapter 2: “By This Sign, Conquer”: Constantine and the Council of Nicaea 

Part 2: The Christ and Nicaea
Chapter 3: “Light from Light, True God from True God”: The Eternal Identity of the Son 
Chapter 4: “He Became Human . . . and Ascended into the Heavens”: Christ’s Humility and Exaltation 

Part 3: The Christian and Nicaea
Chapter 5: “For Us Humans and for Our Salvation”: The Beauty of Salvation 
Chapter 6: “The Trophy Over Death”: The Beauty of Spiritual Transformation 
Chapter 7: “We Believe”: The Beauty of Nicene Practices 
Chapter 8: No Creed but the Bible? How the Nicene Creed Explains the Bible 
Conclusion: The Legacy of Nicaea and Thinking Nicenely for Tomorrow 

Suggested Reading List: Primary Sources 
Suggested Reading List: Secondary Sources 
General Index 
Scripture Index