The following work provides a quick overview over all 21 ecumenical councils as of today held by the Catholic Church.
Every several hundred years, cardinals, bishops, priests, theologians and other Catholic leaders, get together under the leadership of the Pope to discuss doctrine and the future of the Church. These are called ecumenical councils. So far, there have been 21 councils in the history of the Church since 325 A.D. (Prior to that, serious persecution prevented widespread meetings. There were, however, less organized councils.) In the Bible we have an example of a Church council (Acts 15-16). Paul and Barnabus went to Jerusalem in Israel to settle the circumcision issue.” As they (Paul and Timothy) went through the towns they delivered to the believers the rules decided upon by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and they told them to obey those rules.” (Acts 16:3) This is a good example of the Lord using the “Church” to decide on matters of interpretation. The councils are part of the glue of the Church and are extremely important because it is where the Church settles many issues about what God is saying in Scripture and what he is saying to his Church. They are also where the Church officially responds to doctrinal threats. Sometimes we hear Evangelicals say something like, “Catholics made up the doctrine of [insert your favorite Catholic doctrine] at such and such a council” when, in truth, the Church was simply officially defining something that it had always believed as a response to a challenge from those opposed to the Catholic doctrine. Catholics believe the Holy Spirit is seriously present, guiding the proceedings at these councils. Jesus said to Peter, “...you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Catholics believe that was Jesus’ promise that he would protect the Church from doctrinal error. This doctrinal protection is called “infallibility“. It does not mean that Catholics leaders throughout history would not be “indefectible” on issues other than doctrine. These councils are called ecumenical because there are several rites in the Catholic Church including the Eastern Rite (Byzantine, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean). All of these rights recognize the Pope in Rome as their leader. The largest rite is the Latin-Rite (that’s the one most people know).
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
I. FIRST COUNCIL OF NICAEA (A.D. 325)
II. FIRST COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (A.D.381)
III. COUNCIL OF EPHESUS (A.D. 431)
IV. COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON (A.D. 451)
V. SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (A.D.553)
VI. THIRD COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (680-681)
VII. SECOND COUNCIL OF NICAEA (787 A.D.)
VIII. FOURTH COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (869 A.D.)
IX. FIRST LATERAN COUNCIL (1123 A.D.)
X. SECOND LATERAN COUNCIL (1139 A.D.)
XI. THIRD LATERAN COUNCIL (1179 A.D.)
XII. FOURTH LATERAN COUNCIL (1215 A.D)
XIII. FIRST COUNCIL OF LYONS (1245 A.D.)
XIV. SECOND COUNCIL OF LYONS (1274 A.D.)
XV. COUNCIL OF VIENNE (1311A.D.)
XVI. COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE (1415 A.D)
XVII. COUNCIL OF BASLE, FERRARA, FLORENCE (1431 to1445)
XVIII. FIFTH LATERAN COUNCIL (1512 A.D.)
XIX. COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545A.D.)
XX. FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL (1869-1870)
XXI. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL (1962-1965)
Objectives and Themes
The document serves as a historical overview of the 21 ecumenical councils in the Catholic Church, aiming to explain their function as authoritative bodies for settling doctrinal disputes and defining official Church belief. It examines how these gatherings have addressed internal threats, formalised dogma, and navigated historical challenges from the Council of Nicaea to the Second Vatican Council.
- Historical chronology and significance of ecumenical councils.
- The theological role of councils in doctrinal definition and infallibility.
- Institutional responses to external and internal theological challenges.
- Evolution of Church governance and liturgy across centuries.
Excerpt from the Book
INTRODUCTION
Every several hundred years, cardinals, bishops, priests, theologians and other Catholic leaders, get together under the leadership of the Pope to discuss doctrine and the future of the Church. These are called ecumenical councils. So far, there have been 21 councils in the history of the Church since 325 A.D. (Prior to that, serious persecution prevented widespread meetings. There were however, less organized councils.) In the Bible we have an example of a Church council (Acts 15-16). Paul and Barnabus went to Jerusalem in Israel to settle the circumcision issue.” As they (Paul and Timothy) went through the towns they delivered to the believers the rules decided upon by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, and they told them to obey those rules.” (Acts 16:3) This is a good example of the Lord using the “Church” to decide on matters of interpretation. The councils are part of the glue of the Church and are extremely important because it is where the Church settles many issues about what God is saying in Scripture and what he is saying to his Church. They are also where the Church officially responds to doctrinal threats.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Provides a theological and historical foundation for ecumenical councils, establishing their purpose in defining doctrine and maintaining Church unity.
I. FIRST COUNCIL OF NICAEA (A.D. 325): Established the divinity of the Son of God against Arianism and formalised the Nicene Creed.
II. FIRST COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (A.D.381): Addressed errors regarding the divinity of the Holy Ghost and expanded the Nicene Creed.
III. COUNCIL OF EPHESUS (A.D. 431): Defined the personal unity of Christ and declared Mary as the Mother of God (theotokos).
IV. COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON (A.D. 451): Formulated the doctrine of the two natures of Christ against Eutyches.
V. SECOND COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (A.D.553): Condemned Origen's theories and reaffirmed the authority of previous councils.
VI. THIRD COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (680-681): Resolved the dispute over Monothelitism by affirming two distinct wills in Christ.
VII. SECOND COUNCIL OF NICAEA (787 A.D.): Regulated the veneration of holy images and relics.
VIII. FOURTH COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE (869 A.D.): Addressed the Photian Schism and condemned the irregular acts of Photius.
IX. FIRST LATERAN COUNCIL (1123 A.D.): Focused on Church discipline and the abolition of lay investiture.
X. SECOND LATERAN COUNCIL (1139 A.D.): Targeted the errors of Arnold of Brescia.
XI. THIRD LATERAN COUNCIL (1179 A.D.): Condemned the Albigenses and Waldenses while issuing decrees for moral reform.
XII. FOURTH LATERAN COUNCIL (1215 A.D): Issued an expanded creed and set a milestone for papal power and reformatory decrees.
XIII. FIRST COUNCIL OF LYONS (1245 A.D.): Excommunicated Emperor Frederick II and organized crusades.
XIV. SECOND COUNCIL OF LYONS (1274 A.D.): Attempted a temporary reunion with the Greek Church and set rules for papal elections.
XV. COUNCIL OF VIENNE (1311A.D.): Dealt with the Knights Templars and church reform.
XVI. COUNCIL OF CONSTANCE (1415 A.D): Brought an end to the Great Schism of the West through the election of Pope Martin V.
XVII. COUNCIL OF BASLE, FERRARA, FLORENCE (1431 to1445): Attempted the pacification of Bohemia and a union with the Greek Church.
XVIII. FIFTH LATERAN COUNCIL (1512 A.D.): Focused on disciplinary decrees and planning against the Turks during the rise of Luther.
XIX. COUNCIL OF TRENT (1545A.D.): Addressed the reforms and errors of Luther, resulting in significant dogmatic and disciplinary output.
XX. FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL (1869-1870): Defined the dogma of Papal infallibility when speaking ex cathedra.
XXI. SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL (1962-1965): Focused on ecumenism, the role of the laity, and modernizing the liturgy.
Keywords
Ecumenical councils, Catholic Church, Dogma, Infallibility, Doctrine, Papacy, Creed, Theology, Church history, Liturgy, Reformation, Schism, Canon Law, Bishops, Christian unity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary purpose of this work?
The work provides a concise historical summary of the 21 ecumenical councils to illustrate how the Catholic Church has historically used these gatherings to address doctrinal challenges and maintain unity.
What are the central themes covered?
The central themes include the evolution of Church doctrine, the response to various heresies or doctrinal threats, the consolidation of papal authority, and the adaptation of Church discipline over nearly two millennia.
What is the main research question of the document?
The document functions as an inquiry into how and why the Church has convened councils to define what it believes God is saying to the Church throughout history.
Which methodology is employed in this text?
The text employs a historical-chronological methodology, outlining each council's context, key participants, and primary dogmatic or disciplinary decisions.
What is the focus of the main section of the book?
The main body systematically details each of the 21 councils, identifying the specific theological disputes (such as Arianism, Monothelitism, or the Reformation) and the official definitions resulting from these assemblies.
Which keywords best characterise this publication?
Key terms include ecumenical councils, dogma, infallibility, liturgy, and the historical development of Catholic ecclesiastical authority.
How does the author define the concept of 'infallibility' as discussed in the text?
The author distinguishes infallibility as a specific protection of the Church from doctrinal error, particularly regarding definitions concerning faith or morals, as highlighted by the First Vatican Council.
What shift in liturgy did the Second Vatican Council introduce?
Vatican II introduced significant liturgical improvements, most notably encouraging the celebration of the Mass in the local language of the environment rather than exclusively in Latin.
Why are these councils considered 'ecumenical'?
They are termed ecumenical because they represent the entire Catholic Church, including various Eastern Rites (such as Byzantine and Armenian), which all recognize the Pope as the central leader.
- Citation du texte
- Pierre Mvogo Amougou (Auteur), 2018, The 21 Ecumenical Councils of the Catholic Church. Short Overview, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1131060
