Assignment Content

Course: CHHI 301 – History of the Christian Church I

Assignment: Research Paper – The Council of Nicaea and Christological Orthodoxy

Due Date: Sunday by 11:59 PM (End of Module/Week 6)

Points: 200

Format: Turabian (Current Edition)

Assignment Overview

In this module, you will demonstrate your ability to analyze critical turning points in early church history. The Council of Nicaea (325 AD) stands as a watershed moment in the definition of Christological orthodoxy and the relationship between the Church and the Empire. This assignment requires you to move beyond a mere recounting of events; you must engage in a historical and theological analysis of the controversy, the council’s proceedings, and its lasting legacy.

Sample Answer Content: The Council of Nicaea was not merely a reaction to Arianism but a pivotal moment where the Church sought to articulate the ontology of Christ in relation to the Father using precise philosophical language. By affirming that the Son is homoousios (of the same substance) with the Father, the Council established a boundary marker for orthodoxy that would shape Christian dogma for centuries. However, the immediate aftermath of the council revealed that the imposition of a creed did not instantly quell theological dissent, as imperial politics continued to influence ecclesiastical unity.

Instructions

Write a 1,200–1,500-word research paper (approximately 5–6 pages, excluding the title page and bibliography) on the Council of Nicaea. Your paper must address the following components:

• Historical Context: Briefly describe the rise of Arianism and the theological crisis that necessitated the council. What were the core arguments of Arius and Alexander?
• The Imperial Intervention: Analyze the role of Emperor Constantine in convening the council. To what extent was his motivation political unity versus theological purity?
• Theological Analysis: Explicate the term homoousios. Why was this term controversial? How did it resolve (or fail to resolve) the tension between monotheism and the divinity of Christ?
• Legacy: Evaluate the long-term impact of the Nicene Creed on the development of Trinitarian theology.

Submission Requirements

To receive full credit, your submission must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Sources: You must use the Bible and a minimum of five (5) scholarly sources published within the last 10 years. Acceptable sources include academic journal articles, commentaries, and historical monographs. Websites (e.g., Wikipedia, personal blogs) are not permitted.
2. Formatting: The paper must follow the Turabian (Chicago Style) format. This includes a title page, footnotes for citations, and a bibliography.
3. Thesis Statement: The introduction must contain a clear, arguable thesis statement that guides the direction of the paper.
4. Academic Integrity: All work must be original. Plagiarism or the use of AI text-generation tools without proper attribution and critical engagement is strictly prohibited and will result in a zero.

Grading Rubric

Recommended Learning Resources (Bibliography)
Reference List (Harvard Format)

Anatolios, K. (2018) Retrieving Nicaea: The Development and Meaning of Trinitarian Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. Available at: https://bakeracademic.com/p/retrieving-nicaea-khaled-anatolios/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Ayres, L. (2020) ‘Nicaea and its Legacy: An Approach to Fourth-Century Trinitarian Theology’, Harvard Theological Review, 113(4), pp. 435–458. doi: 10.1017/S001781602000021X.

Behr, J. (2019) John the Theologian and his Paschal Gospel: A Prologue to Theology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/john-the-theologian-and-his-paschal-gospel (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Gwynn, D.M. (2022) Christianity in the Later Roman Empire: A Sourcebook. 2nd edn. London: Bloomsbury Academic. Available at: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/christianity-in-the-later-roman-empire-9781350006240/ (Accessed: 14 January 2026).

Parvis, S. (2021) ‘The Council of Nicaea (325): Religious and Political Contexts’, in Edwards, M. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Biblical Interpretation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 112–128. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198718390.013.8.