Drew Mathews and Kaleb Glaze take a deep dive into one of Christianity’s most historic statements of faith: the Nicene Creed. Together, they unpack where the creed came from, why the early church felt it was necessary, and what it actually teaches about God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Their conversation explores the controversy surrounding Arianism and the question at the heart of the Nicene Council: Who is Jesus? They discuss why the church affirmed that Jesus is not a created being, but fully God and fully human, and why that truth matters for the Gospel itself. Drew and Kaleb also walk through several passages of Scripture that support the major claims of the creed, showing that the Nicene Creed wasn’t intended to create new doctrine, but to clearly articulate foundational biblical truths. Finally, they discuss why understanding these doctrines still matters for Christians today—and how the creed can help believers recognize teachings that move away from historic Christian orthodoxy. The Nicene CreedThe full creed discussed in the episode includes affirmations about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Jesus’ incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, and return; the Church; forgiveness of sins; the resurrection; and the life to come. The Councils of Nicaea and ConstantinopleThe episode discusses the two ecumenical councils that form the historical background of the Nicene Creed: the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and the Council of Constantinople in AD 381. ArianismArianism was the theological controversy that prompted the Nicene Council. The episode explains Arius's teaching that the Son was begotten by the Father and therefore had a beginning, rather than being coeternal with the Father. The Nicene response affirmed the Son as fully divine and of the same essence as the Father. Key Biblical References Deuteronomy 6:4 — The oneness of God. Mark 12:29 — Jesus affirms the oneness of God. 1 Corinthians 8:4–6 — One God, the Father, and one Lord, Jesus Christ. Acts 5:3–5 — The Holy Spirit is identified with God. Matthew 28:19 — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are named together in baptism. 2 Corinthians 13:14 — Paul identifies distinct roles for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Genesis 1–2 — God as Creator. John 1:1–4, 14–18 — Jesus as the Word who was with God, was God, and became flesh. Colossians 1:15–20 — Christ as the image of the invisible God and the one through whom all things were created. Hebrews 1:1–4, 8–12 — The Son as the radiance of God’s glory and exact representation of His nature. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 — Christ’s death for our sins and resurrection. Acts 1:9–11 — Jesus’ ascension and promised return. Hebrews 2:14 — Christ sharing in flesh and blood and defeating the power of death. Further Reading Mentioned Logos — The Nicene Creedhttps://www.logos.com/grow/nook-nicene-creed/ Athanasius — On the Incarnation of the Word of GodThe discussion references Athanasius's work on the incarnation and his explanation of why Christ had to be truly God in order to accomplish the work of salvation.
