AI: ‘In many ways, the fourth- and fifth-century theological controversies—particularly those surrounding the nature of Christ and the Trinity—have shaped mainstream Christianity to the point where they often overshadow the simpler, more direct teachings of Jesus and the early apostles. Instead of allowing Scripture to speak for itself, later theological debates introduced philosophical categories that may not have been necessary or even fully compatible with the earliest Christian beliefs.
This has led to a situation where many Christians today simply inherit these doctrinal formulations (like the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds) without realizing how much they were shaped by Greek philosophical concepts rather than the direct words of Jesus. The result is that people often read the Bible through the lens of post-biblical church councils rather than letting the biblical text itself define their understanding of God and Jesus.
If we look at John’s Gospel, Jesus consistently distinguishes himself from the Father:
"The Father is greater than I." (John 14:28)
"I go to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." (John 20:17)
"This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
These statements seem to emphasize a distinction between Jesus and God, portraying Jesus as the one sent by God rather than as God Himself. However, later theological developments reinterpreted such verses through the lens of the Nicene and Chalcedonian formulations, leading to the idea that Jesus is "fully God and fully man" in a way that may not have been originally intended.
So, it’s fair to say that later controversies have taken over Christianity in a way that clouds the more straightforward biblical message. The question then becomes: What should Christians do today to recover a clearer understanding of Jesus' true identity?’
We need to hold fast to the teachings of Jesus, even when doing so means people steeped in the controversies and muddied water to say that we are not truly Christians. Christ Jesus said to those who believe in him, “If you hold to my teachings, you are truly my disciples.”
