Nonbelievers and religious movements adamant about refuting Christianity has often misportrayed the Council of Nicea (Nicaea). Some myths that have stemmed from those allegations include: Jesus' deity was invented, The books of the Bible were voted upon, and those votes were close. Although the Council of Nicea is a notable part of history, it is not significant for any of those reasons.

The Council of Nicea was a meeting of about 300 bishops presided by Roman Emperor, Constantine in 325 AD. Constantine's objective was to cease confusion and to unite the Church by having the leaders define truth against error. The center concern was the relationship between the Father and the Son. Christianity was being challenged by the escalating controversy of Arianism, and The Emperor was determined to resolve those issues.

Was Jesus deity invented? Jesus' divinity was not invented, but rather affirmed at the Council of Nicea. Christians believed well before the Council that Jesus was both God and Man. Believers already agreed that he was divine and embraced the Gospels that support that claim. That was not questioned. The issue at hand was the nature of Christ -- He was viewed either of a different, same, or similar nature to the Father. Was Christ created? Was He co-equal and co-eternal with the Father? Is the Father alone God? Arius argued that Jesus was not an actual eternal being, but that he was created at a certain point by the Father. Alexander and Athanasius debated the complete contrary -- Christ was eternal. Clarity was given concerning Jesus in relations to the Father at Nicea. This disagreement was not the end, as Arianism became a challenge to Trinitarianism.

Were the books of the Bible voted upon? The council did not deal with any matters concerning scripture, but mostly with issues surrounding Christology. Long before Constantine or the Council, most of the New Testament was already accepted as Scripture by believers.

Was there a close vote? Being that the canon was not discussed, there could not have been a vote regarding it. In fact, there was not an actual vote at Nicea at all. However, there was an opportunity to sign the Nicean Creed, which all but two of the bishops signed. The Creed clarified the understanding of Biblical truth concerning Jesus' nature. That is not considered a 'close vote' but a landslide victory.

Newly popular sources have begun to resurface many theories against Christianity, which have already been invalidated. The fabrications surrounding the Council of Nicea are not exempt. However, the allegations are derived from unreliable and invalid sources. Jesus' divinity nor the Bible was ever based upon a vote. The Council of Nicea had virtually no influence on the formation of the canon. The Council was more about the affirmation and less about alteration.

Conscious and Christian,
Simultaneously.