Squabble over Semantics

Understanding the controversies that shaped the Creed

04/30/2024

Jn 14:27-31a Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, 'I am going away and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

There is a small line in the gospel today that caused a great deal of dispute and even division in the early Church. Did you happen to catch it? Jesus says, “the Father is greater than I.” Now when you first hear that statement, what do you think? Well, we might surmise that in some sense Jesus is “lesser” or “inferior” to God the Father. And of course, what Jesus says is true since he had just said a few verses earlier in Jn 14:6, that he is “the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus does not, indeed he cannot, lie.

And furthermore, the Holy Spirit who inspired St. John to record those words in the gospel did not err because we believe the Sacred Scriptures are inerrant regarding matters relating to our salvation, that is, concerning faith and morals. So what Jesus said is true and accurate, but in what sense did he mean it?

Well, in the 4th century (300’s) there was a priest named Arius who interpreted Jesus’ words (there and elsewhere) to mean that the Son of God, in his divine nature, was not “co-eternal” with God the Father. That is, within the Holy Trinity itself, God the Father was greater than God the Son. At the same time, however, St. Athanasius taught the Father and Son were perfectly equal, but that Jesus’ words referred to his human nature.

That is, insofar as Jesus has a human nature – which he received from his Mother Mary – “the Father is greater” than the Son. Now, I know this might all sound like an insignificant intermural squabble over semantics, or as Shakespeare said, “much ado about nothing.” But it was a huge controversy in the 4th century to such an extent that the majority of bishops adhered to Arianism, and at one point St. Athanasius was exiled.

So, how was this raging fire of faith finally extinguished? Well, it took two major church councils, the first convened in Nicea in 325 and the second in Constantinople in 381. Thanks to these first two councils of the Church, every Sunday we stand after the homily and profess our faith, the Creed. Those words have been shared and spoken by Christians for 1700 years.

Now maybe you can understand why we emphasize Jesus’ equality with God the Father when we say: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial (equal) with the Father; through him all things were made.” Can you hear the Arian controversy behind those words of our Creed? And even moreso, can you hear the correct interpretation the councils were giving to Jn 14:28, where Jesus said (truly and accurately) “the Father is greater than I”?

Folks, I know today’s homily about a few words in Jn 14 might sound ho-hum and boring, like making a mountain out of a molehill. But it was anything but that in the 4th century. Bishops were declaring each other heretics. Saints and theologians were being condemned and exiled. And people were being put to death for what they believed (rightly or wrongly). In other words, our Catholic faith was forged in the fires of white hot controversy, and articulating the true faith was nothing less than a matter of life and death.

Let me bring this 4th century controversy in to the 21st century. During the RCIA process those who are learning about the Catholic faith are presented with a copy of the Creed at the first scrutiny during Lent. For me that is always such a significant gesture. Why? Well, because RCIA candidates who become Roman Catholic have experienced at least a little of that fire and controversy of the 4th century of the Church.

They have struggled to articulate their own faith, and sometimes in the face of tremendous pressure from family and friends that they were making a huge mistake. It would not be an exaggeration to say some even feel they have been exiled from their former social and spiritual groups. In other words, on a smaller scale, many of our RCIA participants have re-lived the Arian controversy in their journey to the Catholic Church. Don’t tell them that professing the true faith is simply a squabble over semantics.

Praised be Jesus Christ!