Nicaea for Today: Why an Ancient Creed (Still) Matters

The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. While the historical and theological intricacies of Nicaea have been extensively analyzed within academic scholarship, its significance often remains underexplored within broader Christian understanding. The Nicene Creed stands as an early and pivotal ecumenical confession, marking key theological priorities that continue to resonate in the church’s understanding of divine mysteries.

In Nicaea for Today: Why an Ancient Creed (Still) Matters, Coleman M. Ford and Shawn J. Wilhite draw on insights from leading Nicaea scholars to unpack the history and theology of this ancient creed in accessible language while demonstrating its powerful relevance for the modern church. The primary objective of this work is to facilitate intellectual engagement with Nicene theology among academic and pastoral readership and the creed’s enduring capacity to enrich spiritual life in the contemporary context.

Coleman M. Ford (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is assistant professor of humanities at Texas Baptist College. He is the co-director of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies and is a fellow of the Center for Pastoral Theologians (St. Basil Fellowship).

Shawn J. Wilhite (PhD, Durham University) is Associate Professor of New Testament at California Baptist University and is co-director of the Center for Ancient Christian Studies.