Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, He is Alpha and Omega, He the Source, the Ending He, of the things that are, that have been, and that future years shall see evermore and evermore!
In the year 325 A.D., one of the greatest controversies in the church came to a breaking point, and the Emperor Constantine called together the First Council of Nicea to establish once and for all the Church’s official stance on the nature of the Trinity.
Constantine needed the divisions in Christianity to end so he could more effectively use it as a political-religious foce to unite his kingdom.
The major question under consideration was the teaching of Arius from Egypt, who was teaching that Jesus the Son was not equal to God the Father.
Arius forcefully argued his position at length. The assembled bishops listened respectfully.
As Arius vigorously continued, Nicholas, bishop of Myra, (think old saint Nick), became more and more agitated. Finally, he could no longer bear the heresy of Arius. The outraged Nicholas got up, crossed the room, and hit Arius across the face! The bishops were shocked to see such a raw manly reaction. It was unbelievable that a bishop would lose control and be so hotheaded in such a solemn assembly. They brought Nicholas to Constantine. Constantine said even though it was illegal for anyone to strike another in his presence, in this case, the bishops themselves must determine the punishment.
The bishops stripped Nicholas of his bishop’s garments, chained him, and threw him into jail. That would keep Nicholas away from the meeting. When the Council ended a final decision would be made about his future.
Nicholas was ashamed and prayed for forgiveness, though he did not waver in his belief. During the night, Jesus, appeared, asking, “Why are you in jail?” “Because of my love for you,” Nicholas replied. Jesus then gave the Book of the Gospels and vestments to Nicholas so he would again be dressed as a bishop. Now at peace, Nicholas studied the Scriptures for the rest of the night.
When the jailer came in the morning, he found the chains loose on the floor and Nicholas dressed in bishop’s robes, quietly reading the Scriptures. When Constantine was told of this, the emperor ordered Nicholas be freed. Nicholas was then fully reinstated as the Bishop of Myra.
Partly because of Christ’s jailhouse visitation, the Council of Nicaea agreed with Nicholas’ views, deciding the question against Arius. The work of the Council produced the Nicene Creed which to this day many Christians repeat weekly when they stand to say what they believe.
The Nicene Creed is written as a statement of faith that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are all of the same nature, three and yet one. The hymn, “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” addresses this belief in the Trinity in the very first line. It is very clear from this text that Christ is both human and divine, and rather than simply being made by God, he was “begotten” of the very same substance. When we sing this hymn, we both affirm and align our faith with the broader faith of the Church, and we deny any belief that says that Christ is not fully divine. This hymn, so often associated with Christmas, is thus a hymn of proclamation, calling us to sing out our faith.
With these thoughts in mind be encouraged by the poetry of the Christmas hymn “Of the Father’s Love Begotten.”
