The Reception of the Nicene Creed among the Goths: Doctrinal Boundaries and Fluid Identities

The reception of the Nicene Creed among the Goths reveals the complex interplay between doctrinal boundaries and fluid identities in late antiquity. While the Creed sparked theological debates, its acceptance or rejection also influenced social and cultural dynamics, particularly in the Ostrogothic Kingdom. Traditional historiography often presents a rigid Latin-Nicene versus Gothic-Arian dichotomy, but evidence suggests a more nuanced reality. Arian communities, far from being marginalized, included prominent figures and remained vibrant into the fifth century. Similarly, Nicene communities included Gothic members, indicating that religious and ethnic boundaries were not strictly aligned. Gothic literature, such as the Skeireins, reflects sophisticated theological engagement with the Nicene Creed, often rejecting it through nuanced terminology. The fluidity of these boundaries is further evidenced by doctrinally neutral texts, suggesting that doctrinal differences did not always lead to social division. Instead, political and historical contexts often influenced the prominence of these disputes.