Exploring the Council of Nicaea in the Nineteenth Century

Friedrich Schleiermacher is perhaps a curious figure with whom to reflect on the reception of the Nicene Creed in the modern era, since he was not shy about pointing out the difficulties in trinitarian thought that are enshrined in the Nicene Creed, and his Glaubenslehre (1830/31) called for a fresh Protestant treatment of the doctrine. This paper complicates the prevalent interpretation of Schleiermacher’s doctrine of God and trinitarian thought, which sees his work as marginal to the discussion, instead suggesting not only that Schleiermacher’s dogmatics had an enduring influence in this regard but also that his work has significance for constructive theology in the present era.

This essay examines the trinitarian theology of nineteenth-century Lutheran theologian Gottfried Thomasius, contextualizing his work within the theological and philosophical challenges to traditional trinitarian doctrine during the German Enlightenment. While Thomasius is primarily known for his controversial kenotic Christology, this analysis focuses on his doctrine of God and defense of Nicene orthodoxy. The essay argues that Thomasius sought to preserve and extend the Niceno-Constantinopolitan trinitarian consensus by developing a robust concept of divine personality (Persönlichkeit) in response to modern philosophical critiques. This study demonstrates how Thomasius articulated a trinitarian theology that maintained both divine unity and personal distinction through his innovative concept of "absolute personality."