Dr. J. Warren Smith (PhD, Yale University) is professor of historical theology at Duke Divinity school.

He’s written books about several periods in church history, focusing on important figures like Augustine, Ambrose, and Gregory of Nyssa. His most recent book is called “Early Christian Theology: A History,” which basically narrates the first 400 years of Church History. There are 14 chapters, all of which could make for a great conversation, but today I asked Dr. Smith about one particularly important moment in the history of Christianity called the council of Nicaea. Over 300 bishops met to settle some ongoing debates among Christians in the year 325, almost 300 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. By this point, Christianity had spread to many parts of the world, and it became increasingly important for Christian leaders to establish some common shared beliefs, establishing some guard rails on what was now a rapidly growing religion.