Podcast Episode 15
Council of Nicaea
with Dr. Blair Smith & host Nick Walters
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Episode 15 of This Week in Christian History continues the ongoing mission of the Center for Christian History at Mississippi College to help audiences rediscover the major turning points, influential individuals, and global legacies of the Christian past. Produced with the support of Mississippi College students and Blue & Gold Media, the weekly podcast brings together scholars, storytellers, and the broader Christian community to reflect on how historic moments have shaped both the church and the world. Each episode is structured to give listeners a consistent experience: an interview with host Nick Walters, founder of the Center for Christian History; a deep dive with a subject matter expert; and several highlights tied to anniversaries from the same week in history.
In this episode, the deep dive features Dr. D. Blair Smith of Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. Smith is recognized for his work in historical theology, Trinitarian studies, and early Christian doctrinal development. Listeners will appreciate his expertise as the conversation focuses on the beginnings of the Council of Nicaea, one of the most influential gatherings in all of Christian history. The council marked a decisive moment for the global church, ultimately affecting theology, worship, teaching, discipleship, and the vocabulary Christians have used for centuries to speak about God. This interview aligns with the Center’s commitment to placing Christian history in front of new audiences and encouraging deeper reflection on how the earliest centuries of the church continue to shape faith and practice today. For those interested in further study, Dr. Smith’s faculty profile can be found at Reformed Theological Seminary, where he teaches as part of a faculty dedicated to grounding Christian ministry in historic orthodoxy.
The weekly highlights help orient listeners within the broader sweep of Christian history by reminding them that the events of any given week are connected to important stories of innovation, faith, discovery, and influence. The first highlight is from May 24, 1844. Samuel B. Morse, known worldwide for inventing Morse Code and the telegraph, sent the first telegraph message from the old Supreme Court chamber in Washington, D.C., to the B&O Railroad station in Baltimore. The content of the historic message came from the Bible, specifically Numbers 23:23: “What hath God wrought.” This moment linked technological transformation with Christian reflection, and many nations honored Morse afterward with medals and awards, underscoring the international significance of his work. The second highlight is from May 25, 1805, marking the death of one of the most noted Christian apologists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, William Paley. An Anglican scholar, Paley argued against the deists of his era, insisting that divine revelation was a valid and necessary ground for belief in God. His book A View of the Evidences of Christianity became required reading at Cambridge, where he taught Greek and philosophy, and he graduated from Christ’s College, Cambridge, an institution whose history continues to influence global Christian scholarship. Paley’s portrait now hangs only a short distance from that of Charles Darwin, another Christ’s College alumnus, a juxtaposition that highlights the continuing relevance of Paley’s thought.
Listeners who engage with this episode will find it consistent with the Center for Christian History’s broader purpose: to make the rich story of Christianity accessible, accurate, compelling, and grounded in reliable historical research. The Center works closely with churches, scholars, students, and community partners to build a deeper understanding of the past and to support projects, publications, and educational programs that promote historical literacy among Christians. This podcast is one of several channels through which the Center advances that mission, and each episode provides an invitation for listeners to grow in their knowledge of Christian history while strengthening their connection to the global Christian tradition. As always, Mississippi College students and Blue & Gold Media play a key role in producing the episode, shaping the presentation, and ensuring that the stories of Christian history reach audiences in Mississippi and beyond. For those who value history, education, and the ongoing influence of the Christian tradition, this episode offers an informative experience rooted in research and delivered through meaningful conversation.
Image citation:
Icon of the First Council of Nicaea, Wikimedia Commons, public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nikea-arius.png
