The early church’s ecumenical councils

This article by Douglas Kuiper provides a historical overview of the early church's ecumenical councils from Nicea (325 AD) through the later councils, explaining their purpose in establishing unified doctrine and practice across Christian regions. The author traces how the first seven councils are generally recognized by Christian traditions, notes Rome's addition of fourteen more councils including Trent and Vatican II, and highlights the Reformed perspective that while the first six councils were doctrinally important, the seventh council's approval of image worship was viewed less favorably. This resource serves as an introductory primer for understanding how the early church addressed doctrinal disputes through conciliar authority and sets the stage for deeper examination of specific councils' decisions.