Council of Ephesus on Authority of Scripture

431 · ECUMENICAL COUNCIL · DOCUMENT, NOT A PERSON

READ IN A PRIMARY SOURCEAFFIRMS°

STANCE

Scripture with tradition and church teaching office

Canon 7 — "it is unlawful for any man to bring forward, or to write, or to compose a different (heteran) Faith."

THE POSITION

Canon 7 closes creed-making: it is unlawful to compose or bring forward any faith rival to Nicaea, on pain of deposition for clergy and anathema for laity. The Nicene symbol is described as established by the fathers assembled with the Holy Spirit — a Spirit-guaranteed conciliar standard. The council also receives Cyril's letters and Pope Celestine's judgment as authoritative.

6 OTHERS HOLD THIS

Aquinas Basil the Great Chalcedon Chrysostom Constantinople I Nicaea I

Scripture alone is the final, only infallible authorityJACOBUS ARMINIUS · VODDIE BAUCHAM · CALVIN · JONATHAN EDWARDS · THE CHURCH OF ELEVEN22 STATEMENT OF FAITH · M. HEISER · JOSH HOWERTON · SECOND LONDON BAPTIST CONFESSION · LUTHER · JOHN MACARTHUR · PHILIP MELANCHTHON · GAVIN ORTLUND · JOHN OWEN · JUSTIN PETERS · JOHN PIPER · R.C. SPROUL · WESLEY · WESTMINSTER CONFESSION · ZWINGLI

Scripture supreme, recognized and interpreted through the churchATHANASIUS · AUGUSTINE · IRENAEUS

See all 29 figures on authority of scripture →

ABOUT THIS FIGURE

Affirmed Mary as Theotokos and the unity of Christ's person against Nestorius. Closed creed-making beyond Nicaea, and condemned the Pelagian Celestius.

3 OF 3 POSITIONS QUOTED

Everything Ephesus holds →

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"Council of Ephesus on Authority of Scripture", Examined Doctrine, July 2026 edition, https://examineddoctrine.com/position/ephesus-431/scripture-authority (archived at https://examineddoctrine.com/editions/2026-07/position/ephesus-431/scripture-authority).

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