Lutherans and Orthodox agree on the ‘Filioque’
The Lutheran World Federation and the Orthodox Church reach agreement on the ‘Filioque’ clause in the Nicene Creed
Last month, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Orthodox Church reached an agreement on the "Filioque" clause in the Nicene Creed, a point of contention that contributed to the schism between Western and Eastern churches over a thousand years ago. "Filioque," meaning "and the Son" in Latin, was added to indicate that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both God the Father and the Son. This disagreement was a key factor in the Great Schism of 1054.
In a joint statement, LWF and Orthodox leaders recommended using the original Greek translation of the Creed (without the Filioque) to help heal divisions and allow a unified confession of faith from the Ecumenical Councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). They noted that focusing on the original text could inspire renewed theological exploration of the Trinity and the Holy Spirit's role. Both parties affirmed that in their understanding of the Trinity, the Father is the source of both the Son's generation and the Spirit's procession.
The Nicene Creed was formulated in response to Arianism and was revised at the Council of Constantinople in 381. The Filioque clause was first added at the Third Council of Toledo in 589, emphasizing the equality of God the Father and God the Son. Many Eastern churches opposed this addition, leading to the Great Schism of 1054.
In 1999, the LWF signed the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" with the Roman Catholic Church, addressing theological differences regarding justification by faith. In 2017, representatives of the World Communion of Reformed Churches also endorsed the declaration, affirming a shared understanding of justification by God's grace through faith in Christ. For an earlier article on this particular development click here
Article by Dr Ian Watson, County Ecumenical Officer for Norfolk and Waveney.
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