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Did Emperors Actually Run the 7 Ecumenical Councils?

Gavin Ortlund

Gavin Ortlund

teaching

February 18, 2026
Gavin Ortlund explains the role of the Roman Emperor in the early ecumenical councils of church history. Videos Mentioned: The Papacy in the 3rd to 7th Centuries: Protestant Critique: https://youtu.be/iUROLXJbkR8?si=guWqSbRDMcZAUlM1 Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org) exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth. Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites, Visiting Professor of Historical Theology at Phoenix Seminary, and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville. SUPPORT: Tax Deductible Support: https://truthunites.org/donate/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/truthunites FOLLOW: Website: https://truthunites.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truth.unites/ X: https://x.com/gavinortlund Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TruthUnitesPage/ MY ACADEMIC WORK: https://truthunites.org/mypublications/ PODCAST: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/truth-unites DISCORD SERVER ON PROTESTANTISM Striving Side By Side: https://discord.gg/MdTt6d5PVs CHECK OUT SOME BOOKS: https://www.amazon.com/Makes-Sense-World-That-Doesnt/dp/1540964094/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Theological-Retrieval-Evangelicals-Need-Future/dp/1433565269/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Right-Hills-Die-Theological/dp/1433567423/truthunitesbo-20 https://www.amazon.com/Retrieving-Augustines-Doctrine-Creation-Controversy/dp/0830853243/truthunitesbo-20 00:00 Introducing the Controversy 01:55 What Does "Preside" Mean? 03:45 Nicaea 1 07:10 Constantinople 1 09:00 Ephesus 09:51 Chalcedon 12:32 Later Councils 14:34 Summarizing the Implications

Topics

gavin ortlundtruth uniteschurch historyecumenical councilsroman emperor