Last modified: 2025-03-08
Abstract
The First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) affirmed the principle of equality within the Trinity, and the concept of the Holy Spirit (Spiritus Sophia) serves as a foundational basis for feminist theological reflection. The urgency of this study lies in the necessity of reinterpreting the legacy of the Council of Nicaea within the framework of feminist theology to explore the potential foundations of equality and inclusivity in Early Church teachings. This research employs a literature review method with a feminist theological approach to analyze the documents of the Council of Nicaea, the development of pneumatology, and the role of women in the Early Church. This reinterpretation is then applied to contemporary ecclesial participation and empowerment within the Asian Church. The findings indicate that: (1) the homoousios concept in Trinitarian theology can serve as a foundation for the idea of equality within the faith community; (2) the understanding of the Holy Spirit as Spiritus Sophia in certain theological traditions provides space for women's inclusivity in the Church; and (3) the presence of female deacons in the Early Church demonstrates that women's roles in the Church were not entirely marginalized, despite their decline in later historical developments. This study contributes to the ongoing reinterpretation of the Council of Nicaea in order to foster a more inclusive Asian Church, advocating for greater female participation in the religious and theological life of faith communities and the Church in Asia.