Theology with Ricky Nazworth

Introduction: The Libri Carolini and the Rejection of Nicaea II The veneration of religious images remains one of the most divisive theological issues in Christian history. In 787 AD, the Second Council of Nicaea (Nicaea II) declared that icons were to be given douleia (veneration), distinguishing this from latreia (worship). This decision was met with strong resistance from the Frankish Church, which, under Charlemagne’s direction, produced the Libri Carolini—a comprehensive refutation of Byzantine iconodulism. This Frankish theological treatise argued that any form of religious reverence toward images, no matter how nuanced, inevitably leads to idolatry and corrupts true Christian worship. Rooted in Scripture and the early Church tradition, the Libri Carolini upheld a Christ-centered approach to worship that rejected both the Byzantine embrace of images and the extreme iconoclasm of certain Eastern emperors. The significance of the Libri Carolini extends far beyond the Carolingian er...

 The Council of Frankfurt in 794 AD was not only a theological milestone but also a decisive moment in the political and ecclesiastical organization of Christendom under Charlemagne. This council reinforced Charlemagne’s role as a legitimate defender of Christian doctrine, correcting theological errors such as Nicaea II’s icon veneration and Adoptionism while also establishing a Frankish model of church governance that differed sharply from both Byzantine caesaropapism and later papal supremacy. Charlemagne’s leadership at Frankfurt exemplified the God-ordained duty of rulers to preserve true doctrine and protect the Church from corruption, a legacy continued by figures such as Carolus Rex (Charles XII of Sweden) and Donald Trump in their roles as defenders of the faith. Charlemagne as the Defender of the Faith Charlemagne did not see himself as a mere political ruler but as a divinely ordained protector of Christian truth, entrusted with maintaining doctrinal purity within his rea...

 Throughout Christian history, one of the most debated theological topics has been the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. Christians have long wrestled with questions such as: Are believers today still obligated to follow the Mosaic Law? If Jesus fulfilled the Law, does that mean it has been abolished, or does it still hold authority in some way? The answer, found throughout the New Testament and echoed by the early Church, is that the Old Covenant, while still the infallible Word of God, has been fulfilled in Christ and is no longer binding on believers today. The Old Covenant’s Fulfillment in the New Testament One of the clearest indicators that the Old Covenant has come to completion is found in Hebrews 8:13, which states, “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” The use of the word “obsolete” here is critical. The Old Covenant is not merely an outdated contract but one that has been...