First Council of Nicaea

=== Homoousios ===
At the time, the term homoousios (same substance) was the most controversial term in the Nicene Creed. Most delegates at the Council had considerable reservations about the term because, before Nicaea, that term was only preferred by Sabellians, the Bible never says anything about God’s substance (ousia), the term was not part of the standard Christian language at the time, but was “borrowed from the pagan philosophy of the day.” (RH, 846) 

Constantine’s domination of the Nicene Council, therefore, is particularly revealed by the fact that he was able to force the inclusion of the word homoousios. “’Homoousios’ and ‘from the essence of the Father’ were added to the creed by Constantine himself, bearing witness to the extent of his influence at the council.”<ref>Jörg Ulrich. Nicaea and the West. ''Vigiliae Christianae'' 51, no. 1 (1997): 10-24. 15.</ref> Constantine "pressed for its inclusion."<ref>Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 211</ref> “Overawed by the emperor, the bishops, with two exceptions only, signed the creed, many of them much against their inclination.”<ref>Britannica, 1971 edition, Vol. 6, “Constantine,” p. 386</ref>

“Constantine took part in the Council of Nicaea and ensured that it reached the kind of conclusion which he thought best.”<ref>Hanson RPC, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God: The Arian Controversy, 318-381. 1988, page 850</ref> The emperor was present as an overseer and presider but did not cast any official vote. Constantine organized the Council along the lines of the [[Roman Senate]].