Let’s not Quibble over Trifles

You may have heard or used the expression, “It doesn’t make an iota of difference.”  The word “iota” is the name of the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet (like our “i”), and the idea is that such a small stroke of a pen is so inconsequential as to be irrelevant. People use this phrase when it is believed that the choices facing them are so similar that it would not matter a bit which option was taken. 

However, and ironically, the Greek letter “iota” was precisely the focus for the debate at the Council of Nicaea.  The question was whether Jesus was homoousios (of the same substance as) God or whether he was homoiousious (of similar substance to) God.  The only difference between the words in terms of spelling is the Greek letter iota, but their meaning is markedly different.  Contrary to the popular phrase, it matters a great deal that Jesus was of the same substance as God – i.e. that he was (and is) truly God as well as truly human.  It matters for our forgiveness.  For eternal justice.  For our hope and confidence.  It is a truth worth celebrating.  The Christmas carol, “O Come, all ye Faithful” helps us declare the same fundamental truths about Jesus:

God of God, Light of Light,
lo, He abhors not the virgin’s womb;
very God, begotten not created.

O come, let us adore him…

Image by Анастасия Белоусова from Pixabay