Did the West Add to the Creed? The Filioque Controversy Explained | Dr. Joel Elowsky

Bryan and Dr. Joel Elowsky discuss the historic split between the Eastern and Western Churches, focusing on how the doctrine of the Holy Spirit—and the phrase "and the Son" (filioque)—played a major role. You'll hear about how early church fathers spoke of the Spirit, why the West added to the Creed, and how political and theological tensions slowly built. It's a fascinating look at how language, authority, and doctrine shaped the Church we know today. #filioque #trinity #churchhistory #easternorthodox #romanCatholic #holyspirit #arianism #nicenecreed #theology #doctrine #gregorynazianzus #cyrilofalexandria #ecumenicalcouncils #christianunity #easternchurch #westernchurch #historiccreeds #christianphilosophy #christianapologetics #lutherantheology 0:00 – Introduction to the East–West split and the creeds 0:39 – Tensions begin in the 3rd century 1:00 – The development of the Nicene Creed and the Holy Spirit 1:26 – Church Fathers on the Spirit’s procession 2:15 – Linguistic differences in East vs. West 2:57 – Why the phrase “and the Son” was added 3:29 – Arian influence and its theological implications 4:05 – Toledo councils and Western codification 4:50 – Eastern reaction to unilateral Creed changes 5:08 – The monarchy of the Father and Trinitarian structure 6:18 – The Great Schism of 1054 and its buildup 6:39 – Competing centers of authority: Rome vs. Constantinople 7:57 – Rome’s role in early councils and power dynamics 8:30 – Summary of the filioque controversy 9:05 – Final reflections on Trinitarian expression and ongoing division