The purpose of the council was to resolve disagreements in the Church of Alexandria over the nature of Jesus in relationship to the Father ; in particular , whether Jesus was of the same substance as God the Father or merely of similar substance . One purpose of the council was to resolve disagreements arising from within the Church of Alexandria over the nature of Jesus in relationship to God the Father ; in particular , whether Jesus was the literal son of God or was he a figurative son , like the other `` Sons of God '' in the Bible .