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Introduction to the Creeds
A creed is a statement of what a person --or group of people --believes and teaches.
In the early centuries of the church's history the creeds were developed to affirm what the Bible
teaches, thereby also rejecting doctrines that the Bible does not teach. Therefore they were and
are a way by which Bible truth was summarized and passed on from one generation to the next.
Using memorized creeds was also an effective way to teach a mostly illiterate population, where
relatively few could read and write. It is true that the words of the creeds are "man made" but,
what the creeds say come from the Bible, even using the Bible's words. The following three
creeds are called the Ecumenical Creeds and are used in Lutheran churches.
A creed is a statement of what a person --or group of people --believes and teaches.
In the early centuries of the church's history the creeds were developed to affirm what the Bible
teaches, thereby also rejecting doctrines that the Bible does not teach. Therefore they were and
are a way by which Bible truth was summarized and passed on from one generation to the next.
Using memorized creeds was also an effective way to teach a mostly illiterate population, where
relatively few could read and write. It is true that the words of the creeds are "man made" but,
what the creeds say come from the Bible, even using the Bible's words. The following three
creeds are called the Ecumenical Creeds and are used in Lutheran churches.
What We Believe -- And Why
Part 1 The Creeds of the Church
Introduction to The Apostle's Creed
The Apostle's Creed is a brief statement of Gospel truths that were taught by the apostles.
Christians used the Apostle's Creed to tell others what they believed and also to confess their faith
with one another as they gather for worship.
The Apostle's Creed is a brief statement of Gospel truths that were taught by the apostles.
Christians used the Apostle's Creed to tell others what they believed and also to confess their faith
with one another as they gather for worship.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And In Jesus Christ , His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of
the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended
into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness
of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*catholic means "universal and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And In Jesus Christ , His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of
the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended
into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the
dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness
of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*catholic means "universal and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.
Introduction to The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed was written around 325 A.D. to defend the Christian faith. The Council at
Nicea developed it, expanding on the divine nature of Christ.
The Nicene Creed was written around 325 A.D. to defend the Christian faith. The Council at
Nicea developed it, expanding on the divine nature of Christ.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible
and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all
worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one
substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation,
came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was
made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and
the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and
the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the
Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism
for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible
and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all
worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one
substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us men, and for our salvation,
came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was
made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and
the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on
the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and
the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spake by the
Prophets. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism
for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
Introduction to The Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is named after St. Athanasius, a strong defender of the Christian faith in
the fourth century. It was developed to assist the Church in clearing up two errors that
undermine Gospel truth. The first error denied that God's Son and the Holy Spirit are of one
being with the Father. The second error denied that Jesus Christ is true God and true man in
one person. The Athanasian Creed traditionally confessed on Trinity Sunday when we gather
for worship and declares that whoever rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of
Christ is without the saving faith.
The Athanasian Creed is named after St. Athanasius, a strong defender of the Christian faith in
the fourth century. It was developed to assist the Church in clearing up two errors that
undermine Gospel truth. The first error denied that God's Son and the Holy Spirit are of one
being with the Father. The second error denied that Jesus Christ is true God and true man in
one person. The Athanasian Creed traditionally confessed on Trinity Sunday when we gather
for worship and declares that whoever rejects the doctrine of the Trinity and the doctrine of
Christ is without the saving faith.
The Athanasian Creed
Written against the Arians.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which
faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither
confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father,
another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty co eternal. Such as the Father is,
such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the
Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy
Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And
yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three
Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and One incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is
almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties,
but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet
there are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the
Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For as like as we are compelled by
the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God land Lord, So are we
forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not
made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son: neither made,
nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son,
not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or
after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co eternal
together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in
Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of God is God and Man; God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the
worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect
Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching two, but
one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into
God; One God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose
again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven; he sitteth on the right and of the
Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick ;and the dead. At whose
coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they hath have done evil, into
everlasting fire.
This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
Written against the Arians.
Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which
faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither
confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father,
another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty co eternal. Such as the Father is,
such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the
Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy
Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal. And
yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there are not three Uncreated nor three
Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and One incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is
almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties,
but one Almighty. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet
there are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the
Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For as like as we are compelled by
the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God land Lord, So are we
forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not
made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and the Son: neither made,
nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son,
not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or
after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co eternal
together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in
Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation
of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of God is God and Man; God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the
worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect
Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching two, but
one Christ: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into
God; One God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose
again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven; he sitteth on the right and of the
Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick ;and the dead. At whose
coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works.
And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they hath have done evil, into
everlasting fire.
This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.
Part 1
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