Creeds of the Church

APOSTLES' CREED

The Apostles' Creed was not written by the apostles but does fully reflect their writings and beliefs. The earliest record of the creed is found with Ignatius, third bishop or patriarch of Antioch, who lived the the late 1st and early 2nd centuries A.D. The entire text of this creed was complete and in use by the church by the end of the the 5th century A.D.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection ofthe body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

NICENE CREED

The Nicene Creed was drafted in 325 A.D. by the First Council of Nicea, and its objective was to make unified and consistent the beliefs of all church members, in terms of the Holy Trinity or Triune God ("three in one"). Further revisions were made by the Second Council in 381 A.D. and affirmed later that year by the Third Council.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
and became fully human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered death and was buried.
On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Creeds of the Church, Part 2>>