The creed of the councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381), the central doctrinal confession shared by most Christians.
Tagged: Trinity Creeds and Confessions Early Church
The Text
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:
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
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.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic 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.
Historical Context
The Council of Nicaea issued a creed in 325 to affirm that the Son is fully God, against the teaching of Arius that the Son was a created being. The Council of Constantinople expanded it in 381, adding the fuller section on the Holy Spirit, and that 381 form is the text given here, without the later Western addition of the filioque ('and the Son') to the line on the Spirit's procession. It is the one creed accepted by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and most historic Protestant churches.
Use and Practice
The creed is recited in the Sunday Eucharist in Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, and many other churches, where it serves as the congregation's common confession of faith after the readings and sermon.
References
- Creeds of Christendom, Vol. II (CCEL) Free / open access
- Creeds of Christendom, Vol. I (CCEL) Free / open access
Related Prayers and Creeds
- Apostles' Creed — The ancient baptismal creed of the Western Church, summarizing belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Chalcedonian Definition — The Council of Chalcedon's 451 definition that Christ is one person in two natures, fully God and fully human.
- Athanasian Creed — A Latin creed, traditionally ascribed to Athanasius, that states the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation in precise detail.
Related Across the Site
- Apostles' Creed Prayer or Creed — The ancient baptismal creed of the Western Church, summarizing belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Athanasian Creed Prayer or Creed — A Latin creed, traditionally ascribed to Athanasius, that states the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation in precise detail.
- Augsburg Confession Prayer or Creed — The primary Lutheran confession of faith, presented to Emperor Charles V at Augsburg in 1530.
- Belgic Confession Prayer or Creed — A 37-article Reformed confession written in 1561 by Guido de Brès for the churches of the Low Countries.
- Chalcedonian Definition Prayer or Creed — The Council of Chalcedon's 451 definition that Christ is one person in two natures, fully God and fully human.
- Heidelberg Catechism Prayer or Creed — A Reformed catechism of 129 questions and answers, published in 1563 and organized around guilt, grace, and gratitude.
- London Baptist Confession Prayer or Creed — The confession of Particular Baptist churches, first published in 1677 and formally adopted in London in 1689.
- Westminster Confession and Catechisms Prayer or Creed — The Presbyterian standards produced by the Westminster Assembly in the 1640s: a confession of faith and a Larger and Shorter Catechism.