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The Creeds"The Creeds are statements of our basic beliefs about God."
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 851) The word “Creed” comes from the Latin “credo,” meaning “I believe.” The Creeds are the statements of our basic beliefs as Christians. In the Episcopal Church, we use two creeds regularly in public worship: the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. A third creed, the Creed of St. Athanasius, is not typically used in public worship but is still a valuable statement..
The community of faith uses creeds to openly declare its beliefs, and by professing ancient statements of belief we unite ourselves to Christians in the past, present, and future. When dealing with the creeds, it is valuable to remember that any relationship with God is both personal journey and a communal experience. The creeds articulate the beliefs of the Church - defined and lived over 2000 years. We recall them as we join with others in the process of discovery and experience. The importance of the creeds lies in taking part with fellow believers in a lifelong journey. It is natural to have doubts and questions, and in the Episcopal Church we encourage such! Join us for any of our classes, forums, or studies to discuss, learn, and engage with others on the journey. |
TWO CREEDS
The Apostles’ Creed dates from the earliest years of the Christian Church and was used as a statement of faith at Baptism. In the Episcopal Church, the Apostles’ Creed is used at Morning and Evening Prayer, and at baptisms, funerals, and confirmations. The Apostles’ Creed can be found in the Book of Common Prayer on pages 53, 66, 96, 120, 292, 304, and 496 within the context of these different services.
The Nicene Creed was initially adopted in 325 CE by bishops meeting at First Council of Nicaea as a way to respond to the Christological heresy of Arius (see below). The creed was amended at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 CE to address further controversies and heresies. This creed is the universal statement of the Christian faith and is said corporately, in the Episcopal Church, at services of Holy Eucharist (Sundays and Major Feasts), as well as at ordinations. The Nicene Creed can be found on pages 326 and 358 in The Book of Common Prayer.
The text of the creeds (as found in the Book of Common Prayer) read:
The Apostles’ Creed dates from the earliest years of the Christian Church and was used as a statement of faith at Baptism. In the Episcopal Church, the Apostles’ Creed is used at Morning and Evening Prayer, and at baptisms, funerals, and confirmations. The Apostles’ Creed can be found in the Book of Common Prayer on pages 53, 66, 96, 120, 292, 304, and 496 within the context of these different services.
The Nicene Creed was initially adopted in 325 CE by bishops meeting at First Council of Nicaea as a way to respond to the Christological heresy of Arius (see below). The creed was amended at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 CE to address further controversies and heresies. This creed is the universal statement of the Christian faith and is said corporately, in the Episcopal Church, at services of Holy Eucharist (Sundays and Major Feasts), as well as at ordinations. The Nicene Creed can be found on pages 326 and 358 in The Book of Common Prayer.
The text of the creeds (as found in the Book of Common Prayer) read:
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. |
The Nicene Creed
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 [and the Son.]* With the Father and the Son he is worshiped 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. |
THE NICENE CREED IN CONTEXT (A BRIEF HISTORY)
The development of the Nicene Creed is the story of Christianity's self-discovery as it came to more deeply grasp the meaning of God and the way of following Jesus of Nazareth. To understand the Nicene Creed (as well as, to some extent, the Apostle's creed, though its history is more hidden), we must turn to one of the great heretics of the church: Arius (250-336 CE). A heretic is quite simply someone who holds an opinion at odds with or denies the core doctrine that is generally accepted. In the case of the history of the Nicene Creed, Arius held and taught a heretical opinion about the personhood of Jesus. Namely, Arius suggested that Jesus is a creation within history, distinct from and subordinate to God.
That Jesus is a created being and, more to the point, not divine stood contrary to the generally held opinion and to the teaching passed on from the apostles. For Arius, Jesus is "super human," but still completely human - negating not only the divinity of Jesus but the very essence of the Trinity. As the controversy raged into the fourth century CE, the need for clarification became clear. While Christians already embraced a number of creeds and creed-like formulas, none of them adequately addressed Arius. The Church was in need of an all-encompassing Creed! Emperor Constantine thus called together the bishops, who gathered in 325 CE at Nicea (on the west coast of Asia minor). Of the 1800 bishops then in office in Christendom, between 250 and 300 were able to attend.
At the Council, the understanding that Jesus was indeed divine as well as human won out with overwhelming support by the bishops. Only twenty-two bishops even initially supported Arius. By the end of the Council only two supporters remained. The text produced by the Council demonstrates the now orthodox Christology.
However, the controversy didn't end at the Council of Nicea because the Council neglected to elaborate about the nature of the Holy Spirit and dropped any mention of the Church and resurrection (both mentioned in the earlier Apostles' Creed). Therefore, a second council was called in 381 CE to be held in Constantinople. This time, without any controversy, the Council of Constantinople produced a statement that expanded on the understanding Holy Spirit, the nature of the church, and the resurrection of the dead.
Technically the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, this statement is the basis of what has endured through the ages as the surest expression of Christian faith made universal.
The development of the Nicene Creed is the story of Christianity's self-discovery as it came to more deeply grasp the meaning of God and the way of following Jesus of Nazareth. To understand the Nicene Creed (as well as, to some extent, the Apostle's creed, though its history is more hidden), we must turn to one of the great heretics of the church: Arius (250-336 CE). A heretic is quite simply someone who holds an opinion at odds with or denies the core doctrine that is generally accepted. In the case of the history of the Nicene Creed, Arius held and taught a heretical opinion about the personhood of Jesus. Namely, Arius suggested that Jesus is a creation within history, distinct from and subordinate to God.
That Jesus is a created being and, more to the point, not divine stood contrary to the generally held opinion and to the teaching passed on from the apostles. For Arius, Jesus is "super human," but still completely human - negating not only the divinity of Jesus but the very essence of the Trinity. As the controversy raged into the fourth century CE, the need for clarification became clear. While Christians already embraced a number of creeds and creed-like formulas, none of them adequately addressed Arius. The Church was in need of an all-encompassing Creed! Emperor Constantine thus called together the bishops, who gathered in 325 CE at Nicea (on the west coast of Asia minor). Of the 1800 bishops then in office in Christendom, between 250 and 300 were able to attend.
At the Council, the understanding that Jesus was indeed divine as well as human won out with overwhelming support by the bishops. Only twenty-two bishops even initially supported Arius. By the end of the Council only two supporters remained. The text produced by the Council demonstrates the now orthodox Christology.
However, the controversy didn't end at the Council of Nicea because the Council neglected to elaborate about the nature of the Holy Spirit and dropped any mention of the Church and resurrection (both mentioned in the earlier Apostles' Creed). Therefore, a second council was called in 381 CE to be held in Constantinople. This time, without any controversy, the Council of Constantinople produced a statement that expanded on the understanding Holy Spirit, the nature of the church, and the resurrection of the dead.
Technically the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, this statement is the basis of what has endured through the ages as the surest expression of Christian faith made universal.