The Ecumenical Creeds
What Are the Ecumenical Creeds?
The ecumenical creeds are ancient statements of Christian faith that have been accepted by the universal church throughout history. They are called "ecumenical" because they represent the consensus of the whole Christian church on essential doctrines. These creeds were formulated in response to various heresies and controversies in the early church and continue to serve as foundational statements of Christian orthodoxy.
The Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed is the oldest and most widely accepted of the ecumenical creeds. Although not written by the apostles themselves, it summarizes the apostolic teaching and has been used by the church since the second century. It is particularly valued for its simplicity and clarity.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to 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 catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and revised at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD. It was written primarily to combat the Arian heresy, which denied the full divinity of Christ. This creed provides a more detailed statement of the doctrine of the Trinity.
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.
Confessing the Faith Together
We confess, believe, and teach the Christian faith as it is summarized in the traditional creeds of the Church—the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds. When we recite these creeds together, we join with our brothers and sisters in Christ all across the world, at least in this way, to answer His prayer that "they would all be one" (John 17:21).
The Importance of the Creeds
These ecumenical creeds are important for several reasons:
- They define the essential doctrines of the Christian faith
- They guard against heresy and false teaching
- They unite Christians across denominational lines
- They connect us with the historic Christian tradition
- They provide a foundation for Christian worship and teaching
- They serve as a standard of orthodoxy for the church
Further Reading
For more information on the ecumenical creeds and their role in Christian worship, we recommend these resources:
- Theopolis Institute - Resources on creeds and their role in Christian worship and theology