Christian History

The Christian Creeds

A creed is a short, shared statement of Christian belief, from the Latin 'credo', 'I believe'. The two most widely used are the Apostles' Creed, a simple baptismal confession that took shape over the early centuries, and the Nicene Creed, finalized at the councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). Both summarize the faith in the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and are confessed by Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants together.

What is a creed?

A creed is a compact summary of core Christian belief, meant to be memorized, confessed, and passed on. The New Testament already contains creed-like statements (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 3:16). As the church grew, fuller creeds took shape, above all for use at baptism and in worship.

The Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed grew out of early baptismal confessions in the Western church and reached its familiar form over the first several centuries. It was not written by the twelve apostles directly, but it faithfully summarizes their teaching, which is why it bears their name. It confesses:

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed came from the councils of Nicaea (325) and Constantinople (381). It is fuller than the Apostles' Creed, especially about the Son, precisely because it answered the Arian claim that the Son was created. Its heart says:

Notice what this confesses: Jesus is 'very God of very God', 'begotten, not made', and 'of one substance with the Father'. This is the language that guarded the biblical truth of John 1:1 against Arius. The creed then confesses the Son's coming 'for us and for our salvation', his crucifixion, resurrection on the third day, and return, and it affirms the Holy Spirit, the church, one baptism, and the life to come.

What this means for us

When you say a creed you are not reciting an institution's rulebook. You are joining a confession spoken by believers on every continent and in every century, words that let a farmer, a scholar, and a child confess the same Lord. The creeds do not replace Scripture; they summarize it, so the whole church can say together what it believes and whom it trusts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed?

The Apostles' Creed is a shorter, older baptismal confession that summarizes the apostles' teaching. The Nicene Creed, from the councils of 325 and 381, is fuller, especially about the Son, confessing him as 'very God of very God, begotten, not made' to answer Arianism.

Did the apostles write the Apostles' Creed?

Not directly. It grew out of early baptismal confessions in the Western church and reached its familiar form over the first several centuries. It bears the apostles' name because it faithfully summarizes their teaching.

Do all Christians say the same creeds?

The Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed are confessed across Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches, which makes them a powerful sign of shared faith. One historic difference is the 'filioque' clause in the Nicene Creed, worded differently in the East and West.