The creeds

The Christian Creeds Explained

The creeds are the ancient confessions that unite Christians across the centuries. The two most widely shared are the Apostles' Creed, the oldest and simplest summary of the faith, and the Nicene Creed, written to defend the full deity of Christ. Here is each creed quoted in full and explained line by line, always pointing to the one Lord they confess, Jesus Christ.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;

the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

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 Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried;

and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures;

and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;

and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spake by the prophets.

And we believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Explained line by line

Every article of the creeds, grounded in Scripture and traced to the truth it guards. Start with an overview, then follow the confession clause by clause.

A note for all traditions: the creeds are not a fourth authority above Scripture but a faithful summary of it. Christians hold them in different ways, some reciting them weekly in worship and others rarely, yet the faith they confess is broadly shared across the church. Where believers differ on secondary matters, the creeds mark the ancient center that unites us: one God, and one Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen.

The One at the center of every line

The creeds are a door, and the person on the other side is Jesus Christ, crucified, buried, and raised for you. You can read a summary of the faith and still not know him. Come and see. On The Living Bread you can read the Word, pray, find a church near you, and walk with the family of God. Free, with no ads, for all people.

Get the appWho is Jesus?
Enter Living Breadprayer, Scripture, a family near you