The creeds
The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the most widely shared statement of Christian belief in the world, confessed by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches alike. It was written by councils of the whole church in 325 and 381 to say clearly what Christians believe about God, and especially that Jesus is truly God, “of one substance with the Father.”
A little history
In the early fourth century a teacher named Arius argued that the Son was a created being, not truly God. To settle the question, the Council of Nicaea met in 325 and confessed that the Son is “of one substance with the Father.” The Council of Constantinople in 381 expanded the creed, especially its words about the Holy Spirit. The result, often called the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, became the most universally shared Christian confession.
The creed
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his 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 I 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 I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Traditional English text, in the public domain.
What it means
The heart of the creed is its confession of Jesus: “Very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” Against the idea that Jesus was a lesser, created being, the church confessed that he is fully and truly God, the same divine being as the Father, who became human for our salvation. The creed then confesses the Holy Spirit as Lord and giver of life, and the church, baptism, and the hope of resurrection.
The one line that still divides
The words “and the Son” (in Latin, the filioque), describing the Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son, were added later in the West. Western churches (Catholic and Protestant) include them; the Eastern Orthodox Church does not, holding that the Spirit proceeds from the Father. It remains one of the historic differences between East and West. See what Christians disagree about.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Nicene Creed?
- The Nicene Creed is the most widely shared statement of Christian belief, confessed by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. It states the core faith, especially that Jesus is truly God, 'of one substance with the Father.'
- When was the Nicene Creed written?
- Its first form came from the Council of Nicaea in 325, called to answer the teaching of Arius that the Son was created. It was expanded at the Council of Constantinople in 381, especially regarding the Holy Spirit.
- What is the 'filioque' disagreement?
- The filioque is the phrase 'and the Son,' added in the West to say the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Western churches include it; the Eastern Orthodox do not. It is one of the historic differences between Eastern and Western Christianity.
The Word made flesh
The creed confesses Jesus as truly God, the Word by whom all things were made. John’s Gospel opens with those very words, and then shows you the Word made flesh, dwelling among us.
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