The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
      creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
       who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
       born of the virgin Mary,
       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,
       he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
       and 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.

About the Apostles' Creed

The specific origins of the Apostles' creed are unknown and widely debated. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Apostles' Creed was believed to be composed by the 12 Apostles on the day of Pentecost. This, however, is unlikely true, for it is more probable that the Apostles' creed was written after the time of the Apostles. Some have dated it as early as the 2nd century AD, while others have dated it as late as the 5th century AD. However, many agree that it is a later development of the Old Roman Creed.* 

Moreover, many suppose that this creed was compiled with the purpose to argue against Gnosticism. Gnosticism is a heresy from the early days of Christianity, which along with many others things, denied the physical reality of Jesus.  

Today, the Apostles serves as an ecumenical symbol and statement of faith. It is most commonly recited alongside the practices of baptism and holy communion. 

*The Old Roman Creed is very similar to the Apostles' creed, the main difference being that it is much shorter. The origins of this creed are also debated, where it is believed to date back to as early as the 2nd Century AD. 

 

Click Here for Martin Luther's Explanation of the Apostles' Creed
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,
          was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
          and became truly human.
          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],
      who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
      who 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. 

About the Nicene Creed

This creed was formed by the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE (AD). The Council, who was made up of Bishops from across the Chrisitian Church, sought to confront the heresy of Arianism* and proclaim the divinity of Jesus.

*Arianism teaches that the Son of God is not eternal, rather, that he was created by the Father. This is an issue because it views Jesus as being less than the Father, and grants him a God-like status rather than being truly God.
Modern Creeds

From time to time we make use of modern creeds that also express our faith and beliefs>

Here are some examples