The Nicene Creed Part 1 - Introduction

Jude 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Gal 1:8-9
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

With this post, I am going to start a new series on what is commonly referred to as the Nicene Creed, also known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. In my following posts I intend to cover the text of the Creed using scripture, and commentary and teaching (either on the Creed or subjects relating to what is stated in the Creed) found in writings and catechisms that have been produced throughout the centuries.

There are a number of creeds and confessions of faith. From the ealriest times various creeds were used as a statement of faith to be made at baptism and liturgically recited to maintain unity of faith among the members of a local church and between local churches. The Nicene Creed is the most common one found recited today with the Apostle's Creed being the second most common.

In the early fourth century, a priest from Alexandria by the name of Arius denied that the Son was of the same divinity as the Father and affirmed that the Son was a created being. This teaching gained popularity and spread throughout the Christian world with a number of people, inculding some bishops, adopting this new teaching. As it spread causing chaos throughout the Roman Empire, which had just recently legalized Christianity, the Emporer Constantine called a number of bishops together in 325 at Nicea to give an official statement of faith regarding the divinity of the Son. What they gave the emporer was a statement that the Son was coeternal with the Father and sharing the same divine nature as the Father. Later on, a similar teaching against the Holy Spirit was starting to spread and another council was held in Constantinople in 381. The bishops present at the council in 381 re-affirmed statement of 325 and then affirmed the divinity of the Holy Spirit. They put forth another statement of faith, the decree of 325 with some extra clarification concerning the Holy Spirit, and made this their official statement of faith. This statement made in 381 is what is called the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (because it was originally made at Nicea and then further clarified at Constantinople), or more commonly known as simply the Nicene Creed. There was a small addition made to it at a council in Toledo, Spain during the fifth century concerning the procession of the Holy Spirit which was not officially adopted by Rome in the west until the ninth century and was never adopted into usage by any church in the east. I may cover that in a later post when I get to that part of the Creed, but I am not including it as part of the text of the Creed and am using what was originally proclaimed at Constantinople in 381 as the text that I plan to cover in this series. Here is the text of the Nicene Creed as given at Constantinople in 381.

I 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 Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spoke by the prophets.

In one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.