Apostles' Creed
Appearance
The Apostles' Creed is an early statement of Christian belief, probably from the first or second century. It appears to have been written as a response to Gnosticism. The Apostles' Creed is widely used by a number of Protestant denominations for both services and theological education, most visibly by the Lutheran, Anglican, and Episcopalian churches. Generally, the creed is stated today as follows, with alternate words in parentheses:
- I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth:
- And (or I believe) in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the (or by the power of the) Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit), born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on (or is seated at) the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick (or living) and the dead.
- I believe in the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit); the holy catholic (or universal) church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and life everlasting. Amen.
The Latin version is
- Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae.
- Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum: qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.
- Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.
It does not address some of the Christology issues associated with the later Nicene Creed and other Christian Creeds. In particular, it was acceptable to many Arians and Unitarians.