Historic Creeds
We at Trinity Church enjoy reciting the historic creeds of the Church for two reasons.
Firstly,
because they are concise statements of the Christian faith. And
secondly,
because reciting them is a tangible way for us to affirm our unity with the saints who
have gone before us. Although it is not visibly apparent, scripture teaches us that we are
members of the same Church as (and indeed worship with) the apostles and prophets, St.
Augustine, Athanasius, Martin Luther, John Calvin, George Whitefield and all the other 'spirits
of just men made perfect' (Hebrews 12:22-24.)
The Apostles' and Nicean Creeds are
important affirmations of the unity and tri-personality of our Creator God. The Definition
of Chalcedon is a seminal articulation of the single nature and dual personality of our
Savior Jesus Christ. Every modern heresy or cult, perverts or corrupts the truths
articulated in these ancient creeds. Therefore, they are just as relevant, and just as
necessary in the fight against error today, as they were when they were penned nearly two
millennia ago.
The Apostles' Creed
(2nd Century)
WE 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 Hades; the third day He arose
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.
We 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
(* "catholic", meaning universal,
not Roman Catholic.)
The Nicean Creed
(381 AD)
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 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; He 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 the Giver of Life; Who proceeds 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 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 and the world to come. Amen
(* "catholic", meaning universal,
not Roman Catholic.)
Definition of Chalcedon (451 AD)
Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in
teaching all men to confess the one and same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one
is perfect both in deity and in humanity; truly God and truly man, with a rational soul
and a body; consubstantial with the Father according to His deity, and consubstantial with
us according to the humanity; like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before the ages
He was begotten of the Father, according to the deity, and in these last days, for us and
for our salvation, He was born of Mary the virgin, who is Godbearer according to His
humanity; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only-begotten, to be acknowledge in two
natures; without confusing them, without interchanging them, without dividing them, and
without separating them; the distinction of natures by no means taken away by the union,
but the properties of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one
subsistence; not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same only-begotten
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as from the beginning the prophets have declared concerning
Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the symbol of the fathers has
handed down to us.
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