Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed (Latin: Symbolum Apostolorum), sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christian belief, creed, or "symbol." The Apostles' Creed is widely used by a number of Christian denominations for both liturgical and catechetical purposes, most visibly by liturgical churches of Western tradition, including Roman (Latin-rite) Catholic churches, Lutheran churches, churches of the Anglican Communion, and Western Orthodox churches. It is also used by evangelical Protestant denominations such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists and many Baptists. It is not used by Southern Baptists, who consider themselves to be a non-credal church.

Although many Lutheran sources label the Apostles' Creed as ecumenical, its use appears to be limited in practice to churches whose rituals are derived of the Latin rite (i.e. the Western Christian tradition). The Apostles' Creed holds a special place in Roman Catholic tradition as the "ancient Baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome".

The theological specifics of this creed appear to have been originally formulated as a refutation of Gnosticism, an early heresy. The name of the Creed comes from the fact that it, being composed of 12 articles, was earlier believed to have been written by the 12 Apostles, who each were supposed to have contributed one article.

Origin of the Creed

Many hypotheses exist concerning the date and nature of the origin of the Apostles' Creed. It was apparently developed from what scholars have identified as "the Old Roman Symbol" of the first or second century and influenced by the Nicene Creed (325/381) [1].

There is no Catholic dogmatic teaching on its origin. One legend proposes that the creed was originally formulated in twelve articles, each written by an Apostle after Pentecost under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some historians place the origin of the Apostles' Creed as late as fifth century Gaul. The earliest known concrete historical evidence of the creed's existence as it is currently titled (Symbolum Apostolicum) is a letter of the Council of Milan (390) to Pope Siricius (here in English):

"If you credit not the teachings of the priests . . . let credit at least be given to the Symbol of the Apostles which the Roman Church always preserves and maintains inviolate."

The public domain Catholic Encyclopedia contains a detailed discussion of the origin of the Apostles' Creed.

The earliest appearance of the present Latin text was in the De singulis libris canonicis scarapsus ("Concerning the Single Canonical Book Scarapsus") of St. Priminius (Migne, Patrologia Latina 89, 1029 ff.), written between 710-724 (J.N.D. Kelly, Early Christian Creeds, Longmans, Green & Co, 1972, pp. 398-434).

Text of the Creed

Source: "Symbolum Apostolicum". Catechismum Catholicae Ecclesiae. Retrieved June 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipoténtem, Creatórem cœli et terræ.

Et in Jesum Christum, Filium Ejus únicum, Dóminum nostrum; qui concéptus est de Spíritu Sancto; natus ex María Vírgine; passus sub Póntio Piláto, crucifíxus, mórtuus, et sepúltus: descéndit ad ínferos; tértia die resurréxit a mórtuis: ascéndit ad cœlos, sedet ad déxteram Dei Patris omnipoténtis; inde ventúrus est judicáre vivos et mórtuos.

Credo in Spíritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclésiam cathólicam, sanctórum communiónem, remissiónem peccatórum, carnis resurrectiónem, vitam ætérnam.

Amen.

Greek text of the Creed

Πιστεύω εις θεòν πατέρα παντοκράτορα, ποιητην ουρανου και γης. Και εισε Ιησουν Χριστòν, υιον αυτου τòν μονογενη, τòν κύριον ημων, τòν συλληφθέντα εκ πνεύματος αγίου, γεννηθέντα εκ Μαρίας της παρθένου, παθόντα υπο Ποντίου Πιλάτου, σταυρωθέντα, και ταφέντα, κατελθόντα εις τα κατώτατα, τη τρίτη ημέρα αναστάντα απò των νεκρων, ανελθόντα εις τους ουρανούς, καθεζόμενον εν δεξια θεου πατρός παντοδυνάμου, εκειθεν ερχόμενον κριναι ζωντας και νεκρούς. Πιστεύω εις τò πνευμα τò αγιον, αγίαν καθολικην εκκλησίαν, αγίων κοινωνίαν, αφεσιν αμαρτιων, σαρκος ανάστασιν, ζωην αιώνιον. Αμήν. (Triglot Concordia, St. Louis: CPH, 1921, p. 12)

Traditional translation into Enlish

I Believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was concieved by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried: He decended into hell, the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgivness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Ecumenical translation into English (ICET/ELLC)

The following translation is believed to be prevalent in those denominations which have adopted modern English liturgical translations. It was authored by a consultation of Catholic and Protestant ecclesiastical communities. See first source for details.

Sources: "Apostles' Creed". ELLC Texts. Retrieved June 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help); "Apostles' Creed". Catechism of the Catholic Church. Retrieved June 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell / to the dead.^[1]

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 again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,^[2]

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Variations in liturgical use

Translation of inferos

¹ The word inferos is translated in some denominational contexts as dead, as in "He descended to the dead." See The Harrowing of Hell for a more detailed discussion of this part of the creed. The Maltese translation from Latin is "he descended to the limbo".

² The word catholic here refers to the root meaning of the word, that is to say "universal". Some modern readers may differ in opinion about this phrase referring to the Roman Catholic Church, most notably the only church in existence at the time of this creed's creation, and may substitute it with the word "Christian" and have no fear of incorrectly translating the text into English.

Methodism

The United Methodists commonly incorporate the Apostles' Creed into their worship services. Many favor this interpretation as poetically elegant. The version used is #881 of the United Methodist Hymnal, one of the most popular hymnals and one with a heritage to John Wesley, founder of Methodism.[2][3]

I 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 Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried;

the third day he rose from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.

Anglican

The Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England has the following versions:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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; 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.

I 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. The third day he rose 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. I 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.

Rites of baptism in Western liturgical Christianity

The liturgical communities in western Christianity which derive their rituals from the Roman Missal, including those particular communities which use the Roman Missal itself (Roman Catholics), the Book of Common Prayer (Anglicans / Episcopalians), the Lutheran Book of Worship (ELCA Lutherans), Lutheran Worship (Missouri-Synod Lutherans), and many other derivatives of the Roman Missal in English and many other languages, use the Apostles' Creed and interrogative variations of it within their similar rites of Baptism, considered by all of these communities to be the first sacrament of initiation into the Church.

Episcopal Church (USA)

The Episcopal Church uses the Apostles' Creed as a Baptismal Covenant for those who are to receive the Rite of Baptism. Regardless of age, candidates are to be sponsored by parents and/or godparents. Youths able to understand the significance of the Rite may go through the ritual speaking for themselves. Younger children and infants rely on their sponsors to act upon their behalf.

1. The celebrant calls for the candidates for Baptism to be presented.

2. The catechumen or sponsors state their request for Baptism.

3a. If the catechumen is of age, the celebrant will ask him or her if he or she desires Baptism, which the catechumen will state he or she says "I do."

3b. If the candidate relies on sponsors, the celebrant asks them if they will raise the child in "the Christian faith and life" (ECUSA BCP), and will raise the child through "prayers and witness to grow into the full stature of Christ" to which the parents will state to each, "I will, with God's help."

4. A series of questions are then asked, to which the reply is always "I renounce them":

Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?

Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?

Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?

5. The second half of the query is asked, to which the reply is always "I do":

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?

Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?

Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?

6. The Apostle's Creed is then recited, in which is divided into three parts; the celebrant asks whether they believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, to which the Creed is stated in its three divisions in respect to the Three Persons of the Trinity.

Roman Catholic and Lutheran Rite of Baptism

An interrogative form of the Apostles' Creed is used in the Rite of Baptism (for both children and adults). The minister of baptism asks the following questions (ICEL, 1974):

Do you reject sin so as to live in the freedom of God's children?

Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?

Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, an is now seated at the right hand of the Father?

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

To each, the catechumen, or, in the case of an infant, the parents and sponsor(s) (godparent(s)) in his or her place, answers "I do."

Roman Catholic Profession of Faith at Mass

Although the canonical creed is in the first person singular, the rubrics of the Roman Missal require that when it is recited in the context of the Sacred Liturgy it is expressed in the first person plural. The Apostles' Creed is specified for use in Masses with children or for other pastoral reasons approved by the relevant prelate (ICEL, 1974); in other circumstances, the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (with the added filioque) is used.

Theological issues

It does not address some of the Christological issues associated with the later Nicene Creed and other Christian Creeds. In particular, it was acceptable to many Arians and Unitarians.

See also

• Athanasian Creed
• Book of Common Prayer
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• Chalcedonian Creed
• Lutheran Book of Worship
• Nicene Creed
• Old Roman Symbol
• Roman Missal

References

• English Language Liturgical Consultation (2004). "Apostles' Creed". ELLC Texts. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Retrieved June 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• "Apostles' Creed". Catechism of the Catholic Church. Retrieved June 21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
• International Commission on English in the Liturgy; et al. (1974). Roman Missal…. HarperCollins. ISBN 0005995051. {{cite book}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |author= (help)

External links

• The prayer on roman-catholic-prayers.com