A Historically Grounded Faith
Nicene Christianity
Today I want to highlight the full text of the Nicene Creed. I want to do this because I think it’s important for us to be grounded in the ancient, historic, Christian faith. We are part of a church that has existed for over 2000 years, and part of a faith in Yahweh, the Creator God, that has existed for thousands upon thousands of years.
This Nicene Creed was developed as a result of the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. If you remember from a few weeks ago, the Council of Nicea was organized to sort out different understandings about the three persons of the Godhead. The outcome of the council was that trinitarianism was upheld, and arianism (the belief that Jesus was the first created being) was deemed heretical.
Ever since 325 AD, the Nicene Creed has been upheld as a classic statement of orthodox, Christian belief. We can and should still affirm this creed today.
Here’s what it says:
The Nicene Creed
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 only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the 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 for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit 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; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
A Couple of Things to Note
It should be noted that this version of creed contains a few updates that were made during the Council of Constantinople in 381 and is sometimes referred to as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (though most of the time it’s simply referred to as the Nicene Creed).
One of the changes ultimately proved controversial and led in part to a split between the Eastern and Western churches (a split that continues to this day). The controversy was over the procession of the Holy Spirit. Notice that the creed says the Holy Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son.” The East contends that the Spirit proceeds from the Father through the Son, whereas the West affirms that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and Son. This is a huge discussion, but for brevity’s sake, Scripture seems to agree with the West (John 16:7).
Baptists are sometimes uncomfortable with the phrase “one baptism for the remission of sins,” though historically they have affirmed this creed as well. The discomfort exists because upon first reading the Nicene Creed may seem to indicate that salvation comes through the means of baptism. However, the language the creed uses—“baptism for the remission of sins”—is taken directly from Acts 2, where Peter says:
Acts 2:38
38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
It’s clear from the wider context of Acts 2 that those who believed and trusted in Jesus for salvation, then expressed their faith by being baptized. In this sense, baptism is a sign, seal, and outward expression of our trusting in Jesus by faith. The mere act of baptism without faith doesn’t accomplish anything, and the creed isn’t trying to say it does. It is because baptism signifies faith and trust in Jesus that it acts as a symbol of salvation.
Finally, you might be tripped by the word “catholic,” but lower-case-c-catholic is not referring to the Roman Catholic Church, rather it is simply referring to the universal church (i.e. all true believers everywhere) which is what the word “catholic” actually means.
Summing Up
The Nicene Creed is an important, long-standing creed that every Christian should be able to affirm. Affirming this creed helps ground us in the historic Christian church. Certainly, the creed doesn’t tell us everything about Christianity, but it does carefully outline many important features of our faith including biblical trinitarian doctrine.
As Protestants, we don’t believe any creed or council has equal authority to the Bible. We affirm the reformation phrase “Sola Scriptura” (Scripture Alone is our ultimate authority). However, creeds and doctrinal statements can help us to carefully articulate the doctrine we believe the Bible to be teaching.
I hope you’ll take time to carefully read the Nicene Creed and appreciate the doctrine that it outlines. If you’d like a super deep dive into everything being asserted in creed, check out this word-by-word explanation from Gavin Ortlund.
- Ben
