Some readers of this blog can quote the Apostles’ Creed from memory. To them it is as familiar as the words to “Jesus Loves Me this I Know” or John 3:16. Others, who were brought up as I was, were taught to say, “Baptists are not a creedal people. Our only creed is Christ,” or “The Bible is my creed.”
But even Baptists have had their written statements of faith such as the historic “New Hampshire Confession” and “The Baptist Faith and Message.” The Apostles’ Creed is the oldest and most widely-accepted of the Christian statements of belief. It is a simple, concise summary of convictions held in common by all Christians.
It is important to know what we believe and why we believe it. In today’s world, the very idea of absolute truth is being questioned. Everything is up for grabs and truth is whatever individuals want it to be. In this environment Ray Pritchard has written that the Apostles’ Creed “is a radical challenge to the skepticism of our age.” It can be a buttress for our faith in an uncertain world.
There are examples of early Christian creeds in the New Testament. It is believed that the great formulation of the doctrine of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 is a quotation by Paul of a statement of faith that was already being circulated by followers of Jesus just a few short years after his resurrection.
1 Timothy 3:16 is another example of an early creed quoted by Paul. It was already in use in the churches at the time he wrote to Timothy in Ephesus. It begins with the phrase “by common confession,” or “beyond all question,” a statement of certainty and conviction.
Perhaps the most commonly used and familiar of the early creeds was the courageous declaration, “Jesus is Lord” (Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 12:3). The trinitarian benediction in 2 Corinthians 13:14 is also believed to be an early creed. Jude 3 speaks of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” One of the ways the faith was transmitted orally was by the repeated recitation of creeds. This was before the writing of the epistles and gospels of the New Testament.
It is not necessary to believe that the twelve apostles personally composed the Apostles’ Creed, to believe that it reflects their teachings. It is not a part of the New Testament, but it is based upon the Bible. It is considered to be ancient in origin, perhaps dating back to the fourth century. The creed is regularly quoted in churches and by individuals all over the world to reinforce the faith of God’s people and as a public witness to that faith.
“As the Lord’s Prayer is the Prayer of prayers,” wrote Philip Schaff, “the Decalogue the Law of laws, so the Apostles’ Creed is the Creed of creeds. It contains all the fundamental articles of the Christian faith necessary to salvation.”
I intend to explore the Apostles’ Creed over the next several weeks in this blog. This is because it matters what we believe. The creed begins with the words “I believe,” or credo in Latin, which gives us the English word “creed.” What we believe is a matter of life and death. The creed points the way to eternal life.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ his 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Pastor Randy Faulkner