Summary
Beliefs about Jesus separate Christians from everyone else. Jesus was a specific person, born of a woman, executed under a specific Roman governor. Unlike mythological deities, he did not come from the distant and hazy past --- he interacted with the real world. He had a real body that was born, crucified and buried, and yet he was divine, too --- conceived by the Holy Spirit, resurrected, ascended into heaven at a position of supreme power. He is the unique Son of God, a unique Lord who is above all earthly lords, and he is the Judge who will return to earth to determine everyone's reward.
Origins
There is no evidence that the creed was written by the apostles or Paul himself; While what is stated in the creed is not found verbatum in Holy scriptures, the creed is most certainly scriptural. It's debatable, but the Apostles' Creed probably developed mostly between the 2nd and the 3th centuries starting with some written accounts around 200. The first copy of the Apostles' Creed pops up around 340, before the NT was cannonized. The text can be traced back earlier to the Old Roman Creed, which is referenced by some of the early Church Fathers. In 650, Augustine, a bishop in North Africa, reports that the Apostles' Creed is standard. Safe to say, 400-500 year time period of total development.
Authority
Historically, the Apostles' Creed is believed to be in full agreement with the apostolic writings, and the same churches have historically accepted both the Creed and the Scriptures as authoritative, as faithful reports of what the apostles taught. Numerous scriptures could be mentioned as support for the various points of the Creed, to wit, the second purpose of this paper; To provide an exegesis in terms of specfically, which scripture(s), and what they have to say, specifically for each part of the total twelve parts of the entire creed.
Historical Relevance
The Apostles' Creed begins with a simple statement of faith in God, who has all power and is the originator of everything. The Apostles Creed expresses our belief in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Apostles' Creed is not the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed is a rejection of pagan mythologies and it was acceptable to Jews and to some of the more educated Greeks. The word creed comes from the Latin word "credo," which means believe. We begin a statement of our Christian beliefs with the word "credo" or "I believe..." There were a number of types baptisimal creeds during the second century (during the time of persecution, after the apostles, but before the conversion of Constantine). Baptisimal Creeds were used for educational purposes, like a call and response, stated, Christian, what do you believe? The Christian would then respond to the call, afirming the Church's beliefs about the one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A baptisimal creed is a statement of faith that Chritians, affirm, accepting the Triune God is an essential part of baptism from the very beginning of the church.
Nicene Creed
The Apostles Creed includes two phrases that are not found in the Nicene Creed.
- First, "He descended into hell"
- Second, "the communion of saints"
Themes
Most of the Creed is about Jesus Christ, the person of, and the defining, and definitive doctrine for, the Christian faith, entirely. It is also about the Trinue God. Two additional themes that are presented include first, the communion of saints, which refers to the holy men and women in heaven who remain united with us through the Church, and secondly, the active participation of the Christian in the crucificition theme, specifically referring to the time in between Jesus's death and resurrection when he welcomed all righteous souls into salvation. Additionally, in terms of His death, decent into hell, and ressuruction on the third day, describes specifically the mechanics of how salvation works and how we are saved and actually come to have newness of life thru being buried with Him in baptism into death.
Trinue God
The Trinitarian belief originates in Jesus's Great Commission of the Apostles in Matthew 28 to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Mat 28 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Descent into Hell
Communion of Saints
Sources
- Since You Asked Podcast - Jim Berrier (CGM Radio)
- The Apostles' Creed - Grace Communion International
- Constantine the Great and Christianity - Wikipedia
- The Apostles Creed vs. Nicene Creed -- The Religion Teacher (YouTube)
- Mere Christianity -- C.S. Lewis
- Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2022
- Martin Luther
- The Dates of Easter Sunday -- Panos Antsaklis, Notre Dame, Indiana
- Wikipedia, 2022
V0.9.1
This paper presents the historic statement of beliefs that is the Apostles' Creed, and its biblical influence, one of each the twelve sections at a time. The creed is a brief, but complete, foundational resource that is well established across both Old Testament and New Testament narratives. The creed is a well-rounded representation of the Christian faith.
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