13 June 2007

The Nicene Creed


Also known as the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, this authoritative statement of the orthodox faith was the consensus of the Christian councils in Nicea (A.D. 325) and Constantinople (A.D. 381). The wording and concepts in the Nicene Creed come entirely from the New Testament, and it is the most widely accepted and used brief statement of the Christian Faith.


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"We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.


We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.


We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.


We believe in one holy catholic[1] and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism[2] for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."


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1. In the Creed, the word ‘catholic’ has its dictionary definition of ‘universal'; as such, it is not to be taken as a reference to Roman Catholicism.
2. ‘For’ has the meaning ‘because of’ as in ‘she cried for joy.’ Thus, the Creed does NOT teach baptismal regeneration, nor does the Bible.