This post is the first in a series about the history behind the different parts of the liturgy we use at Church of the Resurrection.
The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the second of the two statements professed by the Church of the Resurrection, both of which are accepted broadly by the global Christian community. The Creed reflects belief in a triune God, the gospel message of Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection and imminent return. Additionally, the Creed affirms the catholic or universal church and the practice of baptism.
This statement of faith stems from the consensus of 298 out of the 300 attending bishops at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. The conference was instituted by the first Christian Emperor, Constantine, in order to quell Christological disagreements throughout the Roman Empire. While the majority of the Creed today was established at that conference, the terms “God of God” and “from the Father and the Son” (regarding the Holy Spirit) were added later, in the Creed of Constantinople in 381 A.D.
The Nicene Creed notably established a specific doctrine of the trinity, in part, as a reaction to the teachings of Arianism, which taught that Jesus lacked mutual eternality and substance with the Father. Supporting verses regarding the relation of the triune persons to each other can be found in the following verses.
• Hebrews 1:5-6, 8 – The Father has begot the Son
• John 1: 14-18 - The Son is begotten of the Father
• John 15:26 – The Spirit proceeds from the Father
• Galatians 4:6 – The Spirit is of the Son
The Nicene Creed
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 and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
