The Nicene Creed
There is an early creed titled, Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and is better known in its shorter form as the Nicene Creed. The name comes from the ecumenical councils[1] held in Nicaea in the year 325AD and Constantinople held in the year 381AD. The creed draws its great authority from the fact that it contains beliefs which were confirmed in the two ecumenical councils. The Nicene Creed remains common to all the great Churches of both east and west to this day.[2]
This is the Nicene Creed which is said during Sunday Mass and High Holy Days (Feast day Masses).
I believe in one God, the Father the Almighty,
Maker of Heaven and earth,
And of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God
Born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
And became man.{always bow when saying this phrase}
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried,
and he rose again on the third day 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.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son he is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
And I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and life for the world to come.
Amen
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[1] Ecumenical Council: a conference (meeting) of ecclesiastical dignitaries (bishops) of the whole church; Such council meet for the purpose to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice.
[2] CCC 195
The Nicene Creed is expanded from the Apostles Creed. The content of the creed was first confirmed and amended during the ecumenical Council at Nicene. The church did this as a way to address a grave heresy known as the ‘Arian heresy’[1]. To correct the wrongs of the heresy, the following was included in the Creed:
With these words the Council confirmed the Church’s belief in the oneness of God the Father and God the son. It also addressed a theological point regarding the two natures of Jesus Christ; the following was added to reaffirm what was already believed from the beginning regarding the humanity of Jesus.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven.
and by the Holy Spirit he was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
and became man.
In 381AD at the Council of Constantinople, clarity was provided regarding what was already believed concerning the divinity of the Holy Spirit. This pointed to the tenet concerning the Holy Trinity[2]. So, the following was added to the creed.[3]
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son he is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
The Creed concludes with the four identification marks of the true Church of Jesus Christ:
One, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church
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[1] Arian Heresy – Denied the divinity of Jesus. It Denied that Jesus was one with and equally God.
[2] The trinity is “God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.” More on this in a later lesson.
[3] A Short History of the Mass – Alfred McBride, O/ Praem: St. Anthony’ Messenger Press 2006. Chapter 3 page 55.