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Symbolum Apostolicum as an ecclesial term, appears for the first time in a letter, which is believed to have been composed by Saint Ambrose, coming from the Council in Milan to Pope Siricius around the year 390 A.D.. In the letter are the words  "Let them give credit to the Symbol of the Apostles, which the Roman Church has always kept and preserved undefiled"[1]. Saint Ambrose references the “Old Roman Creed” which ostensibly professed what the Early church Fathers (successors of the Apostles) professed or gave instructions to profess. This in its simplest form was the percussor for the Apostles Creed.

You will find in the earliest centuries of the church some very short creeds used by the Early church fathers and also very, very long ones. Some of these creeds were mean for the sacraments such as baptism. Some very long ones, have a very catechetical feel to them, and may have been used in other liturgies for the sacraments.

While the Apostles creed is sometimes referred to as the earliest creed. It is done so by means of the reported elemental use of this set of beliefs, and not so much the form we have today. The beliefs stated are mentioned by the early church fathers and its parts used in the sacraments. However the form we have today and its place of use comes much later. As a formal creed for the believers in the present form, it actually comes after the Nicene creed.

There is another creed called the, Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed and is better known in its shorter title as the Nicene Creed. The name comes from the ecumenical councils[2] which were held in Nicaea in the year 325AD and the other in Constantinople held in the year 381AD. This 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.[3] The Nicene Creed which is said during Sunday Mass and High Holy Days (Feast Day Masses).

At the time the Nicene Creed with the stated beliefs were being confirmed, it becomes apparent that the councils were taken the starting frame-work from an older creed(s). The main tenants of belief as found in the Apostles creed were not discussed per se so much more so was a way to provide a fuller explanation. In other words they were trying to bolster it up. Why? This was to fight certain heresies such as the Arian heresy.

The Nicene Creed is expanded from the earlier creeds. The content of the creed was first confirmed and amended during the ecumenical Council at Nicene in the year 325AD. This was done as a way to combat a grave heresy known as the ‘Arian heresy’[4]. To correct the wrongs of the heresy, the following was included in the Creed:

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.

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[1]  "Apostles' Creed", Dictionary of the Christian Church, Oxford University Press, 2005, p.90, ISBN 978-0192802903.

[2] Ecumenical Council: a conference (meeting) of ecclesiastical dignitaries (bishops) of the whole church; Such councils meet for the purpose to discuss and settle matters of Church doctrine and practice.

[3] CCC 195

[4]   Arian Heresy – Denied the divinity of Jesus. It Denied that Jesus was one with and equally God.

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[1]. So, the following was added to the creed.[2]

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

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, The Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth

I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.{always bow when saying this phrase}

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell. 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 Church,

The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.                   Amen

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[1] The trinity is “God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit.”

[2] A Short History of the Mass – Alfred McBride, O/ Praem: St. Anthony’ Messenger Press 2006. Chapter 3 page 55.

I believe in God, The Father almighty,

I Believe in (One) God, the Father Almighty.” This confesses the belief in God’s oneness, which has its roots in the Old Testament. This is inseparable from the profession of belief in God’s existence and is equally fundamental.[1]  Acknowledging this oneness of God declares that you believe in Him. “I believe in one God,” besides stating a belief in the existence of God it is an explicit and absolute trust in God. A Christian believes “In Him” as an act of faith by placing themselves entirely into His hands.

Creator of heaven and earth

God is a distinct person as Father and creator. God is the only divine being and he is also Almighty in that no one and nothing is greater. As “the Father Almighty” and Creator of all things, God owes His existence to no one. This makes it beneficial to trust in God, including God’s will, His benevolence, His call and His commands.

Believing in God appeals to your true nature and purpose. You are not complete on your own. If you were left on your own, you would eventually search for something outside yourself as a purpose or meaning. Nothing created can fully satisfy such a search. Only God can satisfy it, because He is almighty, He is un-created and outside of creation. God as the Creator is the purpose of your being and life here on earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord.

Similar to the first belief, this belief is more than just an idea where the believer is only acknowledging that at one point in history Jesus existed. The believer is saying they believe in Jesus as much as they do God.

When practicing the Catholic faith to say you believe “In Jesus” is equally an act of Faith in Him as it is with the God the Father. This is because Jesus as God is one with God the Father. There is only One God (this is expounded on as the lessons continue).

A profession of faith in God the Father and in Jesus, means you place your life into God’s hands. Also, just as it is with the first belief, this belief also deals with the ever-present question; who is Jesus? Who Jesus is for us requires us to have a response by trusting in Him, believing in Him and following Him.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

Jesus as God came in the form of man for the purpose of saving mankind from sin, eternal death and separation from God caused by original sin. As part of God’s plan for man’s salvation and to show His glory through His Love and Mercy, He sent His son Jesus Christ to be born, live and finally suffer and die (pay the price) for our sins.

God’s plans are not fully comprehensible to man. The mystery of His plan unfolds in part by the Virgin Mary giving birth to Jesus as prophesied by Isaiah[2]. There are four Gospels in the New Testament. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke provide a narrative of how Jesus Christ came as a child, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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[1] CCC 200

[2] Isaiah 7:14:“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign; the virgin (young woman), pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel.” [Emmanuel – means, God is with us.]

The Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned because God begins His special act of salvation for man by “setting her apart” for this special task. This is done through God’s Holiness which makes or brings forth in a particular person of His choosing quality and/or nature God deems necessary for their participation in His plan. How God intended or intends to set any person apart by His grace is God’s doing not the individual’s. Holiness is what God intends for all Christians. God asks all Christian to allow him to set them apart for His purpose.  

God is beginning the fulfillment of His promise in Genesis. The Blessed Virgin Mary is “The Woman” of Genesis 3:15. Jesus is the offspring. Those that benefit from His salvation are they who would “Strike” at Satan’s head.[1]

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.

The Apostles Creed and the  Nicene Creed acknowledges the death of Jesus at the hands of Pontus Pilate. Historically it is Pilate’s name who is mentioned, but he really represents You and I as the ones who truly commission Jesus’ death on the cross.

Pilate condemned Jesus to death by crucifixion. Pilate fails to see and take advantage of his own opportunity for grace. He spoke to Jesus and he was so close he probably touched Jesus. He more than likely felt Jesus’ piercing but loving gaze. Yet because he wanted to remain blinded to real “Truth.” He could not even remotely begin to recognize the God who created him.

These words in the creeds are not meant to only be a historical “Marker,” and a reminder of Jesus Passion, death, and resurrection. But, by mentioning Pontus Pilate they remind us that we too can carry the characteristics of Pontus Pilate and in sinning we unjustly condemn Jesus.

He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

Among the miracles attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ, there is one which is the most important one of all, namely, His Resurrection.  In the New Testament there are five distinct records of the Resurrection. All of them are independent; four from the Gospels, one from Saint Paul. In these five distinct records there are at least eleven accounts of the Resurrection of Our Blessed Lord and of his various appearances.  In one instance, the resurrected Jesus appears to five hundred people.

But in the creed, what do the words “He descended into hell,” mean?

“He descended into Hell,” is more a vernacular question than a theological question.  The use of the word “Hell” in the English wording is left over from the word’s usage in older version of the English Language (Old English). The word ‘hell’ used in the Creed it is not referring to “Eternal Hell Fire” where the damned go with Satan. The earliest Christianity uses a word from Greek katôtata, which meant “lowest.” This is translated to the word Hades and then in later Old English to Hell.

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[1] Genesis 3:15 : “I will put enmity between you (Satan-the devil) and the woman, and between your offspring and  hers; They (man’s offspring) will strike at your head (Satan’s head), while you (Satan-the devil) strike at their heel.”

Why Did Jesus Descend to the Dead?

At the Crucifixion, upon Jesus’ expiration on the cross he went first to the place of the dead. A place where all the “righteous” souls from Old Testament times were waiting for the gates of Heaven to be opened by the saving action of Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus went there to bring into fulfillment the good news (Gospel) of Salvation.[1]  The First Epistle of St. Peter intimates this when He says:

18  For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.
19  In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison,
              St. Peter 3:18-19

Here it draws a question who the spirits might be that Christ preached to. However, it begs the question whether any profit would be gained from preaching to damned souls and demons in Hellfire. Since the damned in hell fire would not benefit from Christ’s preaching (Because they are filled with a hate for God) then Jesus is obviously preaching to another group of souls contained in another existence outside of Hell fire and heaven. The Catechism teaches the spirits Jesus preached to could be the ones awaiting to get into heaven.[2] In addition the Catechism states:

CCC 636 By the expression "He descended into hell", the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil "who has the power of death" (Heb 2:14).

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

This tells of a truth witnessed by the Apostles as found in the Acts of the Apostles.[3]

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[1] CCC 634 "The gospel was preached even to the dead."  The descent into hell brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfilment. This is the last phase of Jesus' messianic mission, a phase which is condensed in time but vast in its real significance: the spread of Christ's redemptive work to all men of all times and all places, for all who are saved have been made sharers in the redemption.

[2] CCC 635  Christ went down into the depths of death so that "the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live."  Jesus, "the Author of life", by dying destroyed "him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and [delivered] all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage."  Henceforth the risen Christ holds "the keys of Death and Hades", so that "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."

[3] Acts 1: 16-9 – 6 When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He answered them,  “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.   8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,  and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  9 When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.  

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

This not an inference to just a comfortable place to sit or be. Nor is it implying that Jesus gets to “sit at the head of the class!” By these words the belief declared is to say that Jesus is at an equal standing with God. Not just authority but in essence and substance. In other Words Jesus is God.

But His position is unique. In these words it tells the believer that to get to God you must go through Him (Jesus).

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

The Catholic Church and what is laid out in scripture assert that Christ will come again. His coming in glory is always imminent[1] even though it is not for us to know when.[2] At His second coming, everyone will be judged.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

This profession goes along with what is professed for God the Father and God the Son. In it we believe through faith and in faith that the Holy Spirit can and will accomplish in us what God has made manifest.

the holy catholic Church,

This professes the church is holy because Christ is Holy. In it, Christ is at the head of the Church[3] and will not allow it to fail in the mission Christ entrusted to her. Also the Church is the “Pillar of truth.” And through her the “Manifest wisdom of God is made known.”[4]

The communion of saints,

Those that have gone before us, have entered heaven an appeal out cause before Christ with prayer supplication.[5]

the forgiveness of sins,

This profession speaks as to why Jesus came as our Savior. It is to forgive sins. Many of His discourses talked about sin, the separation from God which sin causes and the need to be save from our sins. 

The sanctification and redemption Jesus offers is not simply a removal of sin but also includes turning away from future sins and an ascent to God.

the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.                  

Christ came so that we may attain eternal life. When the creed speaks of the resurrection of the body, it does not mean this physically. This does not mean that after someone dies we keep opening up their coffin at regular intervals to see what remains are left to determine if they are in heaven yet (kind comical to think of it that way).

St. Paul speaks of Christ as the first Resurrected of many. He means us, if we are so inclined to follow Christ in this life so as to be raised by Him into the next.

Amen  (It is so,   I believe)

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[1] Revelation 22:20

[2] CCC 673

[3] Ephesians 1: 21-23

[4] Ephesians 3:8-10

[5] Revelation 5:8b “…twenty-four elders…with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”