The Three Apostolic Creeds: A Comparative Analysis

A compendium of what Christians believe

Kateryna Shadrina (Ukrainian, 1995–), Harrowing of Hell, 2021

Introduction

Do you recall reciting the Apostles Creed?

The apostolic creeds represent foundational statements of Christian belief that have guided the church through centuries of theological development.

These historic confessions—the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed—each emerged during different periods of church history to address specific theological challenges while preserving the essential doctrines of the Christian faith.

The Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed is perhaps the most widely recognized and recited of the three creeds.

Despite its name, it was not written by the original apostles but developed gradually during the early centuries of the church. Its earliest form, sometimes called the Old Roman Creed, dates back to approximately the second century, while the creed as we know it today reached its final form around the 8th century in Western Europe.

This creed provides a concise summary of apostolic teaching organized around a Trinitarian structure:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He will come 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.

The word "catholic" comes from the Greek word "katholikos," meaning "universal" or "according to the whole," and refers to the worldwide body of believers who confess Christ as Lord across time and space.

The Apostles' Creed is characterized by its brevity and simplicity. It affirms core Christian beliefs but doesn't extensively elaborate on theological complexities like the nature of Christ's divinity or the relationship within the Trinity.

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed, sometimes called the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, was initially formulated at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and later revised at the First Council of Constantinople in 381 AD.

This creed was composed specifically to address the Arian controversy, which questioned Christ's full divinity.

The Arian Controversy was a major theological dispute in the early 4th century centered on the nature of Jesus Christ and His relationship to God the Father. Arius, a presbyter from Alexandria, taught that Jesus was not eternal or fully divine but rather a created being, famously claiming, "There was a time when He was not."

This view directly challenged the emerging orthodox position that Christ was eternal and of the same essence (homoousios) as the Father. The controversy led to the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, where Athanasius and others defended Christ's full deity. The council rejected Arianism and produced the Nicene Creed, which affirmed Christ as "begotten, not made" and "of one substance with the Father."

The expanded form of the creed goes into much greater detail about Christ's nature, declaring Him to be "true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father." This explicit affirmation of Christ's divine nature directly countered Arius's teaching that Jesus was a created being.

The Nicene Creed also provides a more detailed explanation of the Holy Spirit, describing Him as "the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets."

The Athanasian Creed

The Athanasian Creed (Quicunque Vult) is the longest and most detailed of the three creeds. Despite being named after Athanasius, a prominent defender of Trinitarian doctrine in the 4th century, scholars generally agree it was composed between 450 and 500 AD in southern France or Spain.

This creed is notable for its precise theological formulations regarding the Trinity and the Incarnation of Christ. It begins with the statement: "Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic faith. For unless a person keeps this faith whole and entire, he will undoubtedly be lost forever."

What distinguishes the Athanasian Creed is its detailed explanation of the Trinity, using philosophical language to explain how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons yet one God: "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the Persons nor dividing the substance."

The creed also provides an extended explanation of Christology, affirming that Christ is "equal to the Father as regards divinity, less than the Father as regards humanity."

Comparative Analysis

Similarities

1. Trinitarian Structure: All three creeds affirm the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as central to the Christian faith.

2. Christology: Each creed affirms the divine and human natures of Christ, His virgin birth, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

3. Eschatology: All three mention Christ's return to judge the living and the dead.

4. Ecclesiology: Each includes recognition of the church, though with varying degrees of emphasis.

Differences

1. Length and Complexity:

   • The Apostles' Creed is the shortest and simplest.

   • The Nicene Creed provides more theological elaboration.

   • The Athanasian Creed is the longest with detailed theological explanations.

2. Historical Context:

   • The Apostles' Creed developed gradually as a baptismal confession.

   • The Nicene Creed was formulated specifically to counter Arianism.

   • The Athanasian Creed addresses Trinitarian and Christological controversies that emerged in the 4th and 5th centuries.

3. Theological Emphasis:

   • The Apostles' Creed focuses on the basic narrative of salvation history.

   • The Nicene Creed emphasizes the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

   • The Athanasian Creed provides detailed explanations of both the Trinity and the dual nature of Christ.

4. Liturgical Use:

   • The Apostles' Creed remains commonly used in Western churches' baptismal services and daily prayer.

   • The Nicene Creed is used in the Eucharistic liturgy in most Christian traditions.

   • The Athanasian Creed is less frequently used in worship, though it appears in some denominational prayer books for special occasions.

The Guardrails for Orthodox Belief

These creeds serve as guardrails for orthodox belief, helping Christians distinguish essential doctrines from secondary issues.

Particularly emphasized is the word "catholic" in the Apostles' Creed refers to the universal church, not the Roman Catholic denomination. When we confess 'I believe in the holy catholic church,' we're not talking about Rome. We're talking about the universal church that Christ is building, which includes every redeemed person who has ever lived.

The creeds' value as historical witnesses to the churches is their unwavering commitment to essential doctrines like the Trinity and the deity of Christ. While the creeds are not Scripture, they accurately reflect scriptural teaching and demonstrate how Christians have understood biblical revelation throughout history.

The development of the creeds is not an innovation but a clarification of teachings already contained in Scripture. Each creed responded to specific heresies by articulating biblical truth more precisely, helping the church maintain doctrinal purity across generations.

Theological Significance

The three creeds represent the church's commitment to orthodox doctrine throughout different historical challenges. As R.C. Sproul often noted, these creeds did not create doctrine but codified the teachings already present in Scripture.

The progression from the Apostles' Creed to the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds demonstrates how the church responded to theological challenges by articulating its beliefs with increasing precision. This development wasn't about changing doctrine but clarifying it against misinterpretations.

Contemporary Relevance

Today, these ancient creeds continue to serve several essential functions:

1. Doctrinal Foundation: They provide a concise summary of essential Christian beliefs.

2. Unity: They highlight the core doctrines that unite Christians across denominations and traditions.

3. Protection Against Heresy: They establish boundaries that help identify teachings outside orthodox Christianity.

4. Historical Connection: They connect contemporary believers with the church's historic faith.

Conclusion

The three apostolic creeds—Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian—represent progressive articulations of Christian doctrine that emerged to address specific historical and theological challenges. While they differ in length, complexity, and emphasis, they are committed to Trinitarian theology and Christ's full divinity and humanity. Together, they provide a foundation for understanding orthodox Christian belief that has guided the church for nearly two millennia.

These creeds help us anchor our faith in the historic, orthodox understanding of Christianity preserved throughout church history. They remind us that the essential doctrines of the faith are not modern innovations but have been consistently affirmed by believers across centuries. By understanding and affirming these creeds, contemporary Christians join the universal ("catholic") church in proclaiming the unchanging truths of God's Word.

What a rich heritage we have in Christ.

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