The Ecumenical Creeds: Foundations of Christian Belief

A creed, as defined by the dictionary, is “a brief, authoritative statement of belief.” By the end of the fifth century, three Christian creeds had emerged: the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and the Athanasian Creed. These are often referred to as the “ecumenical creeds” because they were accepted as authoritative by the entire Christian Church of that time.

The Apostles’ Creed, the earliest of the three, was used in the Early Church during the sacrament of Holy Baptism. It served as a foundational statement of faith for new Christians. The Nicene Creed, developed during the Councils of Nicaea in 325 and Constantinople in 381, was traditionally recited during the Divine Service. This creed clarified the Church’s teachings on the nature of Christ and the Holy Trinity in response to the teachings of Arius of Alexandra, Egypt (256-335), who claimed that Christ was not eternal and therefore not fully God. The Nicene Creed counters this by asserting that Christ is “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” This powerful statement underscores the equality of the three Persons of the Trinity.

The Athanasian Creed, the longest of the three, is particularly associated with Trinity Sunday. Based on the teachings of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria (296-373), it was written after his lifetime and emphasizes the importance of the doctrine of the Trinity. It boldly declares, “Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith... And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity.” This creed serves as a profound reminder of the centrality of Trinitarian doctrine in Christian belief.

These three creeds hold a place of honor in the Book of Concord, the confessional writings of the Lutheran Church. Their inclusion testifies to Lutheranism’s identity as a reforming movement within the broader Christian Church, rather than a breakaway tradition. Lutheran pastors affirm these creeds at their ordination, underscoring their enduring relevance and authority.

In worship, the Creed follows the proclamation of God’s Word through Scripture readings, the Hymn of the Day, and the Sermon. The congregation’s confession of the Creed is both individual and collective, affirming the shared faith of the Church. Through this confession, the Church reminds God and one another of His promises, builds up the community in faith, and proclaims belief to the world.

The ancient heresies confronted by these creeds remain relevant today. When Jesus is regarded merely as a great teacher or moral example, echoes of Arius’s teachings resurface. The Church’s confession of faith, rooted in these historic creeds, continues to affirm the full divinity of Christ and the mystery of the Holy Trinity. In worship, we stand together to declare the timeless truths of our faith, building a bridge between the past, present, and future Church.