Historical Background
Apostles’ Creed, also referred to as the Symbol of the Apostles is an early statement of faith of Christianity. It is widely accepted by different denominations (for example, Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism, Anglicanism, along with Presbyterians, Moravians, Methodists and Congregationalists) for liturgical and catechetical use.
The Creed affirms the Trinitarian belief as a widely preached doctrine of Christianity from the first century onward rejecting the place for a supposed accusation of later development of the doctrine. It does not explicitly address the issues related to the divinity of Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit addressed in the Nicene and other Christian Creeds because of its early origin in the original form. Christological, Pneumatological and other issues addressed in some other Creeds were conflicts of different time thus not addressed in the Apostles’ Creed.
The first mention of the name Apostles’ Creed is found in a letter of AD 390 from a synod in Milan. In the fourth century, it was widely believed that each of the Twelve Apostles, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, contributed an article to the twelve articles of the Creed. However, it also was held for many centuries that the Apostles’ Creed was not written by the Apostles themselves. Nonetheless, all of the articles of the Creed are in perfect harmony with the theological formulas current around 100 AD and they do express the preaching and teaching in the first-century church.
The Form of the Apostles’ Creed as we know it now originated from about 700 AD in southwest France.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from there He shall 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.
Amen.
Additional Notes
*The word catholic in the Creed does not refer to the Roman Catholic Church but is used in an etymological sense to refer to the Universal Church, the body of Christ.
Dose of Doctrine 