The Apostles Creed, sometimes called The Twelve Articles of Faith or the Apostolicum, is a creedal statement that affirms and proclaims many of the central pillar beliefs of Christianity. The Creed is recited in many Western churches (both Protestant and Catholic) and affirmed by virtually every denomination. This widespread acceptance is due to the Creed’s close adherence to the message of the Gospel and Apostolic teaching.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church,
“The Apostles Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles’ faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises from this fact: it is ‘the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter, the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith. “
Catechism of the Catholic Church; 194.
The Creed is often used in Baptismal settings, Church services, and in the case of the Roman Catholic church, it is also used as a prayer.
The Apostles Creed
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;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty;
from thence 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
History Of The Apostles Creed
According to legend, the Apostles Creed was constructed by the 12 disciples of Christ just after Pentecost. As the story goes, after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, they came together and created the Creed to pass along essential doctrines to the new converts. The oldest record of this legend comes from Rufinus of Aquileia (345–411), who wrote,
“So they [i.e., the apostles] met together in one spot and, being filled with the Holy Spirit, compiled this brief token . . . each making the contribution he thought fit; and they decreed that it should be handed out as standard teaching to believers.”
However, like most legions, its truth comes with a bit of imagination.
Although the Creed’s content does trace back to the teachings of the Apostles, the current form of the Creed did not appear until the 5th to 7th century. As recited today, the Creed shares many similarities with several baptismal creeds used by the Church throughout the centuries. For example, the wording of the Old Roman Creed (a second-century baptismal creed) is nearly identical. Consequently, the Apostles Creed is widely considered to be an expansion of the Old Roman and similar Baptismal Creeds. It should also be noted that the Apostles Creed shares the Trinitarian perspective of the Nicene Creed. Nicaea likely influenced the writer; however, it is unclear if it directly affected the wording of the Apostles Creed.
Many believe the Creed was created in southern France, or Gaul, as it was known at the time. In the 8th century, Charlemagne made it a stable of the liturgy. No one is entirely sure when the Catholic Church officially endorsed the Creed; however, by the time of Pope Innocent III (1198–1216), the Creed was an established part of the Church.
Connections to the New Testament
As for its connection to the New Testament, the Creed reflects many core teachings of the Apostles. For example, the Creed affirms the following doctrines.
- God the father the creator of heaven and earth (1 Peter 1:2, Hebrews 11:3)
- Jesus’ status as the son of God (Matthew 3:17)
- Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9)
- The virgin birth (Luke 1:27-32)
- His death by crucifixion Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2)
- His descent to Hell (1 Peter 3:18-20, Ephesians 4:9)
- The resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:4)
- The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38)
- The Catholic [universal] Church (1 Corinthians 12:13)
- Jesus will Judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1)
- Forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9)
- The resurrection of the dead in the last days (1 Peter 1:3)
Controversial Points
Like a slightly dysfunctional family nestled around the Thanksgiving dinner table, Christians tended to argue about very unimportant things. The Apostles Creed is one of the best examples of our proclivity for pointless battles. For the most part, Christendom has little to no problems with the Creed. However, there are a few wording choices that some do take issue with. A classic example is the Creed’s use of the term “Catholic” Church.
“The Holy Catholic Church”
Today, the word “Catholic” is almost exclusively understood to be a reference to the Roman Catholic Church, but this was not always the case. The Creed was created in the days before Christianity splintered into the Roman, Greek, and Protestant divisions we are so familiar with today. At that time, Christians were united under a single banner, often called the “Catholic” or “Universal” Church. So, the term “Catholic” describes the united nature of ancient Christendom. However, because of its modern connotations, many Protestants dislike the term and prefer to avoid using it altogether. For example, in the Lutheran Church, the word is sometimes exchanged with the “holy Christian church.”
“He Descended Into Hell“
The statement “He descended into Hell” is another controversial part of the Creed. The section is a reference to Ephesians 4:9 and 1 Peter 3:18-20.
“Now this, “He ascended,” what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?”
Ephesians 4:9
“Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah….”
1 Peter 3:18-20
These are the passages the writer had in mind when he penned those words. However, the idea that Jesus went to “Hell” (The place reserved for the devil and his followers, Matthew 25:41) after his crucifixion is something many Churches have a problem affirming. For example, when commenting on this section of the Apostles Creed, John Piper said,
“there is no textual basis in the New Testament for claiming that between Good Friday and Easter Christ was preaching to souls imprisoned in hell or Hades. . . . For these and other reasons, it seems best to me to omit from the Apostles’ Creed the clause, ‘he descended into hell,’ rather than giving it other meanings that are more defensible, the way Calvin does.”
A good number of believers share Piper’s thoughts about the text. Consequently, Churches that have an issue saying “He descended into Hell” will remove the line entirely or replace it with words like “grave,” “ground,” or “Sheol” (the OT land or realm of the dead). For more on the subject, see Did Jesus Go To Hell?
Final Thought About the Apostles Creed
From an aerial perspective, Christianity appears to be a fractured web of differing opinions and traditions. However, if you zoom down and look closely, you will find many threads of truth linking the sects together. The Apostles Creed is a fantastic example of the reality that despite our insurmountable differences, we do share a belief in many of the fundamental eternal truths of Christianity.
