- Origin
- The baptismal creed of the church in Rome
- Present form
- About AD 700
- Length
- About 110 words, in three articles
- Used by
- Reformed, Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and other churches
What is the Apostles’ Creed?
The apostles did not write the Apostles’ Creed. The name comes from the old belief that the creed gives the teaching of the apostles. Each phrase comes from Scripture.
The creed is short because it had a short purpose. A person who came to baptism said it to confess the faith. Many churches still say it at baptism and in public worship.
Many catechisms explain the faith through the Apostles’ Creed. The Heidelberg Catechism explains it in Questions 23 to 58. Luther’s Small Catechism explains it in its second part. The Westminster Shorter Catechism prints it at the end.
History
By about AD 200, the church in Rome asked each person at baptism three questions about the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. A short creed grew from these questions. Historians call it the Old Roman Creed.
Churches in the West added phrases to that creed over the next centuries. Examples are "maker of heaven and earth", "he descended into hell" and "the communion of saints". The text that churches use today was complete by about AD 700.
What it teaches
God the Father
The Father Almighty made heaven and earth.
God the Son
Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered, died, rose again and ascended. He will come again to judge.
God the Holy Spirit
The Spirit gathers the church, forgives sin, raises the body and gives eternal life.
How to memorise the Apostles’ Creed
Hearers breaks each answer into clauses and teaches each clause in four steps.
01
Read
Read the text with the clauses marked. Listen to it read aloud.
02
Trace
Type the first letter of each word, with the words shown faintly.
03
Fade
Half of the words go. Type the text again, and fill the gaps from memory.
04
Recall
All the words go. Type it or say it aloud. Each clause gets its own grade and its own review date.
The full text
Art. I
Learn thisI believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
Art. II
Learn thisAnd 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
Art. III
Learn thisI believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Source: Apostles' and Nicene Creeds (annotated harmony) (Private).
Questions
- Did the apostles write the Apostles’ Creed?
- No. The creed grew from the baptismal creed of the church in Rome. Its name says that it agrees with the teaching of the apostles.
- How long does it take to memorise the Apostles’ Creed?
- Most people can say it from memory after a few days of short practice. Hearers teaches one phrase at a time, then brings each phrase back before you forget it.
- What does "he descended into hell" mean?
- Churches explain the phrase in different ways. The Heidelberg Catechism (Question 44) says that Christ suffered the anguish of hell for us on the cross. Luther saw it as Christ’s victory over hell.