Nicene Creed

Nicaea icon

Rylands Nicene Creed papyrus

Nicaea icon (cropped Greek text homoousion tooi p(a)tri, Of one Being with the Father)

Creed icon (Russia, 17 c.)

Nicene Creed is a statement of faith widely used in Christian liturgy. It is called Nicene because it was originally adopted in the city of Nicaea (present-day İznik, Turkey) by the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The creed was later expanded by the First Council of Constantinople in 381. It is the only creed accepted by all three major branches of Christianity: Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism. The Nicene Creed is significant for its affirmation of the Trinity: that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each fully and equally God, co-eternal and co-equal.

History

The Nicene Creed was formulated to address the Arian controversy, which questioned the divinity of Jesus Christ. Arius, a Libyan presbyter, argued that Jesus Christ was created by the Father and therefore was not co-eternal with the Father. This view was deemed heretical by the council, which affirmed that the Son is "of the same substance" (Homoousion) with the Father. The creed was expanded in 381 by the First Council of Constantinople to further define the divinity of the Holy Spirit and to emphasize the unity of the Trinity.

Text of the Creed

The Nicene Creed, in its most widely used form, is as follows:

We believe in one God,

the Father almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

begotten from the Father before all ages,

God from God,

Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made;

of the same essence as the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,

and was made human.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered and was buried.

The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.

He ascended to heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again with glory

to judge the living and the dead.

His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,

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.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,

and to life in the world to come. Amen.

Significance

The Nicene Creed serves as a concise statement of orthodox Christian faith, setting forth the fundamental doctrines of the Trinity and the nature of Jesus as both God and man. It is recited in many Christian denominations as a profession of faith, especially during liturgical services such as the Eucharist.

Controversies

The inclusion of the phrase "and the Son" (Filioque) in the clause on the procession of the Holy Spirit has been a source of controversy between Eastern and Western Christianity. The original version adopted at Nicaea and Constantinople did not include "and the Son," but it was later added by the Western Church, leading to theological disputes and contributing to the East–West Schism.

Conclusion

The Nicene Creed remains a central element of Christian liturgy and theology, embodying the core beliefs of the Christian faith across different traditions and cultures. Its formulation and adoption were pivotal moments in the history of Christianity, marking the beginning of the development of a formal doctrine of faith.