Creeds

The word "creed" comes from the Latin word credo, meaning "I believe." Creeds are public statements of faith, standardized ways in which new people can confess their faith in Jesus Christ. They anchor Christian faith to a tradition, making it difficult for people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines. They are preaching and teaching tools, giving an outline for further discipleship. They are memorized through frequent repetition, which in early times helped many believers who could not read. They provide a doctrinal basis for different churches to accept one another, and to reject those who did not accept the basic truths.

• II Timothy 4:3
  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
• I Timothy 4:16
  Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
• Colossians 2:8
  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Both the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds are summeries of Scriptural faith and are recited to keep in sound doctrine.

The Nicene Creed was adopted in the city of Nicea by the first ecumenical council in 325. It was revised in 381 by the second ecumenical council in Constantinople.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

AMEN