The Nicene
Creed, also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed, is a statement of
the orthodox faith of the early Christian church in opposition to certain
heresies, especially Arianism. These heresies, which disturbed the church during
the fourth century, concerned the doctrine of the trinity and of the person of
Christ. Both the Greek (Eastern) and the Latin (Western) church held this creed
in honor, though with one important difference: the Western church insisted on
the inclusion of the phrase and the Son (known as the filioque) in the article
on the procession of the Holy Spirit; this phrase still is repudiated by the
Eastern Orthodox church. In its present form this creed goes back partially to
the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) with additions by the Council of Constantinople
(A.D. 381). It was accepted in its present form at the Council of Chalcedon in
451, but the filioque phrase was not added until 589. However, the creed is in
substance an accurate and majestic formulation of the Nicene faith. This
translation of the Greek text was approved by the CRC Synod of 1988.
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