The Apostles’ Creed: The Ancient Summary of Christian Faith

The Apostles’ Creed stands as one of the most enduring and beloved expressions of the Christian faith. Recited in churches, memorized by believers, and taught to new converts for centuries, it captures the heart of Christianity in a concise, beautiful, and deeply scriptural statement.

Though not written directly by the Twelve Apostles, the creed faithfully summarizes their teachings and the core truths found in the New Testament. Its development spanned from the second to the eighth centuries, and today it remains one of the most widely recognized creeds in Western Christianity—cherished by Catholics, Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and many other traditions.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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 the life everlasting. Amen.

(2019 Book of Common Prayer, P. 20)

How the Apostles’ Creed Developed

A Baptismal Confession in the Early Church

The earliest known form—called the Old Roman Creed—was used as early as the second century (c. 140–215 AD). New converts would recite this creed at baptism, publicly declaring their belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

A Defense Against Heresy

The creed also served as a powerful tool against early heretical movements, especially Gnosticism, which denied:

• God as Creator of the physical world

• The true humanity of Christ

• The physical reality of Jesus’ suffering and resurrection

Key lines of the creed directly refute these ideas:

• “Creator of heaven and earth” affirms the goodness of creation.

• “Born of the Virgin Mary” emphasizes Christ’s true humanity.

• “Suffered under Pontius Pilate…was crucified, died, and was buried” anchors the gospel in history.

• “The resurrection of the body” confirms the Christian hope in bodily resurrection—not escape from the material world.

Refinements Over Time

By the eighth century, the creed had reached its final form and gained widespread acceptance throughout the Frankish Empire. One later addition, “He descended into hell (or to the dead),” appears in the writings of Rufinus of Aquileia around 404 AD.

This final form was eventually adopted into the liturgy of the Roman Church and later spread across Western Christianity.

Its Place Among the Ecumenical Creeds

The Apostles’ Creed is one of the three great ancient creeds of the Church, alongside:

• The Nicene Creed (325/381 AD)

• The Athanasian Creed (5th–7th century)

A Simpler Companion to the Nicene Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is shorter and more basic, offering a simple summary of biblical faith. The Nicene Creed, by contrast, was developed during major theological controversies—especially debates about Christ’s divinity and the nature of the Trinity. For this reason, the Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Nicene Creed exclusively in its liturgy rather than the Apostles’ Creed.

A Universal, Unifying Statement of Faith

Despite its Western roots, the Apostles’ Creed captures the universal (“catholic”) faith of the early church. Its clarity, brevity, and scriptural depth have made it a timeless guide for:

• catechesis (instruction in the faith)

• baptismal confession

• public worship

• personal devotion

For many Christians, the Apostles’ Creed remains the foundational summary of what the church has believed “everywhere, always, and by all.”

Why the Apostles’ Creed Still Matters Today

In an age full of competing beliefs and endless information, the Apostles’ Creed offers something refreshingly stable: a clear, historic, orthodox confession of Christian truth.

It reminds believers that their faith is not new or invented individually, but rooted in the ancient witness of Scripture, the teaching of the apostles, and the shared confession of the global church across centuries.

The Apostles’ Creed is not merely a relic of the past—it continues to shape the faith, identity, and worship of millions of Christians around the world.