The Athanasian Creed: A Powerful Defense of the Trinity and the Incarnation

Among the historic confessions of the Christian faith, few are as bold, thorough, and uncompromising as the Athanasian Creed. Known for its precision and its uncompromising clarity, this creed stands as one of the most detailed explanations of the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation in the history of the church.

Despite its name, the Athanasian Creed was not written by St. Athanasius of Alexandria. Nevertheless, it bears his theological fingerprints, echoing his passionate defense of Christ’s full divinity during the Arian controversy. Likely written in the late 5th century, the creed emerged from the Western Church as a powerful bulwark against lingering Christological and Trinitarian heresies.

Athanasian Creed

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. 

And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son,  and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate,  and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible,  and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal,  and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals,  but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated,  but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty,  and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties,  but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God,  and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods,  but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord,  and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords,  but one Lord. 

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity  to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion,  to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none,  neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone,  not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son,  neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. 

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons;  one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other;  none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together  and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid,  the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved  must thus think of the Trinity. 

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation  that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess,  that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds;  and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man,  of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting; 

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead;  and inferior to the Father, as touching his Manhood. Who, although he be God and Man,  yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh,  but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance,  but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man,  so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation,  descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty,  from whence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies  and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting;  and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. 

This is the Catholic Faith,  which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

(2019 Book of Common Prayer, P. 769-771)

What the Athanasian Creed Teaches

The creed can be divided into two major themes:

1. The Trinity

2. The Incarnation of Christ

1. The Trinity: One God in Three Persons

The Athanasian Creed offers one of the most comprehensive statements on the Trinity ever produced. It insists that:

• Christians worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity.

• The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons but not separate gods.

• All three Persons share the same divine qualities—eternal, uncreated, almighty, and incomprehensible.

• None is before or after the other; none is greater or lesser.

• Together they are co-equal and co-eternal, fully unified in essence.

Its careful, almost mathematical precision prevents two opposite heresies:

• Modalism, which collapses the Persons into one, and

• Tritheism, which divides the one Godhead into three gods.

Anyone who desires salvation, the creed insists, must hold to this Trinitarian faith.

2. The Incarnation: Jesus Christ, Fully God and Fully Man

The second half of the creed turns its focus to Jesus Christ, affirming:

• Jesus is both perfect God and perfect Man.

• He is God, begotten of the Father before all worlds.

• He is man, born of his mother in time.

• He possesses a reasonable human soul and human flesh.

• He is one Christ—not two—united in one Person without blending, mixing, or dividing the natures.

This careful balance rejects:

• Nestorianism, which split Jesus into two separate persons.

• Monophysitism, which blended the two natures into one.

The creed then affirms Christ's saving work: His suffering, death, descent into hell, resurrection, ascension, and future return to judge all humanity.

Origins and Historical Background

Although attributed to Athanasius for many centuries, modern scholarship recognizes that the Athanasian Creed was composed long after his lifetime. Most likely:

• Written in Latin—not Greek—

• Originating in Southern Gaul or North Africa,

• Composed in the 5th or early 6th century,

  
  

  The creed was crafted to address ongoing doctrinal challenges that persisted even after the councils of Nicaea (325) and Chalcedon (451). Arianism, Nestorianism, and Monophysitism still influenced various regions, prompting the church to articulate an even more explicit and detailed confession of orthodox belief.

Role Among the Ecumenical Creeds

The Athanasian Creed holds a significant place among the historic statements of faith.

Widespread Use in the West

It became a standard confession in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and many Reformed churches, often recited during worship—especially on Trinity Sunday.

Eastern Orthodox Perspective

The Eastern Orthodox Church did not adopt the creed, largely due to the Filioque clause (“and the Son”) in its description of the Holy Spirit’s procession, a phrase central to the East-West theological divide.

The “Damnatory Clauses”

One notable feature of the creed is its strong opening and closing statements insisting that true salvation requires belief in the faith it articulates. These warnings—sometimes called the "damnatory clauses"—reflect the early Church’s seriousness in guarding the gospel against distortion. For modern readers, they serve as a reminder of the gravity with which early Christians regarded doctrinal truth.

Why the Athanasian Creed Still Matters

Though lengthy and dense, the Athanasian Creed remains one of the clearest and most robust articulations of biblical orthodoxy. It helps the church:

• Preserve the mystery and majesty of the Trinity

• Safeguard the full deity and full humanity of Christ

• Maintain continuity with the faith of the early believers

• Recognize and resist teachings that distort the gospel

In a world often tempted to dilute or redefine Christian doctrine, the Athanasian Creed stands as a timeless monument to the truth of the Triune God and the saving work of Jesus Christ.