The Nicene Creed: The Faith That Shaped Christian Orthodoxy

Few statements in Christian history have had as profound and lasting an impact as the Nicene Creed. Recited every Sunday in many churches around the world, it is more than a summary of belief—it’s a defining declaration of historic Christian faith, forged in the fires of controversy, defended by courageous theologians, and affirmed by the global church across centuries.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

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 for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

(2019 Book of Common Prayer, P. 109) 

Why the Nicene Creed Was Needed

The Nicene Creed did not emerge in a vacuum. It was born during one of the most turbulent and formative eras of Christian history—when the church had political freedom for the first time but faced internal theological conflict of unprecedented scale.

A New Era for Christianity

With the Edict of Milan in 313 AD, Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, ending centuries of persecution. This dramatic shift gave bishops freedom to meet openly and settle doctrinal disputes that were threatening unity.

The Arian Controversy

At the heart of the turmoil was a teaching promoted by a presbyter named Arius in Alexandria:

• Jesus Christ, he argued, was not eternal,

• not truly God in the fullest sense, but

• the highest created being— leading to the infamous slogan:

“There was a time when he was not.”

This struck at the heart of Christian worship and salvation. If Jesus were not fully God, how could he save? If he were not eternal, how could he represent the eternal Father?

Figures like Athanasius and Alexander of Alexandria courageously defended the apostolic belief in Christ’s full divinity.

The Council of Nicaea (325 AD): Defining the Son’s Divinity

To address the crisis, Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. Over 300 bishops—most from the Greek-speaking East—gathered to deliberate.

The council:

• unanimously condemned Arianism,

• affirmed that the Son is “begotten, not made,”

• and introduced the crucial term homoousios, meaning of one substance with the Father.

This ensured absolute clarity: Jesus Christ is fully God—eternal, uncreated, and equal with the Father.

The Council of Nicaea marked a turning point: the church publicly articulated the deity of Christ with unprecedented precision.

The Council of Constantinople (381 AD): Completing the Creed

Although Nicaea was decisive, Arianism did not disappear. For decades, various emperors supported it, and theological debate continued.

In 381 AD, Emperor Theodosius convened the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople.

This council:

• upheld the Nicene faith,

• condemned lingering Arian factions,

• and expanded the section on the Holy Spirit, affirming His full divinity:

“The Lord, the giver of life… who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.”

“We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.”

The result was the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, the version most Christians know today as the Nicene Creed.

Why the Nicene Creed Still Matters

1. A Universal Statement of Faith

The creed is accepted by:

• Roman Catholics

• Eastern Orthodox Christians

• Most Protestant denominations

It stands as a foundational summary of the Christian belief in the Triune God and the full deity and humanity of Jesus Christ.

2. A Shield Against Heresy

The creed was specifically crafted to protect the church from teachings that:

• denied Christ’s divinity (Arianism),

• confused the Trinity,

• or distorted the gospel.

Its clarity has preserved Christian orthodoxy for over 1,600 years.

3. A Unifying Confession Across Time and Culture

When Christians recite the Nicene Creed, they join a global and historical fellowship. It connects today’s believers with the earliest centuries of the faith.

4. A Summary of the Gospel Story

Within its lines, the creed tells the grand narrative:

• Creation

• Incarnation

• Crucifixion

• Resurrection

• Ascension

• Return of Christ

• Resurrection of the dead

• Life everlasting

It is both a confession and a proclamation of the hope at Christianity’s heart.

Conclusion: A Creed Worth Knowing and Reciting

The Nicene Creed is not merely an ancient document—it is a living testimony. It reminds Christians of who God is, who Christ is, and what salvation means. It anchors the faith amid changing times and stands as a beacon of truth for all who seek to understand the heart of Christian belief.