Creeds
What do you have to believe to be a Presbyterian? That's a big question with no clear cut answer.
We have a strong belief system. We acknowledge a belief in the Creeds of the church. The Creeds comprise a segment titled The Book of Confessions, in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church USA, our national church governing body.
The Book of Confessions includes statements of faith going back centuries along with some newer creeds. In addition to the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed, we include The Scots Confession, The Heidelburg Catechism, The Confession of 1967 and others found in our Book of Confessions.
The two Creeds included here are the ones most often read in worship around the world. At the time of this writing, the governing bodies of the church are discerning whether we should add a new creed, The Belhar Confession to the book. We continue to update our list of accepted creeds in the belief that we are a reformed church, yet always reforming.
The Nicene Creed was the first official doctrinal statement of the whole Christian Church. It was accepted as a definitive statement by the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
The Apostles' Creed is the most widely used confessional statement in the Western Church. We don't acknowledge a specific time it was accepted but it grew through the centuries.
We have a strong belief system. We acknowledge a belief in the Creeds of the church. The Creeds comprise a segment titled The Book of Confessions, in the constitution of the Presbyterian Church USA, our national church governing body.
The Book of Confessions includes statements of faith going back centuries along with some newer creeds. In addition to the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed, we include The Scots Confession, The Heidelburg Catechism, The Confession of 1967 and others found in our Book of Confessions.
The two Creeds included here are the ones most often read in worship around the world. At the time of this writing, the governing bodies of the church are discerning whether we should add a new creed, The Belhar Confession to the book. We continue to update our list of accepted creeds in the belief that we are a reformed church, yet always reforming.
The Nicene Creed was the first official doctrinal statement of the whole Christian Church. It was accepted as a definitive statement by the Council of Chalcedon in 451.
The Apostles' Creed is the most widely used confessional statement in the Western Church. We don't acknowledge a specific time it was accepted but it grew through the centuries.
Nicene Creed
We 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 sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again, with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We 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 sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again, with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from whence He shall come 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 life everlasting.
Amen
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
from whence He shall come 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 life everlasting.
Amen
