Nicene
Creed/Apostol
ic Creed
Elder Maxwell Rafomoyo
AFM in Zimbabwe Children Ministry
National Seminar
22 February 2025
Outline
• What is a creed
• Other early church creeds
• Why it is important to know and understand the
creeds
• The Nicene Creed
• The Original Nicene Creed
• The Scriptures that support the Nicene creed
• The Apostolic Creed
• Differences and similarities of the Nicene and
Apostolic Creed
• Summary of the Nicene Creed
What is a creed
• A Christian statement of faith that is the only
ecumenical creed because it is accepted as
authoritative by the Roman Catholic, Eastern
Orthodox, Anglican, and major Protestant
churches. The Apostles’ and Athanasian creeds
are accepted by some but not all of these
churches.
• a formal statement or declaration of the core
beliefs and doctrines of a particular religion or faith
tradition. It serves as a summary or a confession
of what members of the faith hold to be true.
Creeds are used to express and affirm shared
beliefs, providing a common foundation for faith
and unity among believers.
Other early church creeds
• The Didache (50–100)
• The Creed of Aristides of Athens (130)
• The Old Roman Symbol or Old Roman Creed (c.
...
• The Creed of Cyprian of Carthage (250)
• The Deir Balyzeh Papyrus (200–350)
• The Arian Creeds and Creeds of Euzoius
(320/327)
• The Creed of Alexander of Alexandria (321–324)
Why it is important to know
and understand the creed/s
• To know the foundation of Christian beliefs-
Confession of faith
• To understand the teachings of the church whose
basis is founded on the Nicene and Apostolic
creed
• To be able to refute any heretic teachings not
founded on Christian beliefs
• To teach children the correct beliefs of the church
The Nicene Creed
• The Nicene Creed was created at the First Council
of Nicaea in 325. This was a group of Christian
bishops that were gathered at the request of the
Roman Emperor Constantine – hence also called
the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed
• Notably the bishops were predominantly Catholic
• He converted to Catholic himself and is accused of
bringing a lot of pagan worship.
• During his tenure there was coexistence of pagan
practices alongside Christian influence, particularly
in the earlier part of his rule.
The Original 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 Son of God, the only-begotten of the Father before all ages.
Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made,
of one essence with the Father by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven,
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became man.
And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures;
and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father;
and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead;
whose Kingdom shall have no end.
The Scriptures that support
the Nicene creed
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things
visible and invisible. Genesis 1vs1
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of the Father before all
ages. John 3vs 16
Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, John 1:4-9, John 10:30, John
14:9;John [Link]olossians 1:15-16
of one essence with the Father by whom all things were made; John1 vs1-2; John [Link]
who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, John [Link]John 6:38
and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary: Matthew [Link]Isaiah 7:14
and became man. John [Link]
The Scriptures that support
the Nicene creed
And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried. Matthew
27:27-31, Mark 15:37-39 and John 19:30-34
And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; Luke [Link]
and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; Mark 16:19, Acts 1:9-11
and Hebrews 1:3
and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; Matthew
24:30Revelation [Link]Matthew 25:31-32: Revelation 20:11-12
whose Kingdom shall have no end. Luke [Link]Matthew [Link]John 18:36-37
And in the Holy Spirit.
The Apostolic
Creed
• I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
• And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by 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 rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
And sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the
dead.
The Apostolic
Creed
• I 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
Differences and similarities of the
Nicene and Apostolic Creed
Aspect Apostles' Creed Nicene Creed
Origin Early Christian tradition, attributed to the Established at the Council of Nicaea (325
apostles. AD), revised at Constantinople (381 AD).
Length Short and concise. Longer, with more theological details.
Focus Basic Christian beliefs: Father, Son, Holy Focuses on the nature of Christ, the Trinity,
Spirit, Church, Resurrection. and the Holy Spirit’s divinity.
The Holy Brief mention, not elaborated on. Detailed explanation of the Holy Spirit’s
Spirit divinity and role.
Trinity Implicit belief in the Trinity. Explicit and detailed teaching on the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
Church and Mentions the Church and the return of Elaborates on the Church and includes more
Eschatology Christ. on the end times and Christ’s eternal reign.
Use Often used in baptism and daily devotion. Used in formal liturgy, especially in the
Eucharist.
Summary of the Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is a statement of Christian faith that affirms belief in one
God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of all things visible and invisible. It
proclaims Jesus Christ as the only-begotten Son of God, who is fully divine,
of the same essence as the Father, and through whom all things were
created. Jesus, for the salvation of humanity, became incarnate through the
Virgin Mary, suffered, was crucified, died, and rose from the dead on the third
day.
He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the Father, from
where He will return to judge the living and the dead.
The Creed also affirms the belief in the Holy Spirit, who is the Lord and giver
of life, proceeding from the Father and the Son, and is equally worshiped and
glorified.
It declares the belief in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and
emphasizes the resurrection of the dead and the promise of eternal life in
God’s kingdom. The Nicene Creed highlights the core doctrines of the
Christian faith, particularly the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the
redemptive work of Christ, and it is recited by Christians worldwide as a
declaration of their shared beliefs.
Thank you