Creeds + Councils – GrowthGroup.Life

Apostle’s Creed.

I believe in God the Father, Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
Born of the virgin Mary;
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven;
And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
The holy catholic church; the communion of saints;
The forgiveness of sins;
The resurrection of the body;
And the life everlasting. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed was not written by the Biblical Disciples. The name is deemed this as a sum and substance of the early Apostolic teaching which the disciples would have held to. Earliest version found is A.D. 215. The current version is circa 542 A.D.

– source: https://www.apuritansmind.com/creeds-and-confessions/the-apostles-creed/

The Apostles’ Creed is not found in the Bible. The Apostles’ Creed was not written by the apostles. Rather, it was written at least 150 years after the apostles had all died. It is called the Apostles’ Creed because it is supposed to be a record of what the apostles taught.
– https://www.gotquestions.org/apostles-creed.html

Creeds

Creeds are so important that we find basic creeds even in the Bible itself.

The Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4 is the fundamental creedal statement of biblical monotheism.

Throughout the Epistles we find core summaries of the person and work of Christ that were likely recited or sung in the Apostolic Church. Philippians 2:5–11 summarizes the biblical teaching on the incarnation of the Son of God. First Timothy 3:16 masterfully encapsulates the work of Christ. These examples and others show us that summarizing and declaring our faith is a historical and biblical practice.
-source: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/why-creeds-and-confessions

Many of the historic creeds came out of ecumenical councils, where early church leaders and fathers would meet to discuss and/or settle doctrinal issues.

We’ll discuss a couple of the more important ones here that relate to the canonicity of the bible, but a good introductory summary can be found at

Nicea, Athanasius, + Arius

The Council of Nicea (325 AD)

The Arians were followers of Arius, a teacher who had become famous for his denial of the deity of Christ. Arius taught that the Son of God was merely a creature. “As the first of God’s creations, the Son is worthy of honor”, Arius said, “but He is not worthy of our full worship and adoration because He does not possess the same nature as God.”

Arius’ views were condemned in AD 325 by the Council of Nicaea, which formulated the core of what we today refer to as the Nicene Creed.

Nicaea proclaimed that the Son of God and the Father are ‘homoousios’ (of the same essence or substance).

Athanasius vs Arius

Athanasius, the fourth-century bishop of Alexandria, is one of the chief examples of a man who was willing to die for Christ even though it never actually came to that.

During his lifetime, the church faced the threat of Arianism, a heresy named for a well-known teacher in the church. Arius taught that the Son of God was a godlike creature but not truly and fully divine. This heretic said Christ was worthy of honor because He was God’s first creation through whom all else was created. Still, Arius believed the Son was, ultimately, a mere creature. According to Arianism, “there was a time when the Son was not.”

At the Council of Nicea in AD 325, the church met to deal with Arianism, and affirmed the orthodox biblical teaching by declaring that the Son is ‘homoousious’ (of the same essence) with the Father and fully God in His own right.

Following the teaching of Scripture, the church fathers at Nicaea insisted that the Father and Son share equally in everything that makes God who He is. They have the same divine attributes, and one is not more or less God than the other.

Despite the fact that Nicaea condemned Arian views, Arianism enjoyed a resurgence of popularity after the council. Arian church leaders who had been condemned at Nicaea were restored to their positions by the Roman emperor.

In fact, at times it seemed as if the whole world had become Arian in the decades after the Council of Nicaea. Athanasius, who became bishop of the leading city of Alexandria in 328, was one of the notable exceptions to the rule.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcgfYexhWP0

Athanasius vs World

Emperor Constantine exiled Athanasius from his bishopric for refusing to change his views regarding Arius’ heresy. Over the subsequent decades, as support for Arianism waxed and waned among the highest levels of the Roman government, Athanasius would be exiled four more times for his defense of Nicene orthodoxy.

Athanasius never wavered and stood firm for his convictions. On his gravestone are the words…

‘Athanasius contra mundum’

Athanasius against the world.

Sources

Nicene Creed

Arius’ views were condemned in AD 325 by the Council of Nicaea, which formulated the core of what we today refer to as the Nicene Creed.

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His 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 is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And we believe in one holy catholic1 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.

(‘catholic’ refers to the universal church, the Body of Believers – not the Roman Catholic church)

-source: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/the-nicene-creed

Athanasian Creed.

Though the name “Athanasius” was given to the creed over the centuries, modern scholars are convinced that the Athanasian Creed was written after the death of Athanasius. Certainly, Athanasius’ theological influence is embedded in the creed, but in all likelihood he was not its author.

The content of the Athanasian Creed stresses the affirmation of the Trinity in which all members of the Godhead are considered uncreated and co-eternal and of the same substance. In the affirmation of the Trinity the dual nature of Christ is given central importance.

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith unless every one 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 coeternal.
Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated.
The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited.
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 uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite.
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 God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are 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 before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another.
But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully 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 is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ.
One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption 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 God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
At whose coming all men will 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 truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.

(‘catholic’ refers to the universal church, the Body of Believers – not the Roman Catholic church)

– source: https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/heroes-of-the-christian-faith/athanasius

Councils + Canonicity

Council of Nicea (325 AD)

While there doesn’t appear to be any strong historical record or indication that discussions on canonicity took place at Nicea, there’s some commentary that those present sensed a strong need to recognize what were the accepted collection of inspired writings of scripture.

That would be discussed during the Council of Carthage.

Council of Laodicea (364 AD)

The Council of Laodicea was a minor council that produced sixty rulings, or canons, covering a broad range of topics.

These rulings prohibited certain foods during Lent, discussed whether or not to minster to Jews and heretics, explicitly condemned astrology, specified the correct Christian “Sabbath day,” and emphasized the importance of modesty. The council also produced two rulings referencing the canon of Scripture.

The 59th ruling of the Council of Laodicea declared that only canonical books should be read in church. The 60th ruling specified this canon as the traditional 27 books of the New Testament, minus Revelation; and the 39 books of the Old Testament, plus the book of Baruch and its extended ending, the Epistle of Jeremiah.

–https://www.gotquestions.org/Council-of-Laodicea.html

Council of Constantinople (381 AD)

The First Council of Constantinople occurred in AD 381 in the city of the same name (modern Istanbul, Turkey). It is considered the second of the Ecumenical Councils, after Nicea in 325.

At the Council of Constantinople, Christian bishops convened to settle several doctrinal disputes prompted by unrest in the religious leadership of the city.

While not as memorable as the Council of Nicea, the council dealt a fatal blow to Arianism, clarified the language used to describe the Trinity, and sharpened the distinctions between the Eastern and Western branches of the church.

–https://www.gotquestions.org/Council-of-Constantinople.html

Council of Hippo (393 AD)

The Council of Hippo (though considered a minor event) was the first time a council of bishops met to approve a biblical canon that closely resembles today’s Roman Catholic Bible.

The Council of Hippo identified the books of the New Testament as follows:

“The [books of the] New Testament: the Gospels, four books; the Acts of the Apostles, one book; the Epistles of Paul, thirteen; of the same to the Hebrews; one Epistle; of Peter, two; of John, apostle, three; of James, one; of Jude, one; the Revelation of John” (Canon 24, ratified by the Third Council of Carthage, AD 397).

But the Council of Hippo’s list of Old Testament books included Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, the Wisdom of Solomon, and Ecclesiasticus—books that help comprise the Apocrypha. The Catholic Bible contains these books, and they may be considered of some historical interest, but they are not “God-breathed” by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16–17), according to Protestant Christianity.

–https://www.gotquestions.org/Council-of-Hippo.html

Council of Carthage (397 AD)

In AD 397 the most important of the Carthage meetings was held. This is the one most commonly referred to as the “Council of Carthage.”

What we know of this council is limited, as the only surviving records are indirect accounts and depictions in other sources. The foremost result of this convention was a list of the biblical canon, or the “accepted” books of the Bible.

The Council of Carthage listed the 27 books of the New Testament, as well as the 39 books of the Old Testament, but it also included several books not part of the typical canon, such as Maccabees and Esdras. These books are part of what is known as the Apocrypha and are not considered inspired texts.

–https://www.gotquestions.org/Council-of-Carthage.html

Rich Mullins – “Creed”

(Unrelated: Want to learn more about Rich Mullins? Start here.)

-original version of Creed by Rich Mullins: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WVTop7pzqcM