A Sojourner's Quest

PA RT I I : WA L K I NG T H E D A I LY J O U R N E Y / 7 3

The Apostles’ Creed

Arguably one of the most important statements in the history of the Church, this ancient creed functioned as a confession of faith for new believers entering the ancient church, i.e., especially for those who had received baptismal training based on its major teachings. It has served for centuries as a summary of foundational Christian doctrine, becoming known as a “rule of faith,” i.e., a baseline testimony of Christian belief which gave unity to Christian teaching, helping to identify heretical teachings out of sync with orthodox doctrine. While the full form of the Apostles’ Creed stems from the 6th century, segments of it can be found (in one form or another) as far back as to the apostolic times. The Old Roman Creed serves perhaps as its key ancestor, which was developed in the late second century. As a statement of confession acknowledged in numerous Christian traditions, the Apostles’ Creed continues to be used today as it has been throughout church history – as a ready testimonial for baptism candidates, as an outline for teaching and summarizing our faith, as a standard against heresy, and as our confession in worship and devotions. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker 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, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose 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. 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. The Apostles’ Creed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).