The Nicene Creed

Section

The Nicene Creed

: Footnotes and Supportive Scripture

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

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
     the only 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:
     by the power of the Holy Spirit
     he became incarnate from 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.
     With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
     He 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.

Reason for the Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed is the result of the first and second ecumenical Councils (AD 325 & 381). This is the commonly used final Latin version from AD 381. The first ecumenical Council was convened in Nicea for the purpose of settling the Arian heresy, which denied the full deity of the Son, teaching that he had a beginning from the Father, was a demi-urge, the highest of the angels, and not eternal.
"and the Son"
The Latin version, which was developed by the Western church, includes the phrase “and the Son” (filioque), which, along with Papal authority, was the source for the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western churches in the 11th century.
"We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins"
The language of “baptism for the remission of sins” reflects the biblical usage at Acts 2:38: “Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” It is not teaching that baptism accomplishes or contributes to regeneration.
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The Nicene Creed
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The Nicene Creed