Unit 6 - Creeds and Prayers

Unit 6, Assignment 2 – The Nicene Creed

Now to the next Creed. But first a prayer:
God, our helper and friend; as we prepare for the feast of Easter we pray that you will help us to remember why we celebrate Easter and to be grateful for what Jesus did for us and for whole humankind.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Nicene Creed is the most widespread or ecumenical Christian statement of faith. Since its original formulation it continues to be used in the Roman Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Anglican, Lutheran, and most other Protestant Churches.

As we already found when looking at the Apostles’ Creed, the purpose of a creed is to act as a yardstick of correct belief. It was hoped that by memorizing this summary of the faith, people without theological training would still be able to recognize deviations from beliefs based on the Bible.

The Nicene Creed, both in its original and revised formulas, is a condemnation of specific errors. Thus, as different variations in Christian belief turned up in the fourth century and were seen as threats, new phrases were seen to be needed, like amendments to a constitution.

The Nicene Creed was formulated at the Council of Nicaea year 325 and at the Council of Ephesus year 384. Those councils met to combat heresies and to declare that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. That is why this creed places so much stress upon the two natures of Christ; that He is both God and Man (see the second paragraph).

To the majority of modern Christians, the Nicene Creed is regarded as the most important expression of Christian faith. In this traditional belief, all "proper" Christians affirm the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed is referred to by Roman Catholics and Orthodox as the "symbol of faith," and it is often part of Christian worship services.
For the Eastern Orthodox Churches this is the only creed that they use and they only agree to the earliest forms of it; which differs a little bit from the text that we use.

The Nicene Creed is universally used as a Eucharistic creed (remember that the Apostles’ Creed is a baptismal creed). We tend to use it on major holidays, while the Apostles’ Creed is used more often and on “ordinary” Sundays and weekdays.

The Creed was originally written in Greek, which was the language spoken at the big councils at that time, and first translated to Latin. Here is the English translation from the Book of Alternative Services that we use today:

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 men 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 worshipped 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.


Assignments:
When was the Nicene Creed written?

When do we use it in our church?

Which one do you prefer: the Apostles’ or the Nicene Creed? Why?