The Apostles Creed
The apostle’s creed (in brief)
In short, the apostle’s creed is 12 lines that sum up our core beliefs as Catholics.
It is a symbol of faith, and the shortest way to explain the truths of Christianity.
The words Apostles creed were first mentioned in a letter from the Synod of Milan that was dated with the year 390 AD. (The Church still has this letter today, preserved, and undefiled).
The letter references to a belief that the creed was written by the 12 apostles themselves, and we carry on that traditional belief even today.
In later times the creed was used by catechumens (insert definition) prior to being baptized. They were required to recite the creed verbatim and by heart to ensure that they agreed with the core teachings of Christianity prior to being accepted into the Church.
The most common use of the creed today is as an affirmation of our Christian beliefs, which are the truths of the catholic faith. Some people use the creed as a form of prayer, and it is traditionally recited when praying the rosary immediately after the sign of the cross.
Many people who aren’t familiar with the creed often ask, “can the creed be found in the bible?” The short answer is yes. The creed is a summary of what is written in sacred scripture (The Bible). For example, when we recite in the creed ‘He ascended into Heaven’ that is a reference to Luke 24:51 (see the bottom of this article for a full list of references).
The apostle’s creed was later revised as it did not go deep enough into theology. Thus, the Counsel of Nicea created the Nicene Creed which we recite at each Holy Mass. More on that to come.
The Apostles 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;
on the 3rd day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen
SYMBOLUM APOSTOLORUM (the Apostle Creed in Latin)
Credo in DEUM PATREM omnipotentem; Creatorem cæli et terræ.
Et in JESUM CHRISTUM, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum;
qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria virgine;
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus;
descendit ad inferna;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;
ascendit ad cælos;
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus (est) judicare vivos et mortuos.
Credo in SPIRITUM SANCTUM; sanctam ecclesiam catholicam; sanctorum communionem; remissionem peccatorum; carnis resurrectionem;
vitam æternam.
Amen.
The Apostles Creed (with bible references)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, (Mt 5 :45)
Creator of heaven and earth, (Gen 1: 1; Rom 1: 20)
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, (Mt 3: 17; Phil 2: 12)
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, (Lk 1: 35)
born of the Virgin Mary, (Lk 2: 7)
suffered under Pontius Pilate, (Jn 19: 16)
was crucified, died, and was buried. (Jn 19: 29 – 42)
He descended into hell; (1 Pet 3: 19 – 20)
on the third day, He rose again from the dead, (Mt 28:1-10; Jn 20:11-18)
He ascended in heaven, (Lk 24: 51)
and sits at the right hand of God, (Heb 1: 3)
the Father almighty; (Mk 14: 36)
from thence He shall come again (Mt 16: 27; Acts 10: 39;)
to judge the living and the dead. (1 Cor 15: 51)
I believe in the Holy Spirit, (Jn 14: 15 – 20; Acts 1: 7 – 8)
the Holy Catholic Church, (Mt 16: 18 – 19; Eph 5: 26-27; Col 1: 24)
the communion of Saints, (Mt 28: 19 – 20; 2 Cor 11: 13; 1 Cor 15: 33)
the forgiveness of sins, (Jn 20: 22 – 23)
the resurrection of the body, (1Cor 15: 51 – 54; 1 Thes 4: 13 – 18)
and life everlasting. (1 Jn 5: 20)