Why we have Creeds

I often run into fine Christian folk who, when they find out I am an Anglican, will eventually bring the conversation around to the fact that they believe they do not need any Creed except the Bible. Now this is a fine sounding phrase, but like many such slogans it misses something very important, and that is that our limited human minds cannot possibly carry around a doctrinal index of all sixty-six books of the Bible. Even if we could, we would still tend to lay the most emphasis on our favorite doctrines.

The Creeds address this problem. They are summaries of basic Christian doctrine, and in the case of the Apostles' Creed, short enough to be easily memorized. The Apostles' Creed dates back to somewhere between the 2nd and the 5th century - we don't know precisely when because it was not written down until quite late - and served as the Baptismal Creed of the Latin Church. It is traditionally said to consist of twelve clauses, and a pious legend grew up that each apostle had contributed one. However, the important thing to remember about the Creeds is that they are summaries of Bible teaching, and below I include a table, shameless cribbed from a non-denomination website which gives the Apostles' Creed with its supporting Biblical citations, though I did change the text of the Creed back to the traditional one rather than the 1960s ICEL text used in the source.

1. I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. (Deuteronomy 6:4) (Gen 1:1)

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. (John 3:16)

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary. (Luke 1:26-38)

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and was buried. (Luke 23:23-25)

5. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again. (1 Peter 3:18-20) (1 Cor. 15:3-5)

6. He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. (Mark 16:19)

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. (2 Timothy 4:1)

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost, (John 15:26)

9. the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, (1 Cor 12:12-13) (Revelation 8:3-4)

10. the forgiveness of sins, (Matthew 6:14-15)

11. the resurrection of the body, (John 6:35-40)

12. and the life everlasting. (1 John 5:11-12)

As can be seen from the above, every proposition in the Apostles' Creed has its supporting Scripture, and thus it serves as a summary of what the Bible reveals to us about God.

+PDR