The Apostles Creed

Intricate fresco depicting saints in an Orthodox church setting, showcasing historic religious art.

The Apostle’s Creed traces its roots back to the early-mid 2nd century. Though it was not penned by the Apostles themselves, it gets its name because it is faithful to their teaching (Acts 2:42) and distills core doctrinal truths into a concise and memorable statement. Its structure reflects a Trinitarian framework, succinctly outlining the nature and work of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, while addressing key tenets like creation, incarnation, resurrection, and eternal life. This brevity and clarity made it a powerful tool for teaching, worship, and unifying diverse Christian communities across centuries.

Text of The Apostle’s 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 third 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 the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic1 Church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

  1. The term “catholic” means universal, referring to the universal Christian faith and not to the Roman Catholic church. ↩︎