The Creed Dr. Kimberly Vrudny Associate Professor of Systematic Theology University of St. Thomas

Overview Creeds Gnosticism & Arianism The Nicene Creed | The Councils of Nicea and Constantinople Saying the Creed with Integrity

Credimus Latin: “We believe.”

Gnosticism From the Greek word, gnosis: meaning “knowledge.”

Problems Theology Polytheistic Collapses God’s Omnipotence and Omniscience Dualistic Heavenly (gods engaged in battle) Earthly (evil material opposed to good spiritual realm) Christology Docetic: from Greek, “to appear” or “to seem” Christ is fully divine, but is not human Spirituality (Ascetic)

Council of Nicea 325 AD

Theology vs. Gnostics I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

Arianism Named after Arius, famous for the phrase: “There was a then when he was not.”

Discussion | Exercise

Council of Nicea 325 AD

Christology vs. Arians I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day 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.

Council of Constantinople 381 AD

Pneumatology vs. Modalists I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Integrity Integrity: 1. The quality of being honest. 2. The state of being whole and undivided.

Sources Justo L. González, The Apostles’ Creed for Today (Westminster, 2007). Luke Timothy Johnson, The Creed: What Christians Believe and Why It Matters (Image: 2004). Berard Marthaler, The Creed: The Apostolic Faith in Contemporary Theology (Twenty-Third Publications, 2007). Dorothy Sayers, Creed or Chaos? Why Christians Must Choose Either Dogma or Disaster (Or, Why It Really Does Matter What You Believe), (Manchester: Sophia Institute Press, 1949/1974). Frances M. Young, The Making of the Creeds (SCM Press, 2002).

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