NicENE CREEd: SCRiptuRE bASiS
Compiled by Lay Monk S.G. Preston - With Commentary
“While I live I will praise the Lord: I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.”
-Psalm 146:2
COMMENTARY ON THE NICENE CREED
1.) The Unique Place Held by the Nicene Creed in Christianity:
The Nicene Creed is the only creed accepted in all three branches of Christianity:
Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant.
It was adopted by a General Council of the entire Church (Ecumenical) in 325 A.D.
and revised (expanded) by a General Council of the entire Church in 381 A.D.
2.) The Nicene Creed’s Use in Christian Worship:
“Traditional liturgical worship always includes the Nicene Creed whenever there is Communion.
It is a corporate proclamation that corresponds to the Shema (“Hear, O Israel, the Lord thy God is one”) in the Synagogue liturgy.”**
3). The Nicene Creed and its Relation to the Canonicity of the New Testament:
For those Protestants who use it,
the Nicene Creed stands or falls on
whether it accurately states basic Bible doctrines.
Some Protestant
groups reject all Creeds on principle:
“No Creed but the Bible”; “No Creed but Christ.”
But they too, in fact, accept all of the basic historic Biblical doctrines taught in the Nicene Creed,
because it is based on Scripture verses found in the Bible.
Many Protestants are surprised to learn that the Canon of the New Testament books of the Bible
had not yet been established at the time of the composition of the Nicene Creed.
The Nicene Creed, itself based on verses taken from Scripture,
was actually used as an aid in determining the Canonicity of some of the books of the New Testament.
4.) The Nicene Creed and its Relation to Pre-New Testament Apostolic Oral Teaching:
The Nicene Creed was a formal, universally recognized (by the entire Church)
summary of essential Apostolic teaching based on the earlier Rule of Faith
(which was never officially set down into a final, standardized form),
and certain of the early Baptismal Creeds.
Both of these early forms of Christian “Symbols” were in existence and use by the Churches before the books of the New Testament
had yet been declared to be a part of the official Canon of Scripture.
“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold to the traditions which you have been taught,
whether by the words of our mouth, or by our epistles.”
-2 Thessalonians 2:15 _______________
The Apostle’s Creed:
The Apostle’s Creed originated as, and was used as,
a Baptismal Creed in the Western Church.
As a Creed used in the Liturgy,
it serves as a confirmation of the confession made at one’s Baptism. _______________
(Eternally) Begotten of the Father:
“A father begets, a mother conceives.
God the Son is begotten of the Father and conceived of the Virgin Mary.
The begetting is an eternal relationship, the conception is an event in time.” ** _______________
“God from God, Light from Light”:
A favorite analogy of the Athanasians was the following:
Light is continuously streaming forth from the sun.
The rays of light are derived from the sun, and not vice versa.
But it is not the case that first the sun existed and afterwards the Light.
It is possible to imagine that the sun has always existed, and always emitted light.
The Light, then, is derived from the sun, but the Light and the sun would exist simultaneously throughout eternity.
They would be co-eternal.
Just so, the Son exists because the Father exists, but there was never a time before the Father “begot” the Son.
The analogy is further appropriate because we can know the sun only through the rays of light that it emits.
To see the sunlight is to see the sun.
Just so, Jesus says,
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
-John 14:9
_______________
…one holy universal and apostolic Church…
There is only one holy universal Church:
Christ’s body, of which Christ Himself is the head,
and whose members consist of all truly believing Christians on earth (The Church Militant)
and in heaven (The Church Triumphant).
An Apostolic Church following the teaching of the Apostles
revealed through God’s Word in the New Testament
(by the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:18, and by Christ in Matthew 18:20).
Only Christ can save us.
-John 14:6
Members of His Body (His Church), are recorded in Heaven.
(Hebrews 12:23; Apostle John in Revelation 12:27; Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:3)
“It is remarkable that our Lord, in His Sacerdotal Prayer (Gospel of John, Chapter 17),
which is the Magna Carta of Christian union,
makes no reference to the Church or to any outward organization.
The communion of saints has its source and center in their union with Christ,
and this reflects his union with the Father.” ***
_______________
Commentary Sources:
* Augustine, “On Faith and the Creed”1 (NPNF 13:321); Footnote 8., P.36, “Credo” by Jaroslav Pelikan; Yale University Press.
** Ken Collins: “The Nicene Creed”
*** Philip Schaff, “The Creeds of Christendom: The History of the Creeds”, Vol. I, P. 916
“…we make our own the profession of faith that we carry in our heart…
We have the universal faith in the Creed, known to the faithful and committed to memory,
contained in a form of expression as concise as has been rendered admissible by the circumstances;”
-St. Augustine of Hippo (writing in 393 A.D.) *
NicENE cREEd: ScRiptuRE bASiS
I believe in one God:
“I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me.”
-Exodus 20:2-3
“And Jesus answered, ‘The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength; this is the first commandment.'” -Mark 12:29-31
the Father Almighty,
“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” -Ephesians 4:6
“And God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty:'”
-Genesis 35:11
Maker of heaven and earth,
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” -Genesis 1:1
“This says the LORD, your Redeemer, and He that formed you from the womb: ‘I am the LORD, that makes all things; that stretches out the heavens alone; that spreads abroad the earth by Myself’;
-Isaiah 44:24
and of all things visible and invisible.
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him:” -Colossians 1:16
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
-Romans 1:20
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;” -2 Corinthians 1:3
“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy: to the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
-1 Thessalonians 1:1
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its desires.”
-Romans 13:14
the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages;
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16
“And again, when He brought the first-begotten into the world, He said, ‘And let all the angels of God worship Him.'” -Hebrews 1:6
“Then those that were in the ship arrived and worshiped Him, saying, ‘In truth You are the Son of God.'” -Matthew 14:33
“‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'” -Revelation 1:8
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God; begotten, not made,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” -John 1:1
“This then is the message which we have heard from Him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” -1 John 1:5
“Then Jesus spoke to them again saying, ‘I am the light of the world: those that follow Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'”
-John 8:12
“And Thomas answered Him, saying, ‘My Lord and my God.” -John 20:28
” And we know that the Son of God has arrived, and has given us understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” -1 John 5:20
” I now declare the decree. The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are my Son. This day I have begotten you.'” -Psalm 2:7
“For to which of the angels did He say at any time, ‘You are My Son. This day I have begotten You? ‘And again, ‘I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?'” -Hebrews 1:5
“He that has seen Me has seen the Father.”
-John 14:9
being of one substance with the Father;
“I and My Father are one.” -John 10:30
“Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and His Redeemer, the LORD of Hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God.”
-Isaiah 44:6
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” -Revelation 1:8
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:” -Philippians 2:6
“But if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works: that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.” -John 10:38
“For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” -Colossians 2:9
through Him all things were made.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.
…He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world knew Him not.
…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”
-John 1:1-3,10,14
“And to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ.” -Ephesians 3:9
“But to us there is but one God, the Father; of Him are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through Him are all things, and we through Him.” -1 Corinthians 8:6
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.
For through Him were all things created, that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible; whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers;
all things were created through Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and through Him all things consist.”
-Colossians 1:15-17
Who, for us all, and for our Salvation, came down from heaven,
“For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”
-1 Thessalonians 5:9
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, through which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12
“And that from childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.”
-2 Timothy 3:15
“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if anyone eats of this bread, they shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
-John 6:51
“For I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.”
-John 6:38
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man;
“To a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
…And the angel answered her, saying, ‘The Holy Spirit shall rest upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore that holy thing which shall be born of you shall be called the Son of God.'” -Luke 1:27,35
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was in this way: when His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 1:18
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men;” -Philippians 2:6-7
“Concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;” -Romans 1:3
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
“Therefore let all the House of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, who you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
-Acts 2:36
“And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. …Then he released Barabbas to them: and after he had Jesus flogged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” -Matthew 27:2,26; Mark 15:15
He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures;
” From that time forward Jesus began to show to His disciples, that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” -Matthew 16:21
“And he bought fine linen, and took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which was hewn out of the rock; and rolled a stone to the door of the tomb.” -Mark 15:46
“And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how He spoke to you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'”
-Luke 24:5-7
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: how that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, in accordance with the Scriptures;”
-1 Corinthians 15:3-4
and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father;
“Jesus said to her, ‘Touch me not; for I have not yet ascended to my Father: but go to My brethren, and tell them that I ascend to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'” -John 20:17
“And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” -1 Timothy 3:16
” …by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who is gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.” -1 Peter 3:21-22
“And when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” -Acts 1:9
“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God.” -Mark 16:19
and He shall return, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; His kingdom shall have no end.
“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; who also said, ‘You men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?
This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into heaven, shall return in the same way as you have seen Him go into heaven.'” -Acts 1:10-11
“Behold, He arrives with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and those also who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” -Revelation 1:7
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son:” -John 5:22
“And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead” -Acts 10:42
“And He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever; and His kingdom shall have no end.”
-Luke 1:33
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life;
“Even the Spirit of Truth; who the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him, or know Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.” -John 14:17
“Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” -2 Corinthians 3:17
“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit, and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men, but to God.'” -Acts 5:3-4
“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly I say to you, except you be born of water and of the Spirit, you cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'” -John 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit;” -Titus 3:5
who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
“But when the Comforter has arrived, who I will send to you from the Father; even the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father; He shall testify of Me:” -John 15:26
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him.” -Luke 11:13
“Go therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:” -Matthew 28:19
“For the prophecies arrived not in old times by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” -2 Peter 1:21
And I believe in one holy universal and apostolic Church.
“Neither pray I for these alone, but for those also who shall believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one.
As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that You have sent Me.
And the glory which You gave Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one;
I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one;
that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me.”
-John 17:20-23
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation to which you are called; with all lowliness and humility, with patience, forbearing one another in love.
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling.
One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” -Ephesians 4:1-6
“And He is the head of His body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.”
-Colossians 1:18
“To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven,”
-Hebrews 12:23
“…those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” -Revelation 21:27
“…and with other of my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.” -Philippians 4:3
“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.”
-Matthew 18:20
“And to our beloved Apphia; and Archippus, our fellow soldier; and to the church in your house:”
-Philemon 1:2
“Likewise greet the church that is in their house.”
-Romans 16:5
“But if I delay long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” -1 Timothy 3:15
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone;” -Ephesians 2:20
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.” -Acts 2:42
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
“And Jesus arrived and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority is given to Me in heaven and in earth. Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:'” -Matthew 28:18-19
“One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” -Ephesians 4:5
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.”
-Galatians 3:27
“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for all for the remission of sins.”
-Matthew 26:28
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” -Luke 24:47
“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” -Acts 2:38
“And this water symbolizes baptism, which now saves you: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ:” -1 Peter 3:21
“Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” -Romans 6:3-4
and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
“Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” -1 Corinthians 15:12
“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
-1 Corinthians 15:21-22
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
-John 3:16
“But as it is written, ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those that love Him.'”
-1 Corinthians 2:9
“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Him be the glory forever. Amen.”
-Romans 11:36
the GOSpEl Of JOHN (1:1-3, 10, 14)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.”
-John 1:1-3, 10, 14
This Website: PrayerFoundation Evangelical Lay Monks ™ Built by: S.G. Preston Ministries ™
Copyright © 1999-2024 S.G. Preston. All Rights Reserved.
Photos & Text Copyright © 1999-2024 S.G. Preston. All Rights Reserved.