The Nicene Creed - line by line

[~Anastasia~]

A while back I really enjoyed everyone's contributions on a thread I started that discussed the Lord's Prayer, one line at a time.

I'd like to do the same with the Nicene Creed.

Since the rules of the forum require everyone who posts in GT to be a Christian who affirms the Nicene Creed, there should be no disagreement with the Creed itself, though I expect there to be different interpretations of a few parts. Please let's not argue with one another.

I'd like to give each phrase a day so that folks will have time to participate. Please try to stay with the place where we are and DO NOT SKIP AHEAD - we'll get there, God willing.

But if you join late and want to comment on any part we've already covered, that's fine.

Thanks in advance for participation! May this be something by which we can edify one another.

I believe in one God, Father Almighty, Creator of
heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of
God, begotten of the Father before all ages;

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten,
not created, of one essence with the Father
through Whom all things were made.

Who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven and was incarnate
of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
and suffered and was buried;

And He rose on the third day,
according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;

And He will come again with glory to judge the living
and dead. His kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Creator of life,
Who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], Who together with the
Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, Who
spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the age to come.

Amen.

 

[~Anastasia~]

"I believe in One God"

 

[~Anastasia~]

"I believe in One God"

I almost wanted to skip to "One God" being the point to focus on here, but then I realized that the "I believe ... " at the beginning of the Creed is important as well.

I can appreciate that The Nicene Creed delineates what essential doctrines make one Christian, and so are necessary to believe if we are indeed brothers and sisters in the faith.

And "One God" is essential. The Trinity is difficult to explain/understand in human terms, but we do need to be careful to understand that although we speak of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - we also know that God is one - we believe in One God (in three Persons) ... not in three gods.


And that's what I can come up with so far.

 

[Targaryen]

Subscribing.

I'll come back to this tommorow.

 

[ChristsSoldier115]

Prepare to see about 50 posts repeating:

Not scriptural not valid

and

uninspired therefore invalid.


subscribing

 

[Restoresmysoul]

I notice that neither Catholicism nor Anglicanism is mentioned. So i must assume that the one Church mentioned in the creed is the one i follow in scripture.

 

[Chesterton]

nm

 

[Restoresmysoul]

Not to sidetrack, but just a side note before it starts: I always admired the fact that Christianity actually has a creed. We're really the only major religion that tried to specify it's beliefs. (Of course the Muslims copied us with their "five pillars". Or was it five solas? I forget.) But of course, someone will come along and say "I don't see in the Bible where we're supposed to have a creed!".

Comparing Muslims with the 5 solas and then adding a seems appropriate.

 

[Gnarwhal]

Prepare to see about 50 posts repeating:

Not scriptural not valid

and

uninspired therefore invalid.


subscribing

Luckily this very website has a copy with scriptural references to each line. So that renders that argument null.

 

[godenver1]

Subscribing also

 

[Chesterton]

nm

 

[~Anastasia~]

I actually wanted to do this several months ago but I was concerned about the "fallout".

Decided to do it anyway, and this seems like a good time. Thanks for the note that there are Scriptural references on the site - in case it's needed.

I even went back and added the filioque in brackets (copied this from a GO site).

 

[~Anastasia~]

And I should say that I think the most informative and edifying part would be to discuss WHY each part was codified. I think pretty much the entire Creed was crafted to correct various heresies. I don't actually know what most of them are - only in a few cases. Though something like Arianism was almost surely responsible for several parts of the Creed. If I can find information like that as we go, or better yet if anyone is familiar with that and can comment, that will be good.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

Please provide a link to the creed and its scripture references, i would like to examine this word Catholic more closely, thank you

 

[Restoresmysoul]

The term "Catholic", derived from the Greek word καθολικός (katholikos), which means "universal" or "general", QUOTE

Yes that must be the Church i follow in scripture, but it does not refer exclusively to the Church of Catholicism however. (RCC)

Is the word "Catholic" in the Bible? - Catholic Answers Forums

 

[Chesterton]

Sorry, I didn't mean to cause a jump-ahead; Kylissa said not to.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

And i notice the Creed does not mention Papacy either.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Kindly please do NOT turn this thread into a Catholic Debate. It is about the Nicene Creed, which defines Trinitarian Christians.

Questions are fine, but this is NOT about the Catholic Church.

 

[~Anastasia~]

The Creed with Scriptural references can be found on the Rules page at http://www.christianforums.com/rules/#faq_rule_0 - along with the rules for posting, which might be helpful to review for anyone who isn't familiar with them.

 

[Restoresmysoul]

Kindly please do NOT turn this thread into a Catholic Debate. It is about the Nicene Creed, which defines Trinitarian Christians.

Questions are fine, but this is NOT about the Catholic Church.

I was only examining the Church that is mentioned in the Creed. I dont think it will turn into a debate because its clear that the Church referred to in the Creed is not the RC but is the universal Church that the apostles established. I only posted the RC link because that's where i found the definition of the word catholic.