Apostles' Creed

Do you believe it?

 

 

Somewhere in time, this last week, I heard a song that reminded me of the Apostle’s Creed. I have heard songs based on this before and the song I was listening to really wasn’t, but the thought of the song was similar.  It made me curious.  What is the Apostle’s Creed and when did it first show up. 

I did a google search and there were quite few sites with information on this.  It’s traced back to the fourth century. The original apostle’s that walked and talked with Jesus didn’t write this down, but it was taken from their writings. 

In the fourth century many people couldn’t read and even if they could, Bibles were hard to get.  The Creed was a way to get the basic tenants of faith into something that was easy to memorize and share. 

I also think it’s useful.  As Christians, many times we don’t stop to think about the basic core of our belief and I believe the Apostle’s Creed sums it up well.   

 

Apostles' Creed

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1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy Catholic Church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

https://www.ccel.org/creeds/apostles.creed.html

 

 

I realize number nine is the Holy Catholic Church.  In the 4^th century, that was the only Christian church.  Now we can say, the Christian Church. The Christian Church encompasses Catholic and Protestant since both believe in Jesus as our Savior.

One of my favorite verses is also a key element of our core belief.  

Romans 10:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

What is really interesting to me is the core of the Christian faith never changed.  The trappings may have, but the Apostle’s Creed, written almost eighteen hundred years ago, is still our basic foundation.

Do you believe it?