The Apostles Creed is examined by Bill Davies
Credo – I believe….
At Scots Kirk we recite the Apostles’ Creed on the occasion of our quarterly communion service. Some denominations recite it every week. Tradition has it that the Apostles jointly composed this creed. However, the first written evidence available to us is in a letter written by one of the early Church ‘Doctors’, Saint Ambrose (circa 390). The early Middle Ages saw the Creed being recited at Baptism throughout the Western Church.
Now, a CREED may be defined as:
- A brief formal summary of Christian doctrine.
- A system of religious BELIEF and FAITH.
But, what is BELIEF?
- It is having confidence or FAITH in a person and indeed, in God.
- It is putting one’s trust in the truth of a proposition, doctrine, etc
And FAITH?
- Reliance on belief.
- Belief in the doctrines of religion.
- “Now FAITH is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11.1).
So, we have creeds, which state certain beliefs that are held to be true, and we have Churches saying that to be Christians we need to affirm the right set of beliefs. This, the Church says, is their faith. Now, whilst beliefs are held to be true, they are a matter of trust and cannot necessarily be logically proved, despite the deliberations of numerous councils and assemblies. There is a preoccupation with ‘believing’ and ‘beliefs’ which unfortunately turns the faith of some Christians into a matter of ‘the head’, having to accept the right set of claims as true. But, to early Christians, faith was a matter of ‘the heart’, a metaphor for a deep level of the self below our thinking. John 3:16 asks us to believe in Jesus not a set of propositions. Paul says we are justified by grace through faith. Jesus told us not to be anxious. Marcus Borg says, “Faith is about beloving God and all that God beloves. The Christian life is about beloving God and all that God beloves. Faith is our love for God. Faith is the way of the heart”.
In this series I plan to reflect on how a fresh look at the Apostles’ Creed may lead to a deeper understanding within our own hearts; particularly of those parts we may find difficult to affirm. There are, of course, other creeds. Probably the best known is the Nicene Creed, developed over time from various councils called to defend the orthodox faith. Then there are the Confessions of Faith adopted by the various reformed churches, like our Westminster Confession. For now, I invite you to look afresh at the Apostles’ Creed.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated
at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
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