What is the Apostles' Creed?

Understanding Hebrews 6:1

The Apostles' Creed is the most widely used creed in Western Christianity. It is recited weekly in Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and many other churches worldwide. In just twelve statements, it summarizes the essential beliefs of the Christian faith.

The text

'I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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.'

(Note: 'catholic' here means 'universal' — referring to the worldwide church, not the Roman Catholic denomination. Some Protestant versions substitute 'Christian' to avoid confusion.)

Origin and history

Despite its name, the Apostles' Creed was not written by the twelve apostles. An early legend (first recorded by Rufinus around 390 AD) claimed each apostle contributed one of twelve articles before dispersing on their missions. This is pious fiction — but the creed's content does faithfully reflect apostolic teaching found in the New Testament.

The creed developed gradually:

• The Old Roman Creed (c. 150-200 AD): An earlier, shorter version used in Rome as a baptismal confession. Candidates for baptism would affirm these beliefs before being immersed.
• Expansion (200-600 AD): Additional phrases were added to address specific heresies — 'conceived by the Holy Spirit' (against those denying the virgin birth), 'suffered under Pontius Pilate' (grounding the faith in historical fact), 'descended into hell' (a later addition, debated from the beginning).
• Final form (c. 700 AD): The version used today was standardized in Gaul (modern France) and eventually adopted throughout the Western church.

The creed served a dual purpose: (1) a baptismal confession — new believers affirming what they believe as they enter the faith; and (2) a rule of faith — a summary used to teach, test, and guard against false teaching.

What it affirms — line by line

'I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.' God is personal ('Father'), sovereign ('almighty'), and the source of everything ('creator'). This opposes ancient Gnostic beliefs that the material world was created by an inferior deity.

'I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.' Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), uniquely God's Son (not one among many), and Lord (kyrios — the same word used for God in the Greek Old Testament).

'Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.' Jesus' birth was both divine (Holy Spirit) and human (Mary). He is fully God and fully man. This opposes Docetism (which denied His humanity) and Adoptionism (which denied His divinity).

'Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.' The gospel is anchored in history — a specific Roman governor, a real execution, an actual death and burial. Christianity is not mythology; it makes falsifiable historical claims.

'He descended into hell.' The most controversial line. Interpretations include: (1) Jesus experienced the full depth of divine judgment for sin; (2) He went to the realm of the dead (Sheol/Hades) to proclaim victory (1 Peter 3:18-20); (3) He suffered the torment of hell on the cross. Some traditions omit this clause entirely.

'The third day he rose again from the dead.' Bodily resurrection — not a metaphor, not a spiritual vision, but a physical rising from death. This is the foundation of Christianity (1 Corinthians 15:14: 'If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith').

'He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.' Jesus physically departed earth (Acts 1:9) and now holds the position of supreme authority ('right hand') — reigning over all creation.

'From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.' Jesus will return — visibly, bodily — to render final judgment on all humanity, both those alive at His return and those who have died.

'I believe in the Holy Spirit.' The Third Person of the Trinity is personal, divine, and active in the world today.

'The holy catholic church, the communion of saints.' There is one universal church spanning all times and places. All believers — past, present, and future — are connected in a spiritual community.

'The forgiveness of sins.' Sin is real, and God provides real forgiveness through Christ. This is not self-improvement but divine pardon.

'The resurrection of the body.' Christianity promises not escape from the body but transformation of the body. The final hope is not disembodied heavenly existence but bodily resurrection — physical, renewed life in a restored creation.

'And the life everlasting.' Death is not the end. Eternal life with God is the destiny of those who trust in Christ.

Why not the Nicene Creed?

The Nicene Creed (325/381 AD) is more theologically precise — it was crafted to combat specific heresies (especially Arianism, which denied Christ's full divinity). The Apostles' Creed is simpler and more personal ('I believe' vs. 'We believe'). Both are authoritative; they complement rather than compete.

The Apostles' Creed is used primarily in Western churches. Eastern Orthodox churches use the Nicene Creed almost exclusively.

Why it matters

The Apostles' Creed matters because it answers the most basic question: what do Christians actually believe? In a world of theological complexity, denominational division, and cultural confusion about Christianity, the Creed provides a clear, ancient, universally accepted summary. It is the common ground beneath Catholic, Protestant, and many Orthodox Christians — a reminder that despite real differences, the core faith confessed for nearly two millennia has remained remarkably stable.

It also functions as a personal declaration. To say 'I believe' is not merely to recite information — it is to stake your life on a story: that the God who made everything entered His creation, died, rose, and is coming back.