{"id":300,"date":"2024-01-04T00:30:11","date_gmt":"2024-01-03T14:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/?page_id=300"},"modified":"2025-11-03T17:58:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T07:28:00","slug":"nicene-creed","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/nicene-creed\/","title":{"rendered":"Creeds 03 – Nicene Creed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-jose-francisco-fernandez-saura-19558433.png” alt=”pexels-jose-francisco-fernandez-saura-19558448″ title_text=”pexels-jose-francisco-fernandez-saura-19558433″ _builder_version=”4.23.3″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Abhaya Libre|600|on||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”2.5em” header_font=”|700|||||||” width=”90%” custom_margin=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The Nicene Creed<\/h1>\n

I\u00a0believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.<\/p>\n

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.<\/p>\n

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian* and apostolic Church; I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.<\/p>\n

Amen.<\/p>\n

*or the original text: And I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”3000px” border_width_top=”1px” border_width_bottom=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”c16985e1-e0d6-4022-964d-e2bfc04fa633″ text_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” header_font=”Cinzel||||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”60px” header_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”24px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Why Such a Complicated Creed?<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”1f09816e-184e-4ce5-a4cf-b39c52c423ca” text_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_orientation=”center” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]

The nature of Christian faith from the New Testament is reasonably clear, and well reflected in the Apostles Creed, so why was this longer and complicated creed formulated?<\/p>\n

The reason for it was due to the influence of Arius, the leader of a Christian community in the area of Alexandria, who incorporated human philosphy to alter his teaching of the gospel.\u00a0 As his influence spread, the Council of Nicaea of AD 325 was called to decide on the doctrine. The near-unanimous decision of the church (Arius and two Libyan bishops opposed it) was that his teaching is heresy, and that Jesus is truly divine, as was recorded in this creed.<\/p>\n

So, although this creed is complicated, it provides an important barrier to attacks on Christian belief.<\/p>\n

Only statements in the creed that are extra to the Apostles Creed will be looked at on this page.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”More about the lasting influence of Arius …” toggle_icon=”;||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”22px” open_toggle_icon=”:||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”22px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||on||||||” title_font_size=”16px” background_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

I have read that this was only the beginning of the attack on Christian belief, it’s like a repeat of the Fall in the Garden of Eden in Genesis.<\/p>\n

Despite the decision of this council, Arius’ influence continued to spread, and after the Roman emperor Constantine died, his son Constantius supported the Arians.\u00a0 In a perfect model for George Orwell’s 1984, a major rewrite of the biblical texts according to Arian philosophy was undertaken, with all copies of the older scriptures within the Roman Empire being destroyed.<\/p>\n

Although the Arians later lost their power within the empire, and correct copies of the biblical texts from outside the empire were made and returned into use, this tendency to stray from the original New Testament teachings continues; Arianism is now found in Unitarianism and the Jehovah\u2019s Witnesses, and various other groups.\u00a0 And unfortunately, many of the modern versions of the bible have used the Arian rewrites of scripture as the “oldest manuscripts”, so the undermining of belief can come from many directions. That is why you will find many people like to have a copy of the King James version for reference.<\/p>[\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Related links and references …” toggle_icon=”;||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”22px” open_toggle_icon=”:||divi||400″ open_use_icon_font_size=”on” open_icon_font_size=”22px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”||on||||||” title_font_size=”16px” background_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]

Bishop Robert Barron gives interesting background to the Council of Nicea in this YouTube video:\u00a0A Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue on Nicaea<\/a><\/p>\n

This main part of this video by Kent Hovind covers the errors of many modern bible versions, but at the beginning he gives interesting background to the source of these errors as Arias from Alexandria, which prompted the Council of Nicea to be called: Kent Hovind: Why use the King James Version<\/a><\/p>[\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Service” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”3000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/pexels-anna-holodna-19560953.png” alt=”Three wise men” title_text=”pexels-anna-holodna-19560953″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”500px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”b327cbe4-b1d5-4b66-ad37-40c8f2f061ba” header_2_font=”Cinzel||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font_size_tablet=”32px” header_2_font_size_phone=”20px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Main Additional Elements<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”1f09816e-184e-4ce5-a4cf-b39c52c423ca” text_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]

1. Divinity of Jesus<\/h2>\n

begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;<\/p>\n

The creed makes clear that Jesus is truly God, equally divine with the Father, and that Jesus was the creator of all.\u00a0 This reflects John’s gospel, where Jesus is described as “the Word”.<\/p>\n

John 1:1-3, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.\u00a0 He was in the beginning with God.\u00a0 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”3000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”1f09816e-184e-4ce5-a4cf-b39c52c423ca” text_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]

2. Jesus came as a man<\/h2>\n

for our salvation came down from heaven, … and was made man<\/p>\n

This makes two points:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. \n
      \n
    1. The truly divine and eternal Jesus came as a mere man, he was truly human;<\/li>\n
    2. The purpose of his incarnation was to save us from our state of separation from God<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/stacey-koenitz-kSY5T6js2KE-unsplash.jpg” title_text=”stacey-koenitz-kSY5T6js2KE-unsplash” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”500px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/senior-care-1.jpg” title_text=”senior-care-1″ disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”1f09816e-184e-4ce5-a4cf-b39c52c423ca” text_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]

      3. Divinity of the Holy Spirit<\/h2>\n

      Lord and giver of life, … proceeds from the Father and the Son, … together with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified<\/p>\n

      The Holy Spirt is truly divine, equal with the Father and Son.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.2″ _module_preset=”1f09816e-184e-4ce5-a4cf-b39c52c423ca” text_font=”Open Sans||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]

      \n
      \n
      <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

       <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”1f09816e-184e-4ce5-a4cf-b39c52c423ca” text_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” text_font_size=”18px” text_line_height=”1.8em” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”18px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_font_size_tablet=”55px” header_font_size_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]

      4. Inspiration of the Holy Spirit<\/h2>\n

      who spoke by the prophets<\/p>\n

      This states that it was the Holy Spirit who spoke to the prophets of old, who inspired them and gave them the words to reveal from God, and to record for us in the bible.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/senior-care-3.jpg” title_text=”senior-care-3″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”500px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(107,96,85,0.09) 0%|rgba(104,153,104,0.1) 100%” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||true|true” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”gcid-840cd285-ee6f-49c1-abc9-5e893f3235b8″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-840cd285-ee6f-49c1-abc9-5e893f3235b8%22:%91%22border_color_all%22%93}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” meta_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” meta_font_size=”18px” body_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” body_font_size=”18px” form_field_font=”Abhaya Libre||||||||” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_button=”on” custom_padding=”20px|20px|20px|20px|true|true” header_font_size_tablet=”26px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” title_font_size_tablet=”20px” title_font_size_phone=”20px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” meta_font_size_tablet=”16px” meta_font_size_phone=”16px” meta_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” body_font_size_tablet=”16px” body_font_size_phone=”16px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” form_field_font_size_tablet=”16px” form_field_font_size_phone=”16px” form_field_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” button_text_size_tablet=”18px” button_text_size_phone=”18px” button_text_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_comments][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Call to Action” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” locked=”off” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”80%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”2560px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||20px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]

      Next:<\/h2>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjI3MjkzIn19@” button_text=”The Athanasian Creed” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”20px” button_text_color=”#000000″ button_border_color=”#000000″ button_icon=”||divi||400″ button_icon_color=”#000000″ custom_margin=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” button_text_size_tablet=”18px” button_text_size_phone=”18px” button_text_size_last_edited=”on|phone” button_bg_color_tablet=”” button_bg_color_phone=”” button_bg_color_last_edited=”on|desktop” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” button_bg_color_gradient_stops__hover=”rgba(135,198,151,0.3) 0%|rgba(119,168,168,0.29) 100%” button_bg_use_color_gradient__hover=”on”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      The Nicene Creed I\u00a0believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker 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 His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-300","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=300"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29656,"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/300\/revisions\/29656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/questionsandbelief.org\/sw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}