Christian Creeds (Part 2)

2. The Nicene Creed (The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed)
The Nicene Creed was adopted in the First Council of Nicaea (325) and revised at the First Council of Constantinople (381). Both versions were adopted as reaction to theological controversies.

The original version was a response to Arianism - the teaching that the Son does not equal the Father. Thus it stressed their equality.

The original version of the Nicene Creed (English translation):

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, 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 both in heaven and on earth; who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man; he suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

And in the Holy Ghost.

But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable' — they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.

The original version of this creed did not say much about the Holy Spirit. In the revised version, the description of the Holy Spirit was added - as a response to the teaching of Eustaphius (Pneumatomachianism) - the teaching that the Holy Spirit does not equal the Father (though some Pneumatomachians also denied that the Son equals the Father). This description does not speaks directly that the Holy Spirit is God. However, it implies that.

The text of the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (revised version of the Nicene Creed):

We believe 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 the Father before all worlds, 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 Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man; he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

This version is different from the commonly used in the Western Church. Synod in Toledo, Spain in 589 added the words "and from the Son" (filioque) to the processing of the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Church has never agreed with this change.

The text of the commonly used in the Western Church version of the Nicene (Niceno-Constantinopolitan) Creed:

I believe 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 the 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 on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The main purpose of this creed is to declare the Trinity - the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. However, in some ways, its statements are not sufficient. This creed does not states clearly that there is only one God and also that the Holy Spirit is God. The Athanasian Creed contains much more clear definition of the Trinity.