Bible Question:
What is the Athanasian Creed of the fourth and fifth century A.D.?
Bible Answer:
The Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed are the three great universal creeds of the Christian faith. The Athanasian Creed is also called the Symbolum Quicunque. The author or origin of this creed is unknown. However, the creed became famous in A.D. 570.[1] Yet, it is generally believed that Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, is the author since he was a strong defender of the divinity of Christ and the Trinity.[2]
Philip Schaff observes that the creed is “antically arranged and rhythmically expressed. It is a musical creed or dogmatic psalm.”[3] The creed refutes the false teachings of Nestorians, Eutychians and Monothelites. The first part of the creed (3-28) affirms the teaching of Scripture that God is a Trinity. This is a unique feature of this creed. The other creeds do not address the doctrine of the trinity.
The second part of this creed (29-44) restates the doctrine that Christ was completely God and completely man. It expands upon the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Chalcedonian Creed. The Holy Spirit is properly taught in the creed. The concluding statement states that those who reject the creed cannot be saved.
The Athanasian Creed
1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;
2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.
5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.
6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.
7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.
8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.
9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.
10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.
11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.
12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.
13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.
14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.
15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;
16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.
17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;
18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.
19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;
20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.
21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.
22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.
23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.
26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.
27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.
28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.
31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.
32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.
34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.
35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the manhood into God.
36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;
38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;
39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;
40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;
42. And shall give account of their own works.
43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.
44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.[4]
Conclusion:
The creed summarizes the teaching of Scripture that God is one and yet, three persons. God is a trinity. Isaiah 43:10 together with 48:16 is a succinct statement of the trinity.
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me.
Isaiah 43:10 (NASB)And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit. Isaiah 48:16 (NASB)
“The Trinity – The Plural One” will provide important information that reveals that the Bible teaches God is a trinity.
The creed also affirms the teaching that Jesus is completely God and man. Philippians 2:5-7 summarizes this teaching of Scripture.
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:5-7 (NASB)
References:
1. McClintock and Strong. Cyclopedia of Biblical Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.1887, p. 561.
2. Philip Schaff. The Creeds of Christendom. Baker Books. 1996. vol.1. p. 35.
3. Ibid. p. 37.
4. Philip Schaff. The Creeds of Christendom. Baker Books. 1996. vol. 2. pp. 66-70.
Suggested Links:
What is the Episcopalian Creed?What is the Apostles’ Creed of the third or fourth century A.D.?
What are the Eighteen Articles of Faith of 1833?
What is the Nicene Creed of A.D. 325 and A.D. 381?
Is the Trinity equal even though they have different roles?
What is the Trinity?
The Trinity – The Plural One
The Trinity Mystery, part 1
The Trinity Mystery, part 2
Two Natures of Jesus Christ