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The Nicene Creed
The Nicene Creed was issued by the Council of Nicaea, which met in A.D. 325 to address the debate between Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and Arius, one of his elders.
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Read further for an introduction, or jump directly to its text below.
The Story Behind the Nicene Creed
For a fuller version of this, go to The Council of Nicea.
Arius had been excommunicated by Alexander for teaching that Jesus Christ was created by God in the beginning from nothing, in much the same way that God had created all other creatures. This view is currently held by the Jehovah's Witnesses, but it was brand new in A.D. 318.
It was offensive enough a belief that Alexander was urged by other church leaders to take appropriate action against Arius, who was quite unrepentant about believing something that went against the church in Alexandria and its bishop. Thus Arius was excommunicated.
This didn't stop Arius, who found a supporter in the bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia (not to be confused with Eusebius the historian, bishop of Caesarea). Arius not only had Eusebius on his side, but he taught his doctrine to traders and children, even composing jingles, and spread it throughout the eastern empire.
Fearful that the controversy would divide his empire, Constantine the Great assembled a council at Nicaea, in modern Turkey, to address the matter. This council condemned Arius and Eusebius (of Nicomedia) and composed the Nicene Creed as a statement of the historic doctrine of the Church.
The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Creed of Nicaea
The Nicene Creed teaches a doctrine that is mostly forgotten, despite its being quoted in many churches every week (usually in the form of the very similar Apostles Creed).
Our modern "orthodox" view of the Trinity is quite close to the Nicene Creed, but the beginning—"There is one God, the Father Almighty"—makes it clear that there are some differences.
There were between 250 and 318 bishops at the Council of Nicaea—depending on whose estimate you accept—and all but two assented to the Creed. The two were banned from the empire, but later repented.
Arius, too, who could not be at Nicaea because he was not a bishop, was banished from the empire at Nicea. He later died after Constantine sent him to Alexandria to seek reconciliation. There is much speculation that there was foul play involved.
The Text of the Nicene Creed
Do take note of the use of the words "substance" and "consubstantial" in the Nicene Creed. They concern the Greek words ousios and homoousios, which was the main subject of the Arian controversy.
The Father
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.
The Son
And [we believe] in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of the Father.
That is, of the substance of the Father; God of God and Light of light; true God of true God; begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.
By [him] all things were made, both which are in heaven and on earth: who for the sake of us men, and on account of our salvation, descended, became incarnate, and was made man; suffered, arose again the third day, and ascended into the heavens, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
The Holy Spirit
[We] also [believe] in the Holy Spirit.
Anathemas
But the holy, catholic [i.e., "universal," not Roman Catholic], and apostolic church anathematizes those who say, "There was a time when he was not," and "He was not before he was begotten," and "He was made from that which did not exist," and those who assert that he is of other substance or essence than the Father, that he was created, or is susceptible of change.
Text of the Nicene Creed as given by the council taken from The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus, Book 1 and ch. VIII, written circa AD 450. The creed has been added to since.
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