The Apostles’ Creed has been broken down into twelve sections by most of the older branches of the Church. Each of these sections contains Biblical support that has been cited over the millennia. There have also been significant arguments regarding some of these beliefs and their Biblical support.
This article does not propose to make an argument for or against the items of the creed, but it does intend to share what parts of the Bible have been cited as support. Some of the creedal items have several Bible verses that support them, some only a few. I will share one or two per section for the sake of brevity and I would encourage you to read the verses and prayerfully decide for yourself.
This article does not propose to make an argument for or against the items of the creed, but it does intend to share what parts of the Bible have been cited as support. Some of the creedal items have several Bible verses that support them, some only a few. I will share one or two per section for the sake of brevity and I would encourage you to read the verses and prayerfully decide for yourself.
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
Under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
Under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
01
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Genesis 1:1
02
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
John 3:16
03
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
Luke 1:26-38
04
Under Pontius Pilate, He was crucified, died, and was buried.
Luke 23:23-25
05
He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
1 Peter 3:18-20
06
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Mark 16:19
07
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
2 Timothy 4:1
08
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
John 15:26
09
the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints,
1 Corinthians 12:12-13
10
the forgiveness of sins,
Matthew 6:14-15
11
the resurrection of the body,
John 6:35-40
12
and the life everlasting.
1 John 5:11-12
While the Apostles’ Creed contains the main message of the Gospel within it, it actually has a broader scope. The creed was used as a confessional statement (and still is) for people preparing for baptism so they are already saved. The role of the creed in those moments is to formulate a statement of belief that incorporates ideas regarding God’s nature and the nature of the Church.
Though there has been controversy over the Apostles’ Creed over many years of the history of the Church, it has been a part of church life for a very long time. It is a powerful tool for teaching Christian doctrine that a person can access from memory. When we do this, we are acknowledging the wisdom of the ancient Church in creating an educational product that combats subversive ideas that can be dangerous to a person’s faith. So read the Apostles’ Creed. Get to know it and let it help you grow in your faith.
Though there has been controversy over the Apostles’ Creed over many years of the history of the Church, it has been a part of church life for a very long time. It is a powerful tool for teaching Christian doctrine that a person can access from memory. When we do this, we are acknowledging the wisdom of the ancient Church in creating an educational product that combats subversive ideas that can be dangerous to a person’s faith. So read the Apostles’ Creed. Get to know it and let it help you grow in your faith.