| Apostles' Creed |
Website Links For Apostles |
Information AboutApostles' Creed |
|
The Apostles' Creed ( belief, Creed , or "symbol." The Apostles' Creed is widely used by a number of Christian Denominations for both Liturgical and Catechetical purposes, most visibly by liturgical churches of Western tradition, including Roman (Latin-rite) Catholic churches, Lutheran churches, churches of the Anglican Communion , and Western Orthodox churches. It is also used by evangelical Protestant denominations such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists and many Baptists. It is not used by Southern Baptists, who consider themselves to be a ''non-credal'' church. Although many Lutheran sources label the Apostles' Creed as ''ecumenical'', its use appears to be limited in practice to churches whose rituals are derived of the Latin rite (i.e. the Western Christian tradition). The Apostles' Creed holds a special place in Roman Catholic tradition as the "ancient Baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome". The theological specifics of this creed appear to have been originally formulated as a refutation of Gnosticism , an early heresy. The name of the Creed comes from the fact that it, being composed of 12 articles, was earlier believed to have been written by the 12 Apostles, who each were supposed to have contributed one article. ORIGIN OF THE CREED Many hypotheses exist concerning the date and nature of the origin of the Apostles' Creed. It was apparently developed from what scholars have identified as "the Old Roman Symbol " of the First or Second Century CE and influenced by the Nicene Creed ( 325 / 381 CE) {Link without Title} . There is no Catholic Dogma tic teaching on its origin. One legend proposes that the creed was originally formulated in twelve articles, each written by an Apostle after Pentecost under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Some historians place the origin of the Apostles' Creed as late as fifth century Gaul. The earliest known concrete historical evidence of the creed's existence as it is currently titled (Symbolum Apostolicum) is a letter of the Council of Milan (390 AD) to Pope Siricius (here in English): ::''"If you credit not the teachings of the priests . . . let credit at least be given to the Symbol of the Apostles which the Roman Church always preserves and maintains inviolate."'' The public domain ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' contains a detailed discussion of the origin of the Apostles' Creed. The earliest appearance of the present Latin text was in the ''De singulis libris canonicis scarapsus'' ("''Concerning the Single Canonical Book Scarapsus''") of St. Priminius ( Migne , ''Patrologia Latina'' 89, 1029 ff.), written between 710 - 724 CE (J.N.D. Kelly, ''Early Christian Creeds'', Longmans, Green & Co, 1972, pp. 398-434). TEXT OF THE CREED :Credo in Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae, :et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. :Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. :Amen GREEK TEXT OF THE CREED Πιστεύω εις θεòν πατέρα παντοκράτορα, ποιητην ουρανου και γης. Και εισε Ιησουν Χριστòν, υιον αυτου τòν μονογενη, τòν κύριον ημων, τòν συλληφθέντα εκ πνεύματος αγίου, γεννηθέντα εκ Μαρίας της παρθένου, παθόντα υπο Ποντίου Πιλάτου, σταυρωθέντα, και ταφέντα, κατελθόντα εις τα κατώτατα, τη τρίτη ημέρα αναστάντα απò των νεκρων, ανελθόντα εις τους ουρανούς, καθεζόμενον εν δεξια θεου πατρός παντοδυνάμου, εκειθεν ερχόμενον κριναι ζωντας και νεκρούς. Πιστεύω εις τò πνευμα τò αγιον, αγίαν καθολικην εκκλησίαν, αγίων κοινωνίαν, αφεσιν αμαρτιων, σαρκος ανάστασιν, ζωην αιώνιον. Αμήν. (''Triglot Concordia'', St. Louis: CPH, 1921, p. 12) ECUMENICAL TRANSLATION INTO ENGLISH (ICET/ELLC) The following translation is believed to be prevalent in those denominations which have adopted modern English liturgical translations. It was authored by a consultation of Catholic and Protestant ecclesiastical communities. See first source for details. :I believe in God , the Father almighty, :creator of heaven and earth. :I believe in Jesus Christ , God's only Son, our Lord . :He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit :and born of the Virgin Mary . :He suffered under Pontius Pilate , :was Crucified , died, and was buried. :He Descended Into Hell / To The Dead . :On the third day He Rose Again , :He Ascended Into Heaven . :He is seated at the right hand of the Father :and 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. Amen. VARIATIONS IN LITURGICAL USE Translation of ''inferos'' |
|
|