The Nicene Creed
 

Also known as the Nicene- Constantinopolitan Creed, this classic testimony of the faith was the consensus of ecumenical councils in Nicea, 325, and Constantinople, 381. The creed was a response to the "Arian" movement, which challenged the church's teaching that Christ was both fully human and fully divine. Arians argued against the divinity of Christ believed he was "subordinate" to the Father. But the faith proclaimed in Constantinople was in a Christ who was both, and therefore "of one being" with the Father.

 

There are two versions here. The first is the modern English version, developed and adopted by the English Language Liturgical Commission in 1988. The second is the traditional version as it was received in 451.

 

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son*],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.

 

Amen.
 

*and the Son was added later in the West but not adopted by the East.

From the English Language Liturgical Commission, 1988.

 

 

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,

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 sitteth on the right hand of the Father.

And he shall come again with glory

to judge both the quick and the dead,

whose kingdom shall have no end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life,

who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son*],

who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and      glorified,   

who spoke by the prophets.

 

And we believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.

And we look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

 

Amen.

 

*and the Son was added later in the West but not adopted by the East.