Chapter 02 A short reading
One God; the saving work of Christ; the Spirit, the Church, and our future hope.
We confess one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is Creator. The Son is eternally divine, begotten rather than made, and shares the Father’s divine being. The Spirit is Lord and Giver of life, worshipped with the Father and the Son. These are not three gods or one person wearing three names.
For our salvation, the Son became truly human through the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary. Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered, was buried, rose on the third day, and ascended to the Father. He will return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom has no end.
We also confess one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church; one baptism for the remission of sins; the resurrection of the dead; and the life of the world to come. Each article below keeps the historical words beside a short explanation and Scripture. Church and baptism interpretations differ across traditions; the full articles remain part of the confession.
Our shared confession · AD 381
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 his Father before all worlds, 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 Ghost and 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 at 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 Ghost, the Lord and Giver-of-Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And [we believe] in 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.
Henry R. Percival, NPNF II.14 (1900), p. 163. Read the source text.
This historical translation preserves the 381 form without the later Western additions. Square brackets mark words supplied by the historical translator. Older terms are explained below; these explanations are separate from the creed.
Public domain historical translation.
Open a passage for its meaning and Scripture. These explanations are here to help you study.
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
The Father is the almighty Creator of everything. The creed begins with one God and goes on to confess the Son and the Holy Spirit within that one divine life.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 · BSB
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Jesus Christ is eternally the Son, truly God, sharing the Father’s divine being. Begotten does not mean created: the Son is no lesser deity, and all things were made through Him.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
John 1:1–3 · BSB
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man,
The eternal Son became truly human for our salvation, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. His humanity is real. In this older English, “men” refers to humanity and “Holy Ghost” means Holy Spirit.
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 · BSB
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried,
Jesus truly suffered, was crucified for us, and was buried. Naming Pontius Pilate locates His death in human history; the creed does not describe an appearance of suffering or a merely symbolic event.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:3 · BSB
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day. Christian hope rests on His resurrection and the witness of Scripture, not simply on the survival of His memory or influence.
that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1 Corinthians 15:4 · BSB
and ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the Right Hand of the Father.
The risen Jesus ascended to heaven and reigns with the Father. “Sitteth” means sits; the right-hand language speaks of His honor and authority.
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.
Acts 1:9 · BSB
And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead. Whose kingdom shall have no end.
Jesus will return in glory, judge the living and the dead, and reign without end. “Quick” means living. This confession gives hope and accountability without setting a date for His return.
And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead.
Acts 10:42 · BSB
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
Luke 1:33 · BSB
And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver-of-Life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.
The Holy Spirit is Lord and gives life, proceeds from the Father, and is worshipped with the Father and the Son. He spoke through the prophets. The shared text retains the 381 wording; it does not require Western Christians to renounce their tradition.
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.
John 15:26 · BSB
For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:21 · BSB
And [we believe] in one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
The Church belongs to Christ, is called to holiness, embraces the whole world, and stands in the apostles’ faith. “Catholic” here means universal. Traditions differ about visible unity, authority, and ministry; this fellowship does not replace your local church or establish shared Communion.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
Ephesians 4:4 · BSB
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:20 · BSB
We acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
The creed confesses one baptism in relation to the forgiveness of sins. Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians differ about its administration and how its grace is understood. We retain the article in full without making a separate denominational interpretation a signup condition.
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
Ephesians 4:5 · BSB
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 · BSB
[and] we look for the resurrection of the dead
Our hope includes the resurrection of the dead, not only comfort in the present. Christ’s victory gives Christians reason to care faithfully for embodied lives now and to face death with hope.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:20–22 · BSB
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
We await the life of God’s coming world. This future hope calls us to faithful love in ordinary life and hardship. Amen expresses our assent to the confession.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25–26 · BSB
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19 · BSB
Chapter 03 A short reading
Honor and care are shared across the whole body of Christ.
Christ’s body has many members, and no member can dismiss another as unnecessary. Paul calls the parts that seem weaker indispensable. Our attention must not follow wealth, health, confidence, influence, or public visibility.
We honor one another, notice others’ interests, and carry burdens together. Care includes listening, patient encouragement, practical help, and gentle restoration. Those receiving help also have gifts to share; fellowship is reciprocal, rather than a permanent division between providers and recipients.
Mature believers can give time to younger or less mature believers, helping them grow in Christ and use their gifts in service. All of us continue to learn and receive care. The body grows through each part’s contribution, with Christ as its head.
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
1 Corinthians 12:22–26 · BSB
Attend to others’ interests with humility while caring responsibly for your own needs.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Read in context · BSB
Offer brotherly love and honor across differences in age, resources, and public influence.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Read in context · BSB
Members who seem weaker are indispensable; value never depends on visible usefulness.
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
Read in context · BSB
Give and receive help with gentleness, humility, and personal responsibility.
Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Read in context · BSB
Use what God has given you for others’ good and His glory.
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Read in context · BSB
Speak truth in love and make time for one another’s growth into Christ.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
Read in context · BSB
Each of us has something to receive.
Each of us has something to give.
Chapter 04 A short reading
Steady prayer, patient discipleship, and practical readiness to love our neighbors.
Begin with prayer: for persecuted believers, for neighbors in need, and for wisdom to serve faithfully. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Hospitality, sharing resources, and consistent encouragement give our confession a daily expression.
Use the gifts God has given you to serve others. That may include teaching, listening, organizing a meal, checking on someone, helping a household, or making time for a believer who needs guidance. We seek service that glorifies God and builds others up in love.
Preparedness is an application of love and stewardship: think calmly about household needs and ways to help others through hardship. A particular stockpile, political forecast, or end-times timetable is not a measure of faith. Start with one person to pray for, one burden to help carry, and one practical act of care this week.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer. Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:12–13 · BSB
Begin where you are
Think of someone you can come alongside this week. Ask how they are doing. Pray with them. Offer a specific way to help—and be willing to receive from them, too.
Providence: Faith is Protestant-led and welcomes Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians around this shared confession. Source links allow you to read each tradition in its own words.
Optional reading from the Catholic Catechism, §§185–197. The Apostles’ Creed developed from the Roman baptismal confession; it is not an additional signup requirement.
Optional Latin and English text in Schaff’s Creeds of Christendom. This historic Western creed has differing reception across traditions; it is not an additional signup requirement.
Ecclesiastical History I.6 describes injured confessors at Nicaea. Theodoret wrote after the council; this is a later historical account.
Against Heresies I.10 describes the Church’s shared apostolic confession across languages and regions.
Chapters 11–12 instruct Christians to welcome travelers and examine teaching and conduct.
Canons 11 and 13 describe church letters for travelers seeking assistance and for visiting clergy.
Scripture quotations: Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.
Providence: Faith · That the World May Know CHRIST.
