Apostles' Creed (Symbolum Apostolicum)
Ancient Western baptismal confession summarizing apostolic Trinitarian faith
The Apostles' Creed is the ancient summary of the Christian faith in the Western Church, growing out of the Old Roman Symbol (c. 150–200 AD) used as a three-part interrogatory confession at Holy Baptism, articulating faith in God the Father Almighty, Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord (conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, crucified under Pontius Pilate, risen, ascended, returning to judge), and the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, communion of saints, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Historical Context & Significance
Recited daily throughout Western Christendom, it serves as the foundational ecumenical confession uniting Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Reformed churches.
Genealogical Lineage & Splits
This movement or council is an early root foundation with no preceding parent split in the dataset.
Direct Offshoots & Descendants (2)
The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed is the supreme ecumenical creed of the universal Christian Church, formulated at the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) to refute Arianism and expanded at the First Council of Constantinople (381 AD) to confess the full deity of the Holy Spirit, affirming 'one God, the Father Almighty... and one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father (homoousion to Patri)... and in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father'.
The Augsburg Confession was drafted by Philip Melanchthon with Martin Luther's counsel and presented by Lutheran princes and electors to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V at the Diet of Augsburg on June 25, 1530. Containing 28 articles (21 on chief articles of faith, 7 on corrected abuses), it demonstrated that the reformers had not introduced novel heresies, but remained faithful to Holy Scripture and the ancient catholic church fathers.
Theological & Hermeneutical Coordinates
Primary Scripture Proof-Texts
Key biblical passages central to this tradition's exegesis and historical debates.
Connected Theological Perspectives & Debates
Universal Christian confession that God Almighty is the sole Creator of all things visible and invisible out of nothing (*creatio ex nihilo*).
Universal Christian confession that Holy Scripture is divinely inspired, supremely authoritative, and completely trustworthy for knowing God and receiving salvation.
Universal confession that Gentiles are grafted into the covenant promises through faith in Jesus Christ, the true Seed of Abraham.
Universal confession that adult converts from paganism or unbelief must make a conscious profession of repentance and faith before receiving baptism.