Nicene Creed (Constantinopolitan Creed)
This Creed was initially produced by the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea of 325 AD, which was called by emperor Constantine. The primary purpose was to deal with Arianism, a heresy which taught that Jesus was God’s first creation and thus, not co-eternal with the Father. The original creed ended with the line “We believe in the Holy Spirit”. Shortly thereafter, a heresy arose which denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit. In response, it was revised in 381 AD at the Second Ecumenical Council of Constantinople to include a description of the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
It is one of the few creeds that is accepted by Protestants, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and many other Christian groups. The Eastern Orthodox Church, which holds that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father, accepts the creed with the exception of the Filioque clause (Latin - and [from] the Son). The Filioque clause was officially added at the Third Council of Toledo in 589 AD. In a nutshell, the eastern churches claimed the Spirit and the Son proceeded from the Father, while the western churches held that the Spirit proceeded from the Father and from the Son. This disagreement, known as the “Filioque Controversy”, was a major source of the conflicts which led to the schism of 1054, and continued to be an obstacle in the later unsuccessful attempts to re-unify the Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Modern Version
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:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
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].
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He 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.
Traditional Version (16th Century)
I 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,
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 Ghost
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 I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Live,
who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son];
who with the Father and the Son together
is worshipped and glorified;
who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. AMEN.