The Nicene Creed

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.

I BELIEVE in the Holy Ghost, 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 spake by the Prophets: And I believe one 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.

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.

I BELIEVE in the Holy Ghost, 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 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.

In the early fourth century, a heresy championed by Arius, a bishop, asserted that Christ was 'a god', but not the eternal uncreated God. Arius was not the sole originator of the idea, but was its main proponent of the time. For this reason, the heresy is referred to by the term 'Arianism'.

Constantine observed the turmoil in the church and called for a council to resolve the issue. This council met at Nicaea first in 325. and defined the creed. The original text was somewhat less than what we have in this day, but is essentially as shown above, but without most of the third section.

The Council of Constantinople in 381 added all in the third section after the phrase 'in the Holy Ghost'. The phrase 'and the Son' was added later by the western church, which contributed to, but was not the only cause of, the later schism between eastern and western Christendom.

In this creed, we find the high Christology of the divine Son of God, who is coeternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, sharing the same 'substance' with them. Also reaffirmed is His full humanity.

Also, we find additional wording describing the Father and the Holy Spirit, as well as about baptism.