Traditional Creeds

The Nicene Creed

The creed from Nicaea and Constantinople

Das Glaubensbekenntnis von Nizäa und Konstantinopel

To symbolom tes pisteos Nizee kai Konstantinoupeleos

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed was written on the Council of Nicaea (325), and it was revised on the Council of Constantinople (381). It is the only creed which united Christians of nearly all confessions. There are, however, some differences between the traditions:

[1] The literal translation reads "I believe". The Catholic church changed this to "We believe" on the second Vatican Council. Some of the Protestant churches have adapted this change.

[2] The original text does not have the "and the son". It was added later to the text. Not all Christians agreed with this addition, and as a result the church split in 1054 into Western and Eastern Christianity. The Western churches (Catholics and Protestants) still have the added phrase, whereas the Orthodox churches stick to the smaller version.
In most Ecumenical services, the original version is used.

[3] The word "Catholic" in its original sense means "all-including", "complete". The Roman Catholic Church claims to be identical with the "one holy catholic and apostolic church", or (since Vatican II) to be at least the centre and kernel. That's why it is named "Catholic".
The other churches, however, claim that Christians of all confessions belong to the all-including church mentioned in the creed.

The creed from Nicaea and Constantinople

I believe (or: We believe [1]) in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

And 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.

And in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father (and the Son [2]).
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
And in one holy catholic ([3]) and apostolic Church.
I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Das Glaubensbekenntnis von Nizäa und Konstantinopel

Ich glaube (oder: Wir glauben [1]) an den einen Gott,
den Vater, den Allmächtigen,
der alles geschaffen hat, Himmel und Erde,
die sichtbare und die unsichtbare Welt.

Und an den einen Herrn Jesus Christus,
Gottes eingeborenen Sohn,
aus dem Vater geboren vor aller Zeit:
Gott von Gott, Licht von Licht,
wahrer Gott vom wahren Gott,
gezeugt, nicht geschaffen,
eines Wesens mit dem Vater;
durch ihn ist alles geschaffen.
Für uns Menschen und zu unserem Heil
ist er vom Himmel gekommen,
hat Fleisch angenommen
durch den Heiligen Geist von der Jungfrau Maria
und ist Mensch geworden.
Er wurde für uns gekreuzigt unter Pontius Pilatus,
hat gelitten und ist begraben worden,
ist am dritten Tag auferstanden
nach der Schrift
und aufgefahren in den Himmel.
Er sitzt zur Rechten des Vaters
und wird wiederkommen in Herrlichkeit,
zu richten die Lebenden und die Toten;
seiner Herrschaft wird kein Ende sein.

Und an den Heiligen Geist,
der Herr ist und uns lebendig macht,
der aus dem Vater (und dem Sohn [2]) hervorgeht,
der mit dem Vater und dem Sohn angebetet und verherrlicht wird,
der gesprochen hat durch die Propheten.
Und an die eine, heilige, katholische (oder: christliche [3]) und apostolische Kirche.
Ich bekenne eine Taufe zur Vergebung der Sünden.
Ich erwarte die Auferstehung der Toten
und das Ende der kommenden Welt.

Amen.

To symbolom tes pisteos Nizee kai Konstantinoupeleos

[the following text also as a picture]

Pisteuo eis hena Teon, Patera, pantokratora,
poieten ouranou kai ge, horaton te panton kai
aoraton.

Kai eis hena Kyrion Iesoun Christon, ton Hyion tou
Teou, ton monogene, ton ek tou Patros
gennetenta pro panton ton aionon.
Phos ek photos, Teon aletinon ek Teou aletinou,
gennetenta ou poietenta, homoousion to Patri,
di' ou ta panta egeneto.
Ton di' hemas tous antropous kaidia ten
hemeteras soterian kateltonta ek ton oupanon
kai sarkotenta ek Pneumatos Hagion kai Marian
tes Partenou kai enantpotesanta.
Staupotenta te hyper hemen epi Pontiou Pilatou
kai pantonta kai taphenta.
Kai anastanta te trite hemepa kata tas Graphas.
Kai palin erchomenon meta doxes krinai zontas kai
nekpous, ou tes Basileias ouk estai telos.

Kai eis to Pneuma to Hagion, to Zoonpoion, to ek
tou Patros ekporeumenon, to sun Patri kai Hyio
sumproskynoumenon kai sundoxazomenon, to
lalesan dia ton Propheton.
Eis mian, hagian, katoliken kai apostoliken
Ekklesian.
Homologo hen baptisma eis aphesin hamartion.
Prosdoko anastasin eis aphesin hamartion.
Prosdoko anastasin nekron, kai zoen tou
mellontos aionos.

Amen.

Symbolum Nicaenum-Constantinopolitanum

Credo in unum Deum,
Patrem omnipotentem,
factorem caeli et terrae,
visibilium omnium et invisibilium.

Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum,
Filium Dei unigenitum,
et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula.
Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine,
Deum verum de Deo vero,
genitum non factum,
consubstantialem Patri;
per quem omnia facta sunt.
Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem
descendit de caelis.
Et incarnatus est
de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine,
et homo factus est.
Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato,
passus et sepultus est,
et resurrexit tertia die,
secundum Scripturas,
et ascendit in caelum,
sedet ad dexteram Patris.
Et iterum venturus est cum gloria,
iudicare vivos et mortuos,
cuius regni non erit finis.

Et in Spiritum Sanctum,
Dominum et vivificantem,
qui ex Patre (Filioque) procedit.
Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur:
qui locutus est per prophetas.
Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam.
Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum.
Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum,
et vitam venturi saeculi.

Amen.

The Apostels' Creed (next)

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	Traditional Creeds The Nicene Creed The creed from Nicaea and Constantinople Das Glaubensbekenntnis von Nizäa und Konstantinopel To symbolom tes pisteos Nizee kai Konstantinoupeleos Symbolum Nicaenum-Constantinopolitanum
	The Nicene Creed The Nicene Creed was written on the Council of Nicaea (325), and it was revised on the Council of Constantinople (381). It is the only creed which united Christians of nearly all confessions. There are, however, some differences between the traditions: [1] The literal translation reads "I believe". The Catholic church changed this to "We believe" on the second Vatican Council. Some of the Protestant churches have adapted this change. [2] The original text does not have the "and the son". It was added later to the text. Not all Christians agreed with this addition, and as a result the church split in 1054 into Western and Eastern Christianity. The Western churches (Catholics and Protestants) still have the added phrase, whereas the Orthodox churches stick to the smaller version. In most Ecumenical services, the original version is used. [3] The word "Catholic" in its original sense means "all-including", "complete". The Roman Catholic Church claims to be identical with the "one holy catholic and apostolic church", or (since Vatican II) to be at least the centre and kernel. That's why it is named "Catholic". The other churches, however, claim that Christians of all confessions belong to the all-including church mentioned in the creed.
	The creed from Nicaea and Constantinople I believe (or: We believe [1]) in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. And 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. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father (and the Son [2]). With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. And in one holy catholic ([3]) and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
	Das Glaubensbekenntnis von Nizäa und Konstantinopel Ich glaube (oder: Wir glauben [1]) an den einen Gott, den Vater, den Allmächtigen, der alles geschaffen hat, Himmel und Erde, die sichtbare und die unsichtbare Welt. Und an den einen Herrn Jesus Christus, Gottes eingeborenen Sohn, aus dem Vater geboren vor aller Zeit: Gott von Gott, Licht von Licht, wahrer Gott vom wahren Gott, gezeugt, nicht geschaffen, eines Wesens mit dem Vater; durch ihn ist alles geschaffen. Für uns Menschen und zu unserem Heil ist er vom Himmel gekommen, hat Fleisch angenommen durch den Heiligen Geist von der Jungfrau Maria und ist Mensch geworden. Er wurde für uns gekreuzigt unter Pontius Pilatus, hat gelitten und ist begraben worden, ist am dritten Tag auferstanden nach der Schrift und aufgefahren in den Himmel. Er sitzt zur Rechten des Vaters und wird wiederkommen in Herrlichkeit, zu richten die Lebenden und die Toten; seiner Herrschaft wird kein Ende sein. Und an den Heiligen Geist, der Herr ist und uns lebendig macht, der aus dem Vater (und dem Sohn [2]) hervorgeht, der mit dem Vater und dem Sohn angebetet und verherrlicht wird, der gesprochen hat durch die Propheten. Und an die eine, heilige, katholische (oder: christliche [3]) und apostolische Kirche. Ich bekenne eine Taufe zur Vergebung der Sünden. Ich erwarte die Auferstehung der Toten und das Ende der kommenden Welt. Amen.
	To symbolom tes pisteos Nizee kai Konstantinoupeleos Pisteuo eis hena Teon, Patera, pantokratora, poieten ouranou kai ge, horaton te panton kai aoraton. Kai eis hena Kyrion Iesoun Christon, ton Hyion tou Teou, ton monogene, ton ek tou Patros gennetenta pro panton ton aionon. Phos ek photos, Teon aletinon ek Teou aletinou, gennetenta ou poietenta, homoousion to Patri, di' ou ta panta egeneto. Ton di' hemas tous antropous kaidia ten hemeteras soterian kateltonta ek ton oupanon kai sarkotenta ek Pneumatos Hagion kai Marian tes Partenou kai enantpotesanta. Staupotenta te hyper hemen epi Pontiou Pilatou kai pantonta kai taphenta. Kai anastanta te trite hemepa kata tas Graphas. Kai palin erchomenon meta doxes krinai zontas kai nekpous, ou tes Basileias ouk estai telos. Kai eis to Pneuma to Hagion, to Zoonpoion, to ek tou Patros ekporeumenon, to sun Patri kai Hyio sumproskynoumenon kai sundoxazomenon, to lalesan dia ton Propheton. Eis mian, hagian, katoliken kai apostoliken Ekklesian. Homologo hen baptisma eis aphesin hamartion. Prosdoko anastasin eis aphesin hamartion. Prosdoko anastasin nekron, kai zoen tou mellontos aionos. Amen.
	Symbolum Nicaenum-Constantinopolitanum Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Iesum Christum, Filium Dei unigenitum, et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, Lumen de Lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero, genitum non factum, consubstantialem Patri; per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines et propter nostram salutem descendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine, et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est, et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas, et ascendit in caelum, sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, iudicare vivos et mortuos, cuius regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum Sanctum, Dominum et vivificantem, qui ex Patre (Filioque) procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur et conglorificatur: qui locutus est per prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum, et vitam venturi saeculi. Amen. The Apostels' Creed (next) Top of page Top of page