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Pentecost
Ancient Creed

The Nicene Creed

325 / 381Adopted at First Council of Constantinople

The most widely shared creed in Christian history — confessed across the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant traditions. Framed at Nicaea in 325 and completed at Constantinople in 381, it is the Church's fullest brief confession of the Trinity and of Christ.

Full Text

What is commonly called the Nicene Creed is, more precisely, the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed: the creed of Nicaea (325) expanded by the Council of Constantinople (381). It is recited in the liturgy of the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and many Reformed churches.

The Text

We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God; begotten, not made, 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 Spirit 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 sits on the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And 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.
Translation & Variants

The most-discussed difference between the traditions is the filioque. The Eastern Orthodox Church recites that the Holy Spirit 'proceeds from the Father.' The Western churches — Roman Catholic and most Protestant — recite 'proceeds from the Father and the Son' (in Latin, filioque, 'and the Son'). The Western phrase was added in the West centuries after 381 and was never accepted in the East. Theologos records both readings without adjudicating between them; the dispute is described on the relevant tradition pages.

Historical Context

The creed of 325 ended abruptly after a brief mention of the Holy Spirit, with anathemas against Arianism appended. The Council of Constantinople in 381 removed the anathemas and expanded the third article into the full confession of the Spirit's deity recited today — 'the Lord and giver of life.' It is this 381 form that the churches received.