IELB - Igreja Evangélica Luterana do Brasil

IELB subscribes to the three symbols or ecumenical creeds of Christianity

The Apostles’ Creed

Because it is one of the first parts of confessional literature to be learned, the Apostles’ Creed is the most widely used creed in our church. And, with the exception of our Lord’s Prayer (Our Father), there is no other prayer in the Christian Church which Christians pronounce more. It is the first of the ecumenical creeds (the word ecumenical means “universal, general, of the whole world”). The ancient Christian Church adopted the name ecumenical to show that she, as a whole, accepted these creeds, which were used in this manner. In 1580, the Lutheran Church, in order to show that she was not a sect or a movement, incorporated three creeds in her confessions, gathered in the Book of Concord.

Although the creed has the word ‘Apostles’ in its name, we have no evidence that it was written by the Apostles as a whole or by a subset of them. The title “Apostles’ Creed” was used for the first time in the year 390 A.D. at the Synod of Milan. In 404, Tiranus Rufinus wrote a commentary on the creed, offering an explanation for its origin (that on Pentecost day the apostles, before acting on the command to go to the ends of the earth, gathered together and each one of them contributed one part of the creed). There is evidence, however, that a creed very similar to this one was already in use in the year 150 A.D.

Perhaps we will never know the true story. However, no one of sound mind will deny that this creed authentically reflects the teaching of the apostles based on the truths of the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 8:6; 12:13; Philippians 2:5-11; 1Timothy 2:4-6; 3:16).

Text of The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

As the Christian Church grew, it began to suffer persecution by Romans and Jews alike, and those who professed the Christian faith were persecuted and killed. But this wasn’t the only kind of persecution suffered by the Church.

Despite the fact that the early Church received social acceptance and respectability during the rule of Emperor Dioclecian (284-305 A.D.), another kind of persecution began to infiltrate in the Church—opposition to the true faith directly revealed by God.

The origin of the Nicene Creed is found in the need to defend the apostolic doctrine of the divinity of Christ against Arius’ teachings, and the Divinity of the Holy Spirit, against the teachings of Macedonius’ followers.

A council was called to the city of Nicaea during the months of May and June of the year 325 A.D.. Two hundred twenty bishops attended. The purpose of the council was to formulate, without the possibility of false interpretations, what the Scriptures taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. The question was: Is Jesus very God of very God, or not? Was Arius right when he said that Jesus wasn’t truly God?

Despite the brilliance of the Arian theologians, the orthodox theologians (those who held to the Biblical teachings) were not only present, but also brought their heroes of faith.

History tells us that Athanasius was a short man. But as a Bible scholar, he was a giant. Since the Council of Nicaea, because of his solid defense of the Christian faith, he became known as “Athanasius against the world.”

Besides Arius, only five other people refused to sign the document written in Nicaea. The Emperor banned them, without political motivations. The same creed was reaffirmed in the Council of Constantinople, in 381 A.D., and was officially adopted with a few additions in 451 at the Council of Chalcedon.

The Nicene Creed does not attempt to cover all articles of the Christian faith, but it does confess and defend the fundamental truths of the Scriptural doctrine about God.

The final form of the creed, as adopted in 451, is as follows:

Text of 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 the 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 the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And 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 worshiped and glorified; who spake by the Prophets. And I believe in 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.

The Athanasian Creed

The Athanasian Creed is a magnificent confession of the triune God. Luther considered it “the greatest production of the church since the time of the apostles.”

The origin of the Creed is, however, obscure. Since the 9^th century some have attributed it to Athanasius, the heroic defender of the doctrine of Christ’s divinity against Arius. However, there are many strong reasons for us not to attribute it to Athanasius:

1.       There is no evidence that Athanasius and his contemporary fellowmen were aware of this creed (also called “Quicunque” because it begins with the words “Whosoever...” in Latin).
2.       The creed attacks the heresies that emerged after the death of Athanasius, when Nestorius and Eutychius introduced heresies about the Trinity and the person of Christ.
3.       It appears very likely that the author of this creed was versed in the writings of Augustine, who lived between 354 and 430.

But if Athanasius wasn’t the author, then who was? This question has intrigued Christian scholars of history for centuries. The closest they could get to an answer, based on the given evidence, was that there was a similar creed in Gaul (France in the modern world) midway through the 5^th century. However, that creed only became popular for teaching purposes after a decree by Charlemagne (742-814) ordering all clergy to learn the creed.

The Athanasian Creed has never enjoyed the broad usage of the other two creeds. But if there is a moment in the Church Year when it should get some attention, that moment is in the first Sunday after Pentecost—Holy Trinity Sunday—for this doctrine, especially its connection to Christ’s Divinity and His redeeming work, is the foundation on which the church is built (Ephesians 2:20).

Text of The Athanasian Creed

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal.

As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty.

And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.

And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord.

And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.

The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten.

The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.

And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the right faith is, that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;

God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world;

Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood;

Who, although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ:

One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God;

One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.

For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;

Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; He ascended into heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works.

And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.

This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.

“I shall also speak of your testimonies before kings, and will not be ashamed.”