LET'S TALK ABOUT CREEDS
CHRISTIANITY AND ITS CREEDS
We cannot separate Christianity from its creeds. But what exactly are creeds? According to Dr. Keith Mathison, professor at Reformation Bible College, “The word ‘creed’ comes from the Latin word ‘credo,’ which simply means ‘I believe.’ The plural form is ‘credimus,’ which means ‘we believe.’ In short, when we recite a creed, we are simply making a statement concerning what we believe. What this means is that if you believe anything, you have a creed.” In simple terms, creeds are reflections of the beliefs of Christians.
THE BIBLE AND THE CREEDS
What is the relationship between the Bible and creeds? Creeds are statements of what we believe as Christians, while the Bible is the only basis of that belief. A particular creed may be biblical in content, but it can never be inspired. “Scripture is the inspired Word of God. Creeds are non-inspired words of men. In the Scriptures, we hear God saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord…’ In the creeds, we respond, ‘We believe you…’” (Mathison). R.C. Sproul writes, “This is the sola of sola Scriptura. The chief reason for the word alone is the conviction that the Bible is inspired by God, while church creeds and pronouncements are the works of men. These lesser works may be accurate and brilliantly conceived, capturing the best insights of learned scholars; but they are not the inspired Word of God” (Grace Unknown: The Heart of Reformed Theology).
ORIGIN OF CREEDS
The practice of creating creeds or statements of faith existed even before Christianity was established. The Jews had the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:4. During the time of the apostles, Paul also used creed-like summaries of the faith (Romans 10:9–10; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The early church likely developed creeds through the practices of local congregations during baptism. Dr. Piotr Ashwin-Siejkowski explains: “There is strong evidence of the practice of asking, usually three, questions during baptism, to which the neophyte responded three times saying, ‘I believe.’ That is also the reason why the baptismal confession took the form of a dialogue, of questions and answers which were later replaced by an official statement of faith… It would have been natural for the local churches or provinces to develop their own variations of the questions to the neophyte, as well as their own particular practices of preparing the candidates, and even variations in the rituals of the baptism” (The Apostles’ Creed).
From that point onward, Christianity—through councils and church leaders—produced creeds to serve many purposes, such as welcoming new members or combating heresies.
CAN WE TRUST THE CREEDS?
There are many creeds, and we cannot assume that every statement of faith called a creed must be fully accepted and believed. Even heretics like Arius, who denied the divinity of Christ, had creeds that survive to this day. Creeds offer valuable insights from Christians throughout history, but they must always be subjected to the authority of Scripture. Like any human interpretation, a creed must be tested and weighed by the Bible, for no creed is infallible.
Even well-respected creeds like the Apostles’ Creed underwent many revisions before reaching their present form. In fact, certain parts remain debated—such as the phrase “He descended into Hell,” whose meaning and biblical basis are still questioned. Notably, this phrase was absent from the earliest version of the Apostles’ Creed, known as the Roman Creed, indicating that it was added later.
CREEDS ARE USEFUL BUT NOT INFALLIBLE
Creeds, along with countless confessions, traditions, and commentaries from the Early Church Fathers, are indeed useful to believers. We cannot deny that they have been a blessing throughout history. They have protected the Church from countless heresies and false teachings. We also cannot overlook that creeds are the product of the devoted efforts of Christian thinkers whom we rightly honor as heroes of our faith and history. While creeds can provide valuable insights, we must acknowledge that they remain human interpretations of God’s Word. Human interpretations, no matter how meticulously crafted, will never be inspired or infallible.
Through creeds, we can learn what believers—or a specific group of Christians—have held to be true. Knowing what those before us believed can aid our own study of Scripture today. Yet we cannot claim something is correct and without error merely because earlier Christians embraced it. Creeds, like all interpretations, must be carefully examined in the light of Scripture before they are accepted and believed.
Thankfully, we now have access to a wealth of excellent commentaries, studies, perspectives, and historical artifacts that were not available when many creeds were first written. This abundance of resources makes careful evaluation far easier for us today. If a creed—or even a portion of it—is shown to be lacking or questionable, it is right to leave it in the past or place it quietly in storage.
“I’m not arguing that we should ignore our Christian forefathers. I’m simply saying that we should give their words and their thought the proper perspective and priority. Creeds serve a useful purpose. They distill important, albeit carefully selected, theological ideas. But they are not inspired. They are no substitute for the biblical text.” (Michael S. Heiser, The Unseen Realm)
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Creeds are precious gems in theology. It is hard to imagine our study of God’s Word today without these carefully crafted biblical creeds passed down through the centuries. Still, the believer’s highest devotion must remain fixed on the very Word of God: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:25). Stay Curious.
Sources and Studies:
Ashwin-Siejkowski, P. (2009). The Apostles’ Creed: and its early Christian context. Bloomsbury / T & T Clark.
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