The Apostle's Creed existed in large part in 390, and can be found in a letter from the Council in Milan to Pope Siricius. This version, however, did not contain such phrases as "maker of heaven and earth". St. Priminius provides us with the first appearance of the Apostle's Creed in its complete form between 710 and 714 in his De singulis libris canonicis scarapsus (Concerning the Single Canonical Book Scarapsus). There is, however, a tradition (lower case -t) that holds the authors to be the 12 Apostles, inspired by the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. In the tradition, each Apostle wrote one article of the Creed (thereby resulting in 12 articles).
The Apostle's Creed is important for 2 main reasons:
1. It is very ancient, considered to be the oldest extra-biblical Christian creed. As a result, it gives us a glimpse into the thoughts and beliefs of the earliest of Christians. The Creed also gives us a link (a lifeline if you will) to the first Catholics. For over 1,620 years the Catholic Church has upheld and taught the Apostle's Creed, protecting it and using it against the 'gates of Hell' (Matthew 16:18).
2. Most Christian denominations and people accept the Apostle's Creed as Truth and takes the Creed as their own. This provides an excellent basis from which denominations can work together and find common ground. If, before going into any conversation with a Protestant, a Catholic looked at and carefully read the Apostle's Creed than many problems could be avoided. Of course this goes the other way as well. Protestants would do well to read the Apostle's Creed, and thereby side-step many misunderstandings, when going into conversations with Catholics.
What does the Apostle's Creed contain, though?
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
This statement begins the Apostle's Creed, showing that there should be some weight given to it. This beginning statement links together our Catholic faith and our Jewish roots. The Apostle's Creed begins with a core tenant of the Jewish faith, the belief in a single G-d Who created all things. The Creed begins like the Bible begins- "in the beginning God created heaven and earth" (Genesis 1:1).
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
At this point, the Creed brings us to the core of the Christian faith, that Jesus Christ is both the Son of the Father and, at the same time, is also G-d. When I think about this article, I am reminded of two Bible verses. The first is in Matthew 16:16: After Christ has asked His Apostles who they say that He is, St. Peter answers "you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." The other is when Mary visits Elizabeth in the hill country, and Elizabeth exclaims "and whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43).
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
It is interesting that the Father is the creator of the heavens and the earth, and through the Holy Spirit Christ is conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Mary is also a very important point. Many Protestants unjustly push Mary out of the picture in the life of Christ. The early Christians, however, retained Mary within the story of salvation history. She appears here as the Virgin and Mother, the mother of Christ but not by her own power. It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that Mary gives birth to Christ. Furthermore, this article begins the first of the three most important actions of Christ... His birth.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
This article lists a historical fact, that Jesus died under the reign of Pilate. This article continues the theme begun in the last article by citing the next action of Christ that is of the three most important, His death. Christ didn't just die, though. Instead, "He suffered... was crucified, died, and was buried." This article brings us to those historical realities and the Truth that Christ not only lived but suffered death and was laid in a tomb. For the early Christians, and as it should also be for us, this Creed was not a statement of some spiritual occurrence that has minimal influence and affect on us. The Apostle's Creed was and should be a real statement that enunciates and gives voice to the very core of our Christian life, our salvation, and our world. Christ died, and so shall we. We too will be buried. But that's not the end of the story...
5. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again.
Many people are confused by what is meant about "descended to the dead". There are many Scripture verses to support this idea, including Matthew 12:40; Acts 2:27 & 2:31, and 1 Peter 3:19-20 & 4:6. What the article is stating is that Christ visited the just that died in pre-Christian times and were not able to take full advantage of the sacrifice of Christ (because he had yet to die). It is the righteous dead that have died that Christ visited, not the already damned. This article completes the three most important actions Christ made, His birth, death, and now resurrection! He didn't just die, He rose again! Servant of God Pope John Paul II once proclaimed "do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song!"
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Christ is now pictured as the conqueror of death and the ruler of all, the king with His Father. The right side was seen as the spot of importance and honor. The Father, however, is pure spirit and not a corporal being. Therefore the idea of sitting at the right hand of the Father is more of a symbolic nature instead of an actual position. Rather, it is a sign of the importance of Christ, a showing that Christ had accomplished the Father's will and had shown His love for us by sacrificing himself of the Cross.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
We look forward to the future coming of Christ, when He will come as judge. Justice and Mercy will be dealt out, and the righteous will enter eternity with Christ, while the unrighteous will enter damnation and separation from the love of G-d.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
This is a recognition of the third person of the Trinity. G-d the Father, G-d the Son, and G-d the Holy Spirit as three separate entities (with three separate articles), but at the same of one nature and being. So this article is not just stating a belief in the Holy Spirit, but it is also the completion of the Trinity.
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
This article is not an entire separation from the previous article. The Holy Spirit is what gives the Church breath and life. Furthermore, the communion of saints is part of that Church. The Church is holy (that is, the institution is sacred. The people that make up the Church may not be, but the Church itself is holy), the Church is also universal (catholic). By the fact that the Church is catholic, the Church includes not only the living but also counts as its members the dead in heaven. The Church militant describes we on earth. The Church suffering describes those in purgatory that are looking towards heaven. The Church triumphant describes those in heaven, those in communion with Christ in a way we have yet to experience. The Church, as catholic, is essentially catholic. It is not just universal on earth, but universal in life and death.
10. the forgiveness of sins,
We have a hope in that communion that those in heaven have, a communion with G-d. A communion of absolute love. This can be attained through the sacrifice of G-d, by accepting the freely given gift of Christ and continuing to peel away that which is us and become more like Christ. We enter into the family of G-d at baptism, like the Jews did at circumcision. We then work, either to continue in the family of G-d or to reject the gift G-d has given us. With all respect to my Protestant brothers and sisters, it is not about one particular moment in time in which we "give our lives to G-d". Instead, it is about a continuing relationship with G-d. It is not about one moment; it is about the entire spectrum of our live.
11. the resurrection of the body,
With the forgiveness of sins, we can also look forward to not only a spiritual resurrection, but a bodily resurrection. We look forward to a life in eternity with G-d. Christ provided the prime example in His own resurrection. Christ also provided another example when he assumed Mary into heaven.
12. and life everlasting.
An eternal life. Eternal does not mean something that has no end. It doesn't even mean something whose 'time line' goes on forever into the past and forever into the future. In actuality, eternity is about an ever present, where past and future flows into the same time, the present. It is more than just "forever". Heaven is a forever time when we will never have to worry about an end to communion with G-d. Everything in this life will pass away, but in eternity everything will be forever. People in our lives come and go, love comes and goes; in heaven, G-d will stay and never leave.
Amen.
Truly, I believe.
What do you think about the Apostle's Creed? What does it mean to you?
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