Burnham Churches, Norfolk - The Nicene Creed

LEARNING TO LIVE AND TO PRAY THE NICENE CREED

'We believe in one God'. The emperor Constantine brought the bishops together in 325 in Nicaea so that they would come to an agreement on the person of Jesus Christ. It was not an easy meeting, and it lasted several months. There were those who wanted to say that Jesus was 'like' God, but was not God. He was created like us. They were the followers of a bishop called Arius. There were those who wanted to say that Jesus Christ was both human and divine. He was not 'like' God but 'the same as God'. They prevailed, although it took another 60 years for what came to be known as Orthodoxy to be fully recognised, at the council of Constantinople (381). And so we have what we call the Nicene creed.

This is the creed that is said by Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Anglicans and many protestant and independent churches. Despite our divisions, these words are the basis of what we have in common.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

We believe 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 men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate of 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.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

Image from the sanctuary of the Anaphora Coptic cathedral, Egypt.

Christ reigning in glory surrounded by the host of heaven, the 24 elders and the four living creatures.

The shadow of 'the Father, the Almighty': notice the hand coming from the almost invisible divine circle (outlined in blue at the top) holding the people in his palm.

The presence of our 'one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God', who 'for our sake was crucified' and who holds out arms of welcome.

The voice of 'the Holy Spirit', 'who has spoken through the prophets', witnessed in the living creatures: the lion, the eagle and the ox (Revelation 4:7), who are also symbols for the four gospels.

What is it that the creed emphasises?

FATHER, THE ALMIGHTY

There is only one God
The first word used to describe God is relational
The universe we live in is a creation not a 'happen-ation'
There is a visible, quantifiable, measurable dimension to creation, and an invisible dimension.

ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST

He is the visible image on earth of God (Colossians 1:15). He is eternally begotten of the Father. i.e. He is the Son of God and there has never been a time when he was not the Son of God.

The way of love: 'for us', 'for our sake'

Descent - ‘he came down’. Incarnation (becoming flesh)

Suffering - crucified, suffered death, and buried

Ascent - ‘he ascended into heaven’

Although the creed does not speak of Jesus' life and teaching, it tells us about the way that he lived, with the assumption that those who follow him will also live this way. The way of humbling ourselves, serving and even suffering for those we are called to love, in order that we and they might be lifted up to God.

His movement from ‘eternally begotten of the Father’ to ‘seated at the right hand of the Father’
His glory, future role and kingdom.

HOLY SPIRIT

Part of the Father and comes out from the Father (eg. like the breath of God). The original Nicene creed did not include the words 'and the son'.
Fully God, worshipped with the Father and Son
The giver of Life (the Spirit, the breath of God, gives life to creation - Genesis 1:1; the Spirit transforms hearts of stone into living hearts - Ezekiel 36:26; the Spirit gives life to dry bones - Ezekiel 37:10)
The voice of God speaking through the prophets and apostles (the scriptures)

The first word

The first word used in the Creed to describe our relationship with God is not the word 'obey', 'fear', 'serve' or even 'worship'. The first word is 'believe'. In Greek that word is πιστεύομεν (pisteuomen), which means to believe, to trust, to put our faith in. It is about placing our confidence in, committing ourselves to God. πιστεύομεν was translated into Latin using the word credemus (from the verb credo), also meaning to believe, to entrust: 'I give my heart to, I entrust myself to, I place my trust in'.

Praying the creed. A personal prayer.

Father God, as part of your people, I put my trust in you that you have all power and that you are the creator of this creation and of all that lives in it. Even when it seems that things are out of control, and there is terrible suffering, I will trust you that this world is not rudderless or pointless, and that you are a good God who loved us and goes on loving us.
Lord Jesus Christ, I worship and serve you as my Lord and God. I thank you for your love for us and all you have given me, for your death for me, for the forgiveness of sins and the hope of resurrection. By your strength help me to live the way of love, humbling myself, looking to the interests of others, serving them even to the point of suffering for them, so that they and I might be raised up to share in your coming Kingdom.

Holy Spirit, I ask you to come and live in me and give me real life. Speak through the prophets and the apostles to your people. Help me to hear your voice, and to live as a member of the family of God.

Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Eternal, I worship you

Images from the Anaphora cathedral