The Nicene Creed Explained

Summary

The video explains the significance of the Nicene Creed, a central profession of faith in Christianity for over 1600 years. It outlines the key beliefs about God the Father, Jesus as the Son of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. The creed addresses fundamental theological issues, such as the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, while rejecting early heresies like Arianism and Gnosticism. The creed's importance lies in its foundational dogmas, which guide Church teachings and remain relevant as the faith evolves over time.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Nicene Creed is one of the oldest and most important prayers in the Church, preserving essential dogmas for over 1600 years.
• 😯 The language of the Creed, such as 'consubstantial,' can be intimidating, but the underlying concepts are simple and foundational.
• 🙏 The Nicene Creed was formulated to address theological controversies in the early Church, particularly around the divinity of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
• 📜 The Creed is structured in four major sections: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and the Church.
• ✝️ The Creed affirms belief in one God, the Father Almighty, creator of all things visible and invisible.
• 👑 Jesus is declared consubstantial with the Father, meaning He is of the same substance, not created but eternal.
• 🔔 The Creed rejects Arianism and subordinationism, emphasizing Jesus' equality with the Father.
• 🌍 It affirms the real humanity of Jesus, countering Gnostic beliefs, and states He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man.
• 🎇 Jesus' resurrection and ascension into heaven in both body and soul are central to Christian belief.
• ⛪ The Creed ends by affirming belief in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, and the hope of resurrection and eternal life.

Q & A

What is the Nicene Creed and why is it important?

The Nicene Creed is one of the oldest and most important prayers in the history of the Church. It has maintained the essential dogmas of the Christian faith for over 1600 years, guiding the Church's teachings and beliefs.

Why might some Catholics find the language of the Nicene Creed intimidating?

Some Catholics might find the language of the Nicene Creed intimidating because it includes terms like 'consubstantial,' which are not commonly used in everyday language and may require theological knowledge to fully understand.

What are the four major sections of the Nicene Creed?

The four major sections of the Nicene Creed are: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and God's Holy Church.

What does the first section of the Nicene Creed say about God the Father?

The first section of the Nicene Creed states that God the Father is almighty and the creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. It emphasizes the belief in one supreme God who is above and beyond all creation.

How does the Nicene Creed describe Jesus Christ in the second section?

The Nicene Creed describes Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. It states that Jesus is 'God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,' begotten, not made, and consubstantial with the Father. This means that Jesus is of the same substance as the Father and has existed eternally.

What heresies did the Nicene Creed address regarding the nature of Jesus?

The Nicene Creed addressed several heresies, including Arianism, which claimed that Jesus was a creation of the Father and not eternal or equal with the Father. It also addressed subordinationism and Gnosticism, which presented various incorrect understandings of Jesus' nature and relationship with God the Father.

What is the significance of stating that Jesus was 'incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man'?

This statement emphasizes the belief that Jesus came to earth as a real human being, born of a woman, and not merely as a spirit or angelic figure. It counters the heresy of docetism, which claimed that Jesus only appeared to be human and did not actually suffer on the cross.

What does the Nicene Creed say about Jesus' death and resurrection?

The Nicene Creed states that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate, suffered death, was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. It also affirms that Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Why was the section on the Holy Spirit expanded in the revised version of the Nicene Creed?

The section on the Holy Spirit was expanded in the revised version of the Nicene Creed to address questions about the Holy Spirit's nature and role. It clarifies that the Holy Spirit is the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and is worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son.

What is the controversy surrounding the phrase 'and the Son' in the Nicene Creed?

The phrase 'and the Son' (Filioque) was added to the Creed in the West to combat Arianism, asserting that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. This addition was made without the approval of the entire Church and has been a point of contention, particularly with the Orthodox Church, which views it as an unauthorized alteration.