Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed is the oldest creedal statement of the Christian Church, drawn from early baptismal confessions in Rome and the broader Western church. It summarizes the essential articles of faith concerning the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Its name reflects its apostolic content, not apostolic authorship.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4
Text of the Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. (Gen. 1:1; Matt. 6:9)
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; (John 3:16; Rom. 1:4)
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, (Luke 1:35)
born of the Virgin Mary; (Matt. 1:18–23; Gal. 4:4)
suffered under Pontius Pilate, (Mark 15:15)
was crucified, dead, and buried; (Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3)
he descended into hell; (1 Pet. 3:19; Eph. 4:9)
the third day he rose again from the dead; (1 Cor. 15:4; Luke 24:6)
he ascended into heaven, (Acts 1:9)
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; (Heb. 1:3; Ps. 110:1)
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. (Acts 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1)
I believe in the Holy Ghost; (John 14:26; Acts 2:4)
the holy catholic Church; (Eph. 1:22–23; Matt. 16:18)
the communion of saints; (1 Cor. 12:12–13; Heb. 12:22–23)
the forgiveness of sins; (Eph. 1:7; Acts 10:43)
the resurrection of the body; (1 Cor. 15:42–44; John 5:28–29)
and the life everlasting. Amen. (John 17:3; 1 John 5:11)
Structure
The Creed is traditionally divided into twelve articles, one for each apostle in later legend. Its threefold structure mirrors the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19:
- God the Father — Creator and sovereign of all things
- Jesus Christ the Son — his person, incarnation, passion, resurrection, and return
- The Holy Spirit — and the blessings of redemption in the Church
The Descent into Hell
The phrase "he descended into hell" (descendit ad inferos) has been interpreted variously: as Christ's burial and complete death (Calvin), as proclamation to imprisoned spirits (1 Pet. 3:19), or as bearing the full wrath of God. The Heidelberg Catechism Q. 44 takes it to mean Christ "descended into hell" through the agony he bore in body and soul, especially in Gethsemane and on the cross (Ps. 18:5–6; Matt. 26:38).