The Nicene Creed was adopted by churches throughout the Roman Empire at the First Council of Nicea in AD 325. It was later expanded at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381. During this period of history, orthodox Christianity was challenged by a heresy called Arianism which taught that Jesus was created by the Father and was less than fully God. This creed elaborates on this area of The Apostles’ Creed in order to clarify the Christian understanding of Jesus’ deity and definitively state that Arianism is not a Christian teaching.
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten and not created, being of one substance with the Father.
By Him, all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation, He came down from heaven and was incarnated by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered, and was buried.
He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father.
From there, He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.
His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, and Who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.