Understanding the Christian Statement of Faith: History and Importance

In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus

The Christian statement of faith, often encapsulated in creeds like the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, serves as a cornerstone of Christian theology and practice. These creeds articulate the core beliefs that unite Christians across diverse traditions and denominations. Through this new blog series, let us endeavour to delve into the history behind the Statement of Faith of the Christian faith, the false teachings prevalent at the time, and the reasons and need for establishing such statements of faith, highlighting how these declarations have shaped and continue to influence the direction and unity of the global Christian community.

The Christian statement of faith, commonly known as the Nicene Creed, is a cornerstone of Christian theology and liturgy. It articulates the core beliefs that unify Orthodox Christians worldwide. The understanding of this statement was also one of the reasons why a schism led to the division of the church in the early centuries.

To understand how this profound declaration of faith began, we must journey back to the early centuries of Christianity, a period marked by theological debates, councils, and the quest for doctrinal clarity.

History Behind the Statement

The development of the Christian statement of faith is deeply rooted in the early centuries of the Church. During this formative period, the Christian community sought to preserve and transmit the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles amidst a rapidly expanding and diversifying faith community.

In the early days of the church, there were numerous interpretations of Christian doctrine, leading to significant divisions and the spread of what were deemed heretical teachings. The need for a unified statement of faith became crucial to maintain the orthodoxy and integrity of Christian beliefs. In response to this challenge, ecumenical councils, such as the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, were convened. These councils aimed to address and resolve doctrinal disputes, leading to the formulation of creeds that would succinctly define the foundational tenets of Christianity.

The Nicene Creed emerged from these efforts as a definitive statement that aimed to clarify the nature of Christ and his relationship to God the Father, countering the Arian controversy which questioned the divinity of Jesus. By explicitly affirming the co-eternity and consubstantiality of the Son with the Father, the Nicene Creed sought to preserve the unity of the church and protect it from divergent teachings.

Moreover, creeds like the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed played a crucial role in liturgical practices, serving as a summary of faith recited in communal worship. These creeds not only reinforced doctrinal correctness but also fostered a sense of communal identity and continuity among believers.

As centuries passed, these creeds continued to be reaffirmed and expanded upon to address new theological challenges and contexts. They remain integral to Orthodox Christian worship and education, guiding believers in their faith and providing a touchstone for theological reflection. The enduring legacy of these creeds lies in their ability to encapsulate the essence of Christian belief in a form that transcends time and cultural differences, uniting Christians in a shared confession of faith.

Early Christian Confessions – Simple Confessions as Expressions of Belief

In the first and second centuries, the burgeoning Christian community faced the challenge of articulating and solidifying its beliefs in a clear and concise manner. Simple confessions of faith, such as “Jesus is Lord,” played a crucial role in this process. These brief statements, often referred to as creedal formulas, encapsulated the essence of Christian belief and served multiple purposes within the early Church.

“Jesus is Lord”

The confession “Jesus is Lord” (Greek: “Κύριος Ἰησοῦς,” “Kyrios Iesous”) is one of the earliest and most significant creedal statements. This declaration held profound theological and socio-political implications:

• Theological Implications: By proclaiming Jesus as Lord, early Christians affirmed the divinity of Christ and His supreme authority over all creation. This assertion was rooted in the belief that Jesus, as the risen Messiah, possessed a unique and divine status, sharing in the nature and authority of God the Father. This simple yet profound statement encapsulated the core of Christian belief in Jesus’ divine identity and His role as the Saviour of humanity.
• Socio-Political Implications: In the context of the Roman Empire, the declaration “Jesus is Lord” stood in stark contrast to the imperial cult that recognized Caesar as lord and demanded loyalty to the emperor. By asserting Jesus’ lordship, Christians were making a bold and subversive statement of allegiance to Christ above all earthly powers. This often led to persecution, as such a declaration was seen as a challenge to Roman authority and a refusal to participate in the emperor worship that was widespread in the empire.

The Role of Confessions in Baptismal Rites

Baptism, as the sacrament of initiation into the Christian faith, held central importance in the early Church. It marked the formal entry of new believers into the Christian community and symbolized their union with Christ in His death and resurrection. Simple confessions of faith were integral to the baptismal rite for several reasons:

Declaration of Commitment

The recitation of a confession of faith during baptism served as a public declaration of the convert’s commitment to Christ. By proclaiming statements such as “Jesus is Lord,” the individual expressed their personal faith in Jesus and their acceptance of Him as their Lord and Savior. This act of confession was a way for converts to renounce their former beliefs and lifestyles and to embrace the new life offered through Christ.

Affirmation of Beliefs

Baptismal confessions provided a means for new believers to articulate and affirm their beliefs in a concise and understandable manner. These confessions encapsulated key Christian doctrines, ensuring that converts understood the fundamental tenets of the faith they were professing. This was particularly important in an era when formal theological education was limited, and many converts came from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds.

Community and Identity Formation

The use of simple confessions in baptism also played a significant role in community and identity formation within the early Church. By reciting a common confession of faith, new converts were united with the broader Christian community, sharing in a collective identity centered on their faith in Christ. This unity was essential for maintaining doctrinal coherence and fostering a sense of belonging among believers scattered across different regions and cultures.

Examples of Early Baptismal Confessions

While “Jesus is Lord” is perhaps the most well-known early confession, other statements and creedal formulas were also used in baptismal contexts. These included:

• The Trinitarian Formula: Derived from the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19, the baptismal formula “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” emphasized the Trinitarian nature of Christian faith. This formula highlighted the distinct roles of the three Persons of the Trinity while affirming their unity in the Godhead.
• The Old Roman Symbol: An early precursor to the Apostles’ Creed, the Old Roman Symbol was a brief and structured confession used in the Roman Church’s baptismal rites. It included statements affirming belief in God the Father, Jesus Christ as His Son, and the Holy Spirit, along with key elements of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, in this blog we learned how the early Christian statement of faith, encapsulated in the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed, played a pivotal role in defining and uniting Christian belief across diverse traditions. These creeds emerged from a need to preserve apostolic teachings, counter heresies, and maintain doctrinal unity in the face of theological challenges. Simple confessions like “Jesus is Lord” served as profound declarations of faith, especially during baptism, affirming the convert’s commitment and solidifying their identity within the Christian community. The historical significance and theological depth of these creeds continue to shape Christian worship and education, fostering a shared confession of faith that transcends time and culture.

In the next part of this blog series, let us learn how the emergence of formal creed statements helped in defending the faith against the various heretical teachings surrounding the Church in the early 2nd and 3rd centuries.

Your brother in Christ Jesus

Jobin George