The Nicene Creed: What Catholics believe in a nutshell

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Just to contribute. Something interesting I came across while reading through Church Councils from www.dailycatholic.com was that Pope Leo I, in his letter to Flavian, Bishop if Constantinople, about Eutyches, said regarding the Nicene Creed (of course, in it’s earlier form):

“But if it was beyond Eutyches to derive sound understanding from this, the purest source of the Christian faith, because the brightness of manifest truth had been darkened by his own peculiar blindness, then he should have subjected himself to the teaching of the Gospels.”

WOW!
 
vern humphrey:
At the same time, there is a strong emphasis on things that look strange if we don’t know the history of the creeds. For example, why does the Nicene Creed emphasize “ONE baptism for the remission of sins?” Because another heresy, the Donatists, insisted on re-baptizing people who joined their church.
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The creeds must indeed be viewed in the proper historical and theological circumstances they were in. They were in a certain sense, apologetical statements, intended to distinguish certain Catholic teachings from those of heretics. Thus, they are not complete in themselves. However, everything in them should be considered as authentic Catholic teaching.

Gerry 🙂
 
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RobedWithLight:
The creeds must indeed be viewed in the proper historical and theological circumstances they were in. They were in a certain sense, apologetical statements, intended to distinguish certain Catholic teachings from those of heretics. Thus, they are not complete in themselves. However, everything in them should be considered as authentic Catholic teaching.

Gerry 🙂
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Absolutely.

This thread illustrates why Catholics must know the history of the Church. I have seen the Creeds used as challenges – “Why do you use those when you have the Bible?” and similar arguments designed to stir up doubts against our Church.
 
vern humphrey:
The “Bible Nazis” are those who believe in Sola Scriptura – “If it ain’t in the bible, it ain’t.” This is a Protestant position – but nowadays, some Catholics seem perilously close to accepting it.

The Catholic position, of course, is Scriptura et Traditione – Scripture AND Tradition. A great deal of the Christian message was handed down by word of mouth, and not written down until long afterwards. That tradition is as valid and as precious as the handful of written documents which the Church selected to make up the New Testament.
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If you want to beat the Bible Nazis at their own game then you need to be able to present the Scriptural viewpoint (before offering the Scripture plus Sacred Tradition viewpoint). The Bible Nazis love to give quotes from the Scriptures (usually just the reference) but they are not so good at giving the context of the Scripture. This is where Catholics have the advantage because when we look up the “reference” we will either see that there is no relevance or that the quote is taken out of context.

Unfortunately many do not bother to read the Scripture and they are bamboozled by these tactics. I am responding on the eastern thread that is related to this one (on the filioque) and I admit the first thing I did was to ask that the Eastern posters refer to the Scripture and not just the writings of the early Church Fathers. It is worth taking this stance because the weakness of the argument against the Filioque becomes more obvious by examining first what Scripture says, before worrying about what could be out of context quotes from the Fathers.

Also the Bible Nazis will never admit to their sources, but very few of them actually do their own self interpretation. They rely on Bible commentaries as a resource 🙂 😉

Maggie
 
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RobedWithLight:
The creeds must indeed be viewed in the proper historical and theological circumstances they were in. They were in a certain sense, apologetical statements, intended to distinguish certain Catholic teachings from those of heretics. Thus, they are not complete in themselves. However, everything in them should be considered as authentic Catholic teaching.

Gerry 🙂
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Gerry,

good points.

Maggie
 
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MaggieOH:
If you want to beat the Bible Nazis at their own game then you need to be able to present the Scriptural viewpoint (before offering the Scripture plus Sacred Tradition viewpoint). The Bible Nazis love to give quotes from the Scriptures (usually just the reference) but they are not so good at giving the context of the Scripture. This is where Catholics have the advantage because when we look up the “reference” we will either see that there is no relevance or that the quote is taken out of context.

Unfortunately many do not bother to read the Scripture and they are bamboozled by these tactics. I am responding on the eastern thread that is related to this one (on the filioque) and I admit the first thing I did was to ask that the Eastern posters refer to the Scripture and not just the writings of the early Church Fathers. It is worth taking this stance because the weakness of the argument against the Filioque becomes more obvious by examining first what Scripture says, before worrying about what could be out of context quotes from the Fathers.

Also the Bible Nazis will never admit to their sources, but very few of them actually do their own self interpretation. They rely on Bible commentaries as a resource 🙂 😉

Maggie
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Good post. And good advice.

Again and again, even on this site, you will find people “puzzled” or in doubt because some radical sect member has challenged them with some bible quote.

Most anti-Catholics are not very well educated, and are repeating arguments developed by someone else. I’ve never seen a single case that couldn’t be answered by simply looking up the quote and reading the whole section. Once you establish the context, all these canned 'proof texts" evaporate, and the people who advance them don’t know how to answer you.
 
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MaggieOH:
If you want to beat the Bible Nazis at their own game then you need to be able to present the Scriptural viewpoint (before offering the Scripture plus Sacred Tradition viewpoint). The Bible Nazis love to give quotes from the Scriptures (usually just the reference) but they are not so good at giving the context of the Scripture. This is where Catholics have the advantage because when we look up the “reference” we will either see that there is no relevance or that the quote is taken out of context.
Maggie
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Correct. They take a single verse and interpret it as though it had a separate meaning from the chapter they were taken from. Catholics should be well aware of these tactics and not be intimidated by an evangelical bombarding them with a barrage of verses.

Gerry 🙂
 
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RobedWithLight:
Correct. They take a single verse and interpret it as though it had a separate meaning from the chapter they were taken from. Catholics should be well aware of these tactics and not be intimidated by an evangelical bombarding them with a barrage of verses.

Gerry 🙂
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The best examples that I have seen with regard to Scripture twisting would have to be those who claim falsely that John Chapter 6 teaches that reading Scripture gives them Eternal Life.

However, this is off the subject 🙂

Maggie
 
I wonder how many of us can recite this creed by heart? I’m working on it.
 
Church Militant:
It seems that there is never ending confusion among many non-Catholics concerning just what we Catholics really believe, so I decided to post this, which is the profession of faith that we proclaim at every Mass. Sometimes we use the Apostles Creed which is just shorter, but covers the same essentials.
MAYBE, just maybe, this will assist some folks with a better understanding of what we profess. (Please God?)

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 and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from 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.
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Hi,
I’ve been attending a Catholic church for a few weeks (My first time) and they don’t say any of this. Are they supposed to? :confused:
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Hi,
I’ve been attending a Catholic church for a few weeks (My first time) and they don’t say any of this. Are they supposed to? :confused:
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Have you been attending Mass? The creed (the Confession of Faith) comes right after the Homily (the “sermon.”)
 
vern humphrey:
Have you been attending Mass? The creed (the Confession of Faith) comes right after the Homily (the “sermon.”)
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Yes, I stay for the entire Mass. They’ve never said it. I’ve only been attending for a few weeks, though. Are they supposed to recite it every Sunday?
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Yes, I stay for the entire Mass. They’ve never said it. I’ve only been attending for a few weeks, though. Are they supposed to recite it every Sunday?
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I think they also can use the Apostle’s creed can’t they? I prefer the Nicene for it’s depth. If they’re not doing it at all, then they are supposed to, I know that. Ya might ask the priest.
 
Church Militant:
I think they also can use the Apostle’s creed can’t they? I prefer the Nicene for it’s depth. If they’re not doing it at all, then they are supposed to, I know that. Ya might ask the priest.
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Thanks, I think I’ll ask, because they’re not doing it at all. And they are in communion with Rome, I’ve already checked.
 
hmm readin it again it doesn’t seem qute the same wording. A few differences between how we say it, (same as the Catechism), and what is posted.

Are there varying translations that are of legal use in the liturgy?
Not tring to be a litrugial watchdog, just qondering.
 
Again today I said the Nicene Creed. But I have to insert a phrase.

I prefer the Apostle’s Creed. Why? Because the Apostle’s tells us about where Jesus Christ went just after he died.

1st Peter 1:19. “He preached to the souls in prison”. * Jesus released all the souls in purgatory upon his death, because heaven’s gates were then open.
 
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Jew_Man_73:
Thanks, I think I’ll ask, because they’re not doing it at all. And they are in communion with Rome, I’ve already checked.
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Take a look at the missal – do you use it to follow the Mass?

You should find both the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed following the homily.

If they are not using it, ask the priest why. You can do that when he stands outside after Mass.
 
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Exporter:
Again today I said the Nicene Creed. But I have to insert a phrase.

I prefer the Apostle’s Creed. Why? Because the Apostle’s tells us about where Jesus Christ went just after he died.

1st Peter 1:19. “He preached to the souls in prison”. * Jesus released all the souls in purgatory upon his death, because heaven’s gates were then open.
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I wouldn’t go so far as to say “all the souls in purgatory.”
 
vern humphrey:
Take a look at the missal – do you use it to follow the Mass?

You should find both the Nicene Creed and the Apostle’s Creed following the homily.

If they are not using it, ask the priest why. You can do that when he stands outside after Mass.
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ok, I’ll do that. I’m pretty sure we haven’t recited either one. Some Protestant friends of mine ahve told me that they’ve heard that this is a liberal parish. I don’t know if that has anything to do with it or not
 
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