Why is Pontius Pilate in the Nicene Creed?

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Sorry, not completely sure where to post this…

“he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate”

Why exactly did the Church Fathers feel the need to mention Pontius Pilatis in the Nicene Creed? In light of the Gospel, it seems it bit harsh to mention him in the Creed in such a way. Pilatus seemed quite reluctant to condemn or crucify Christ and was even frightened at a certain point. I have the feeling that if anyone should be mentioned as instrumental in Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, it should be Judas, or more so the Jews (perhaps specified as Pharisees).

Can anyone elaborate on this?

God Bless,

Christophe
 
This question reminds of a the novel: “The Wife of Pilate” by Gertrud von Le Fort, which hinges on the vivid dream she had, and which caused her to warn her husband. I read it a long time ago. If you can find it, it’s well worth the read.

In addition to the le Fort book, here is an interesting commentary.
 
I have heard it argued that Pilate is mentioned because the authors of the creed wanted it to be known that Jesus still confirmed and validated the laws of the land despite the fact that He really didn’t have to. I don’t know if this is the right answer or just part of the answer, but it’s the answer I have heard.
 
HGHMHIHMOU said:
Sorry, not completely sure where to post this…

“he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate”

Why exactly did the Church Fathers feel the need to mention Pontius Pilatis in the Nicene Creed? In light of the Gospel, it seems it bit harsh to mention him in the Creed in such a way. Pilatus seemed quite reluctant to condemn or crucify Christ and was even frightened at a certain point. I have the feeling that if anyone should be mentioned as instrumental in Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, it should be Judas, or more so the Jews (perhaps specified as Pharisees).

Can anyone elaborate on this?

God Bless,

Christophe
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It’s not meant to comment on Pontius Pilate as a person, but rather it does two things. Firstly, it gives us an historical date–the governorship of PP–so that it is establishes when in history Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Thus no one can say that Jesus wasn’t a real person who lived during a real time and a real place.

Secondly, it tells us that PP had the earthly authority to decide Jesus’ fate. PP turned that authority over to the leaders of the Jews who were calling for Jesus to be crucified. So, it pins the fault on both instead of on the Jewish leaders alone.

As Adam stood by and waited to see what Eve would decide, even though he had the authority to tell Eve she shouldn’t eat of the forbidden fruit, so PP stood by and allowed Jesus to be crucified even though he could have stood against the Jewish leaders and freed him. I hope that helps. 🙂
 
HGHMHIHMOU said:
it seems it bit harsh to mention him in the Creed in such a way. Pilatus seemed quite reluctant to condemn or crucify Christ and was even frightened at a certain point.
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The Roman writer Tacitus doesn’t paint such a nice picture of the man.
 
Della said:
It’s not meant to comment on Pontius Pilate as a person, but rather it does two things. Firstly, it gives us an historical date–the governorship of PP–so that it is establishes when in history Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead. Thus no one can say that Jesus wasn’t a real person who lived during a real time and a real place.

Secondly, it tells us that PP had the earthly authority to decide Jesus’ fate. PP turned that authority over to the leaders of the Jews who were calling for Jesus to be crucified. So, it pins the fault on both instead of on the Jewish leaders alone.

As Adam stood by and waited to see what Eve would decide, even though he had the authority to tell Eve she shouldn’t eat of the forbidden fruit, so PP stood by and allowed Jesus to be crucified even though he could have stood against the Jewish leaders and freed him. I hope that helps. 🙂
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This is now the 1,384th time that you hav:De beat me to the punch. Oh, well…
 
HGHMHIHMOU said:
Sorry, not completely sure where to post this…

“he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate”

Why exactly did the Church Fathers feel the need to mention Pontius Pilatis in the Nicene Creed? In light of the Gospel, it seems it bit harsh to mention him in the Creed in such a way. Pilatus seemed quite reluctant to condemn or crucify Christ and was even frightened at a certain point. I have the feeling that if anyone should be mentioned as instrumental in Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, it should be Judas, or more so the Jews (perhaps specified as Pharisees).

Can anyone elaborate on this?

God Bless,

Christophe
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Please leave the Jews alone, they have undergone problems in every century and enough is enough. They are still God’s chosen people, He does not go back on His Word.
 
Pontius Pilate was the final earthly source of authority that was handed to him from above to judge the verdict of Jesus. This final source of authority, from the Roman Empire which commanded such tremendous influence, and meant to be strong, noble, and impartial, had failed to defend the innocent. Thus it was that the abandonment of Jesus was made absolute, when the mightiest hand on Earth would not raise itself to protect him. This was a testimony that he was not in his own kingdom, because a king could not be slain in his own kingdom, but rather that his kingdom was not of this world.
 
The gospels nail down the time frame. I think the question is still open why PP is mentioned in the creed. Perhaps it’s just how the poetic meter of the text works out.

If it just said “crucified” – that is sort of hanging there.
 
sirach2v4 said:
The gospels nail down the time frame. I think the question is still open why PP is mentioned in the creed. Perhaps it’s just how the poetic meter of the text works out.

If it just said “crucified” – that is sort of hanging there.
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Well…as far as poetic meter, it could be said “He was crucified on Calvary”, and that would be fitting as far as the rhythm of the Creed, even if it isn’t the same number of syllables. So that can’t be it.
 
guiltyofdoubt said:
Well…as far as poetic meter, it could be said “He was crucified on Calvary”, and that would be fitting as far as the rhythm of the Creed, even if it isn’t the same number of syllables. So that can’t be it.
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It can’t because the Nicene Creed wasn’t written in English. It has it’s own meter, though, in Latin and Greek.
 
Explanation from Father John Hardon:

It is not coincidental that Pontius Pilate should be identified in the Apostles Creed. Pilate symbolizes the sufferings and persecution of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ.

The enemies of Christ were the religious leaders of the Jewish people who envied Him. They were, as Jesus more than once told them, hypocrites. They were the chosen priests and teachers of the Chosen People. Yet they misled those whom they were to lead. Their hatred of the Savior was grounded on envy. Thousands followed Jesus to listen to His words. They spent days, even without food, to hear what He had to say. The Scribes and Pharisees had to resort to the most extreme means to have people even pay attention to them. The result was inevitable. This hated Nazarene must die.

There were three main charges which the Jews brought against Jesus. “We have found this man,” they claimed “perverting our nation, and forbidding the payment of taxes to Caesar and saying that he is Christ the king” (Luke 23:2).

As we know all these charges were malicious. They were also political in nature. Yet they were enough to sway the cowardly Pilate to condemn Jesus to death.

This has been the history of the Catholic Church ever since. By now millions of faithful followers of Christ have shed their blood for their fidelity to the Savior. Without exception, it has been the Pilates of every age who have been used by Christ’s enemies to persecute the Church He founded. The Neros and Attillas, the Huns and Communists have been the agents of the devil in persecuting faithful Christians. But let us be clear. No less than on the first Good Friday, so over the centuries it has been the apostate Christians who have used the State to crucify the martyrs of Christianity."
 
sirach2v4 said:
The gospels nail down the time frame. I think the question is still open why PP is mentioned in the creed.
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Still, there were (and are) those who questioned Jesus’ actual existence. By referring to PP, the Creeds confirm that he was a real person who lived in a real time and place–so there can be no doubt. The statement that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary does this, as well, and we know that that is also stated in the Scriptures. The Creeds were meant to verify who Jesus was and what we are to believe. The Bible alone could not/cannot do this, as we can plainly see in our own day. Indeed, those ecclesial bodies that ignore the Creeds tend to drift the farthest from the fullness of the faith with some straying into outright heresies.
Perhaps it’s just how the poetic meter of the text works out.
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If it just said “crucified” – that is sort of hanging there.
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The Creeds weren’t originally written in English. I have no idea how they would be constructed in their original languages. Perhaps someone else with that knowledge could answer that for you. 🙂
 
Interesting fact: the Ethiopian Orthodox Church venerates Pontius Pilate and his wife Claudia as saints - converts and martyrs after the crucifixion. I think he was omitted from the Ethiopian Catholic Church’s calendar but there is still popular devotion.
“The Abyssinian Church reckons him as a saint” saints.sqpn.com/ncd00066.htm “There are a few Catholics of the Abyssinian Rite in communion with Rome” catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9484
 
It’s really quite simple. Apart from setting the historical context, Putting PP in the Creed shows the stark contrast between our earthly wills and Christ’s sacrifice.

Simply put: Pontius Pilate took the easy path instead of the one he (and most certainly his wife) knew to be righteous, in order to save his own skin. It is a symbol of humanity’s weakness that one serve’s one’s self to avoid suffering and inconvenience.

On the other hand, Jesus, because he always took the righteous path, gave up his own life in order to save all of humanity. Jesus selflessly served all humanity while taking on our human nature and human suffering.
 
SyroMalankara said:
Interesting fact: the Ethiopian Orthodox Church venerates Pontius Pilate and his wife Claudia as saints - converts and martyrs after the crucifixion. I think he was omitted from the Ethiopian Catholic Church’s calendar but there is still popular devotion.
“The Abyssinian Church reckons him as a saint” saints.sqpn.com/ncd00066.htm “There are a few Catholics of the Abyssinian Rite in communion with Rome” catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9484
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I have heard of his wife converting, but never Pilate himself. Would be neat if that really happened.
 
SyroMalankara said:
Interesting fact: the Ethiopian Orthodox Church venerates Pontius Pilate and his wife Claudia as saints - converts and martyrs after the crucifixion. I think he was omitted from the Ethiopian Catholic Church’s calendar but there is still popular devotion.
“The Abyssinian Church reckons him as a saint” saints.sqpn.com/ncd00066.htm “There are a few Catholics of the Abyssinian Rite in communion with Rome” catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9484
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I recently read an ancient transcription of a message attributed to Pilate, which he had sent to a Roman governor from a voyage Pilate was taking near Egypt. It is a most interesting message. It is a kind of creed, spoken from his own experience, and it confesses his faith in Jesus as God.
GangGreen said:
I have heard of his wife converting, but never Pilate himself. Would be neat if that really happened.
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Pontius Pilate has always been a very tragic figure in history. He came THAT CLOSE to Our Lord and seemed to want to help Him, but under the pressure of his occupation and the enormous threat of insurrection from the Jews who threatened to revolt, he gave in to their demands. But he was struggling with one man against many hundreds, and he could only favor the crowd by a small margin. This tells us that Our Lord came very close to converting him, and He could have, if He had willed to do so. But it was the fullness of time.
.
 
HGHMHIHMOU said:
Sorry, not completely sure where to post this…

“he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate”

Why exactly did the Church Fathers feel the need to mention Pontius Pilatis in the Nicene Creed? In light of the Gospel, it seems it bit harsh to mention him in the Creed in such a way. Pilatus seemed quite reluctant to condemn or crucify Christ and was even frightened at a certain point. I have the feeling that if anyone should be mentioned as instrumental in Christ’s arrest and crucifixion, it should be Judas, or more so the Jews (perhaps specified as Pharisees).

Can anyone elaborate on this?

God Bless,

Christophe
Click to expand...
For what it is worth, here is my take on this:

Many of the Jews and leaders of the Jews believed that what they were doing was protecting their beliefs. They were afraid that Jesus was turning people away from God.

Pilate KNEW that Jesus was innocent of any wrong doing and as a Roman Governor had all the power in the world to act upon this knowledge. He chose not to, not because he was afraid of the crowd - goodness knows he could have ordered his soldiers to massacre the whole lot. He was wanting to appease his superiors. He did not want news of troubles in the area to reach the Emperor.
 
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