The Apostles' Creed
A foundational statement of Christian faith
About the Apostles' Creed
The Apostles' Creed is one of the oldest and most widely used creeds in Christianity. While not written by the apostles themselves, it summarizes their teachings and has been used by Christians since the early centuries of the Church.
This creed outlines the basic beliefs of the Christian faith in a simple, memorable format. It covers the essential truths about God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*"catholic" here means "universal"—the worldwide Church of all believers, not a specific denomination.
What It Means
The Apostles' Creed affirms belief in:
- God the Father — The almighty Creator of everything that exists
- Jesus Christ — God's only Son, born of a virgin, who died for our sins and rose again
- The Holy Spirit — God's presence with us today
- The Church — The worldwide community of believers
- Forgiveness — Through Christ, our sins are forgiven
- Eternal Life — The promise of resurrection and life with God forever