The Ecumenical Creeds
The Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds — received by the universal Church as faithful summaries of the faith once delivered to the saints. These creeds guard the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation against every error.
Origin & History
Rooted in the baptismal confession of the early Roman church. The earliest form appears in Marcellus of Ancyra (c. 340) and Rufinus of Aquileia (c. 390). The final received text was standardized by the 8th century. Tradition attributes each article to one of the twelve apostles.
The Text
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The word “catholic” in these creeds means “universal” — referring to the one Church of all true believers in every time and place, not to any particular denomination.