The Apostles’ Creed

The Apostles’ Creed is the basic creed of Reformed churches, as they are most familiarly known, of which The Episcopal Church is one. Dating back a half-century or so from the last writings of the New Testament, it has as the authors of its earliest version the twelve disciples or “apostles” of Jesus.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father
He will come again 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.

For more information on our beliefs, please see the Catechism of the Episcopal Church

 


    

All Saints' is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, part of the broader Episcopal Church, a branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion. As Episcopalians, we believe in a Trinitarian God, which means one God of creation (Father), redemption (Son), and constant presence and love (Holy Spirit).

We believe that the church is Christ living and visible in the world. This does not mean that any group is perfect. In fact, belonging to a church is an exercise in patience, forbearance, and love. But at every baptism, all who are present are asked to renew their own baptismal promises. One of the questions they are asked is "Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers?" We believe that we are called to continue practices that date back to Jesus’ time, including prayer and the celebration of the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion).

Our beliefs can be summed up in two creeds, one of which we recite in every public worship service: The Nicene Creed and The Apostles’ Creed, both found in The Book of Common Prayer (1979). (Note that the word "catholic" in these creeds refers not to the Roman Catholic Church, but to the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ.)

The Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is the most universally accepted profession of the Christian Faith. It was adopted (in a slightly different version) by the Church Council at Nicaea in AD 325 and further revised to its present form by the Council at Chalcedon in AD 451. It has remained in use since that time and is an essential part of the belief and worship of the Episcopal Church.

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 worshiped 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.