Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed is an early (3rd cent.?) statement of Christian belief. It was later expanded in the Nicene Creed (325) and Constantinople Creed (381).

Text (English, Greek, Latin)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

• Πιστεύω εἰς θεòν πατέρα παντοκράτορα,
• Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem,

creator of heaven and earth.

• ποιητὴν οὐρανοῦ καὶ γῆς.
• Creatorem caeli et terrae,

I believe in Jesus Christ (the Messiah), God's only Son, our Lord,

• Καὶ εἰς Ἰησοῦν Χριστòν, υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τòν μονογενῆ, τòν κύριον ἡμῶν,
• et in Iesum Christum, Filium Eius unicum, Dominum nostrum,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

• τòν συλληφθέντα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου,
• qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto,

born of the Virgin Mary,

• γεννηθέντα ἐκ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου,
• natus ex Maria Virgine,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

• παθόντα ὑπὸ Ποντίου Πιλάτου,
• passus sub Pontio Pilato,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

• σταυρωθέντα, θανόντα, καὶ ταφέντα,
• crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus,

he descended to the dead.

• κατελθόντα εἰς τὰ κατώτατα,
• descendit ad infernos,

On the third day he rose again from the dead;

• τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστάντα ἀπò τῶν νεκρῶν,
• tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,

he ascended into heaven,

• ἀνελθόντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς,
• ascendit ad caelos,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

• καθεζόμενον ἐν δεξιᾷ θεοῦ πατρὸς παντοδυνάμου,
• sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

• ἐκεῖθεν ἐρχόμενον κρῖναι ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς.
• inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

• Πιστεύω εἰς τò πνεῦμα τò ἅγιον,
• Credo in Spiritum Sanctum,

the holy catholic Church,

• ἁγίαν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν,
• sanctam Ecclesiam catholicam,

the communion of saints,

• ἁγίων κοινωνίαν,
• sanctorum communionem,

the forgiveness of sins,

• ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν,
• remissionem peccatorum,

the resurrection of the body,

• σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν,
• carnis resurrectionem,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

• ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Αμήν.
• vitam aeternam. Amen.

The Old Roman Creed (English, Greek, Latin)

A shorter form of the Apostles' Creed is known as the Old Roman Creed:

I believe in God the Father almighty;

• Πιστεύω οὖν εἰς θεòν πατέρα παντοκράτορα·
• Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem

and in Christ Jesus His only Son, our Lord,

• καὶ εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν,
• et in Christum Iesum filium eius unicum, dominum nostrum,

Who was born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,

• τὸν γεννηθέντα ἐκ πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆς παρθένου,
• qui natus est de Spiritu sancto ex Maria virgine,

Who under Pontius Pilate was crucified and buried,

• τὸν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου σταυρωθέντα καὶ ταφέντα
• qui sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus est et sepultus,

on the third day rose again from the dead,

• καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρα ἀναστάντα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν,
• tertia die resurrexit a mortuis,

ascended to heaven,

• ἀναβάντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανούς
• ascendit in caelos,

sits at the right hand of the Father,

• καὶ καθήμενον ἐν δεξιᾳ τοῦ πατρός,
• sedet ad dexteram patris,

whence He will come to judge the living and the dead;

• ὅθεν ἔρχεται κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς·
• unde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos;

and in the Holy Spirit,

• καὶ εἰς τò ἅγιον πνεῦμα,
• et in Spiritum sanctum,

the holy Church,

• ἁγίαν ἐκκλησίαν,
• sanctam ecclesiam,

the remission of sins,

• ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν,
• remissionem peccatorum,

the resurrection of the flesh

• σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν,
• carnis resurrectionem.

(the life everlasting).

• ζωὴν αἰώνιον.
• (omitted)

The Nicene Creed (325) and the Constantinople Creed (381)

First Council of Nicaea (325)	First Council of Constantinople (381)
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.	We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father [the only-begotten; that is, of the essence of the Father, God of God,] Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;	And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds (æons), Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father;
By whom all things were made [both in heaven and on earth];	by whom all things were made;
Who for us men, and for our salvation, came down and was incarnate and was made man;	who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary, and was made man;
He suffered, and the third day he rose again, ascended into heaven;	he was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.	from thence he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead. ;
	whose kingdom shall have no end.
And in the Holy Ghost.	And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the prophets.
	In one holy catholic and apostolic Church; we acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
[But those who say: 'There was a time when he was not;' and 'He was not before he was made;' and 'He was made out of nothing,' or 'He is of another substance' or 'essence,' or 'The Son of God is created,' or 'changeable,' or 'alterable'— they are condemned by the holy catholic and apostolic Church.]