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Editorial
RELIGIOUS TOPICS - THE NICENE CREED
The use of the word "We" at the beginning of each of the three paragraphs of the Nicene Creed is of considerable importance, in that it is a reminder that this is the confession of faith not only of each individual Christian (as in the "I believe" of the Apostles’ Creed), but also of the whole Christian Church. It is what is known as a ‘conciliar’ Creed, deriving ultimately from the Council of Nicaea in the year 325, but in its present form, it derives largely from the Council of Constantinople in 381. Those who use this version of the Creed are not only going back to its earliest form (the word "We" being used at both Nicaea and Constantinople), but are also identifying themselves with the faith of the universal Church.
In contrast to those who seem to imagine that the historic Christian faith is somehow outdated and is no longer appropriately formulated in such terms, it is worth remembering that some of the most creative theologians still find this way of expressing the faith highly reasonable. For example, the late scientist-cumtheologian, Dr William Pollard, former Director of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies, once said that, when he spoke about the Christian religion, people expected him to have some individual faith of his own. He said: "All I am in a position to supply would be a copy of the Nicene Creed."
The Creed, arranged as it is in three divisions, affirms the doctrine of the Holy Trinity: God who is both one and three. It expresses, unambiguously, the doctrine of creation, the deity of the Son, his incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension and looks forward to his coming again in glory and his kingdom which will have no end.
The concept of the Holy Spirit, who is also recognized as fully divine and worthy to be worshipped and glorified, is linked with the doctrine of the one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic Church, to which believers are admitted through one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. The Creed declares the eternal destiny of people of faith, who may look for "the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come". The final word, "Amen", is not redundant, but in effect puts the signature - of each person who says the Creed - to this great affirmation of faith.