Athanasian Creed with Scripture References, Part I

 

Athanasian Creed with Scripture References, Part I

Part II can be accessed here.

These are meant to correspond to the next two weeks of sermons (6/8 & 6/15/25) on the Holy Trinity and the Testimony and Nature of Jesus Christ. Both sermons are a part of the Christianity 101 Series through the First Epistle of the Apostle John.

Part I includes the introduction and teaching on the Holy Trinity. Part II teaches on the Deity and Incarnation of Jesus Christ, followed by a closing statement.

What is the Athanasian Creed?

Athanasius of Alexandria is an incredibly important early church father. He lived and ministered in the 4th century (c. 298-373), serving as a Christian theologian and intermittently as a Bishop in the catholic Church (between mandated banishments). He spent his ministry arguing against the popular heresies of the day, namely Arianism. Arians believe Jesus may have been the son of God, but he was created by God and thus not as divine as God (a belief carried on today by groups like the Jehovah's Witnesses). Since the powers that be in the catholic Church of the day were heretics (mainly Arians), Athanasius experienced punishments and persecution throughout his ministry. He's attributed to be the author of the Athanasian Creed, and he also wrote definitive works on the Incarnation of Jesus and the Holy Spirit that continue to be important and widely studied.

    A clarification on "the catholic faith" (statement #3): Catholic means universal. It is not referring to the Roman Catholic Church, which came out of the Eastern /Western schism of 1056. The Athanasian Creed is around 700 years older than the particular Roman Catholic Church. Anyone who is a part of "the catholic faith" are orthodox adherents.

To consult other common creeds, check out The Nicene Creed and The Apostle's Creed.

Check out these sites for more valuable info:

https://steadfastlutherans.org/blog/2017/09/athanasian-creed-according-to-scripture/

https://www.redeemedsb.org/blog/2016/6/23/assessment-of-the-athanasian-creed

To check out a spreadsheet with all consulted Scripture passages, click here.

To check out what is below in PDF format, click here.

Athanasian Creed, Part I

Introduction

1.      Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;

2.      Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

The Holy Trinity

3.      And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4.      Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5.      For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

6.      But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

7.      Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

9. The Father infinite, the Son infinite, and the Holy Spirit infinite.

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three infinite, but one uncreated and one infinite.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

20. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

21. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

22. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

23. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

24. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

25. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

26. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

 

Repeated verses (passages) for sections 3-26:

Each verse/passage is listed at least twice on the attached spreadsheet. Every section of the Athanasian Creed has a corresponding verse on this list.

Old Testament

Gen. 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (8, 20-22)

Gen. 1:26 – And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (6-7, 15-16)

Deut. 6:4 – Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: (3-4, 17-19)

Is. 9:6 – For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (10-12, 15-16)

Is. 40:28 – Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. (8, 9)

 

New Testament

Mt. 28:19 – Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (3-4, 15-16, 24-25, 26)

Jn. 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (8, 10-12, 15-16, 24-25)

Jn. 1:18 – No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (5, 20-22)

Jn. 3:18 – He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (20-22, 26)

Jn. 10:30 – I and my Father are one. (3-4, 15-16, 24-25)

Jn. 14:26 – But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (5, 20-22)

Jn. 15:26 – But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (5, 20-22)

Jn. 16:7 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (5, 20-22)

Jn. 16:14-15 – He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (5, 6-7, 24-25)

Ac. 5:3-4 – But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (6-7, 15-16, 24-25)

1 Cor. 8:4 – As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. (10-12, 13-14, 15-16)

1 Cor. 8:6 – But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. (5, 20-22, 23)

1 Cor. 12:4 – Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (6-7, 13-14)

1 Cor. 12:11 – But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (13-14, 24-25)

2 Cor. 3:17 – Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (15-16, 17-19)

Eph. 4:4-6 – There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (3-4, 5, 23, 24-25)

Col. 1:16-17 – For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (8, 10-12, 15-16, 20-22)

Col. 2:9 – For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (6-7, 13-14, 15-16)

Hebr. 9:14 – How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (6-7, 10-12, 24-25)

Rev. 1:8 – I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (10-12, 13-14)