Day 9: Historical Creeds

Athanasian Creed (500)

The problem with the Athanasian Creed, written by Athanasius of Alexandrea doesn’t lie in it’s theology, rather it lies in who actually wrote it. For it first appears about 150 years AFTER Athanasius had died.

Now Athanasius himself did quite a lot and has been considered a ‘Pillar of the Church’ since just a few years after his death in 373 and is today considered in the Catholic Church one of the four great ‘Doctors of he Church’ to come out of the east. In addition, in his ‘Easter Letter’ of 367, he-for the first time-lists the 27 books of New Testament cannon in use today. So whether he wrote it (doubtful) or not, he had a tremendous influence of Church orthodoxy both Catholic, Eastern and Protestant.

Like the great creeds that came before it, the Athanasian Creed focused on the Trinity and Christology. It was designed for one thing-to put the final nail in the coffin of Arianism. It also reverts to something used in the Creed of Nicaea by actually calling out those who disagree and making them anathema to their brethren. The oldest manuscript making use of it as a creed dates to the 8th century. And without wading through a lot of reasons why Athanasius WASN’T the author, suffice it to say that no scholar I can find believes he did. Current thinking is that it wasn’t even a creed, rather part of a scholarly work by Vincent of Lerins, a monk in southern Gaul who himself was a prolific theological writer. (He also wrote extensively against Augustinian’s idea of ‘original sin’ and was then branded a heretic.) Good news is no one gets punched in the nose over this disagreement. Well, not at that time. But that’s for another time!

Regardless, this creed shows the first use of the Trinity being listed with the same divine attributes, but done INDIVIDUALLY. But at the same time stresses unity, so as not to be TOO confusing. They (the Trinity) are separate yet indistinct. This was still a hard concept for many at the time to grasp. This is STILL a hard concept for many at THIS time to grasp!

Whosoever will be saved , before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal. As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other; none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved is must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood; Who, although he be God and Man, yet he is not two, but one Christ; One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh but by taking of the Manhood into God; One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

Yep, with THAT many usages of commas, colons, semicolons and run-on sentences it naturally clears all of this issue up nicely!

Scripture readings for today:

Isaiah 48:16

“Come near me and listen to this: From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret;
 at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me,
 endowed with his Spirit.

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit