The Apostles' Creed
Origin
The word “creed” originates from the Latin word “credo,” meaning “I believe and trust.” Christians of the early church developed statements of faith, known as creeds, in the early days. These statements were traced back to the teachings and traditions of the apostles. The Apostles’ Creed represents what the early church called the “rule of faith”. It originates from the Old Roman Creed (Old Roman Symbol), which was a creed used in the early Church of Rome around 300 to 400 years after the death of Jesus (3rd to 4th Century). It is said that all believers would learn and recite it before their baptism, which was in accordance with the scripture Matthew 28:19.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “
New International Version (UK)
So then, where did this Roman Creed originate?
It is believed that the 12 disciples (apostles) of Jesus gathered and were filled by the Holy Spirit. Each of them then contributed to the text, and they decreed that it should be distributed as a standard teaching to believers. The text of the old Roman Creed was as follows:
I believe in God the Father almighty;
and in Christ Jesus His only Son, our Lord,
Who was born from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
Who under Pontius Pilate was crucified and buried,
on the third day rose again from the dead,
ascended into heaven,
sits at the right hand of the Father,
whence he will come to judge the living and the dead;
and in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church,
the remission of sins,
the resurrection of the flesh,
[life everlasting].
The last line (life everlasting) is included in some sources while omitted by others.
The Apostles’ Creed is an enlargement of the Old Roman Creed although it’s still unclear how the Old Roman Creed transformed to the Apostles’ Creed. The first form of the Apostle’s Creed emerged in the eighth century. It was in a form that is nearly equivalent to the current one. It began to gain ground in the 8th century, and in the following years, it was accepted throughout France and nearby countries. It was later officially recognized and incorporated in the liturgy of the Church of Rome.
The current-day Apostles’ Creed
The Apostles’ Creed is considered by many Protestants as a creed or a summary of Christian beliefs, but others consider it to be a form of prayer. Some reformation catechisms use the creed as a way of articulating the basics of Christian faith.
The Apostles’ Creed today consists of three main parts according to the order of the Holy Trinity, just like the Old Roman Creed. The Holy Trinity church doctrine holds that there is one and only God but exists in 3 coeternal and consubstantial persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.
The text is as written below:
Traditional version
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell*.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church*,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Contemporary version
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
who 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 God the Father,
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Clarification on the disputed phrases in the Apostles’ Creed
* The Holy Catholic Church refers to all believers in general. The word catholic means universal or general and does not exclusively refer to the Roman Catholic Church. Some forms of the Apostles’ Creed write this line as “the holy Christian church” to avoid this confusion.
* The line “He descended to Hell” in the traditional version is another disputed phrase in the Apostles’ Creed. While some believe that this line merely meant that He was buried, there is more to it than just that. The scriptures say that Jesus died for all of us to get saved. This includes those who had died earlier, before Jesus was born. Jesus died for our sins once and for all in order to lead us to God. Killing Jesus meant that he died physically but was then made alive in the spirit so that he could also preach to the spirits that were imprisoned.
1st Peter 3:18-19,
“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison,“
New International Version (UK)
This is the reason why the earlier versions stated that he descended into hell. However, the contemporary or the most recent forms just state that he descended to the dead.
SWAHILI VERSION
Namwamini Mungu, Baba Mwenyezi,
Muumba mbingu na nchi;
Na Yesu Kristo, Mwana wake wa pekee, Bwana wetu,
Aliyechukuliwa mimba kwa uwezo wa Roho Mtakatifu,
Akazaliwa na Bikira Mariamu,
Akateswa zamani za Pontio Pilato,
Akasulubiwa, Akafa, Akazikwa.
Akashuka mahali pa wafu,
siku ya tatu Akafufuka,
Akapaa mbinguni.
Ameketi kwa mkono wa kuume wa Mungu Baba Mwenyezi,
Kutoka huko Atakuja kuwahukumu walio hai na wafu.
Namwamini Roho Mtakatifu,
Kanisa takatifu la waaminifu wote,
Ushirika wa watakatifu,
Ondoleo la dhambi,
Kiama ya mwili,
na Uzima wa milele. Amina.