Last week’s Pastoral Notes included an outline of our topical summer series: We Believe: The Apostles’ Creed. Starting today and running through the end of July, we will examine this well-known, often cited but rarely studied summary of apostolic doctrine which Christians have affirmed since the second century.
But where did it come from? What is the source? And how has it been used?
Despite its name, none of the words come from the original apostles. In its present form, it has been in continual use since about AD 700, but the elements of its wording have been traced to a baptismal confession from early second century Rome called “The Rule of Faith.”
We know from Acts 2 that when the church gathered as we do today, they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching. We get a good look at the substance and heart of that teaching with a survey of the 19 major sermons or speeches by Peter, Stephen, James and Paul found in the book of Acts.
Historically, the Apostles’ Creed served two primary purposes; first, as a tool for evangelism and second, as a summary syllabus for instruction leading to a declaration of personal faith prior to baptism. It allows us to see at a glance (114 words in the version we use) the main points of Christian belief.
The Creed took shape during the second century when the church was harassed by what J.I. Packer describes as “sheep-stealing Gnostics.” That’s the crowd that taught that the true God exists in a distant, unknowable spiritual realm and only secret knowledge (“gnosis”) can lead one back to this divine source. Packer explains: “The Creed’s sequence of topics, and some of its phrases, express not only apostolic teaching but also the explicit negation of Gnostic dualism at every point.”
If you are curious about that, see the Introduction to Packer’s Affirming the Apostles’ Creed published by Crossway. The book includes a brief explanation of each element of the creed, Scripture refences for further Bible study and questions for thought and discussion. You may find that book and those listed below on the Bookshelf for supplemental reading this summer:
The Apostles’ Creed: Discovering Authentic Christianity in an Age of Counterfeits by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
The Need for Creeds Today: Confessional Faith in a Faithless Age by J. V. Fesko
Crisis of Confidence: Reclaiming the Historic Faith in a Culture Consumed with Individualism and Identity by Carl R. Trueman
R. C. Sproul cautions us: “The church uses creedal statements and confessional formulas to articulate the content of its faith. Yesterday’s creed, however, can become today’s museum piece.”
Let’s make this ancient creed which we confess year-round ours this summer.
Your servant,
Tony Giles
