The Nicene Creed is technically named the “Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed” and was developed following the First Council of Nicaea in 325. The council was held to combat a theological error called Arianism (from its principal proponent, a priest named Arius) that denied the divinity of Christ.
A creed, or profession of faith (the word creed comes from the Latin credo, “I believe”), was developed to affirm the teachings of the Church and was further refined at the First Council of Constantinople in 381. It expanded on previous creeds in order to be more precise in what the Church believed.
Here are the words of the Nicene Creed that is frequently recited at Sunday Mass.
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake
he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection
of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
And today we celebrate...