The Orthodox Creed
A comprehensive walk through the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, article by article—from the Father Almighty to the life of the age to come.
Part I
Introduction: The Mystery of the Divine One
When Was it Formulated
The faith was from the beginning and can be found with the writings of scripture and the earliest church fathers from the very first century.
The current form was articulated in the Councils of Nicea (325 AD) and Constantinople (381 AD).
Formulated in response to Heresies, which denied the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Trinity Surpasses Our Thoughts and Words
St. John Chrysostom on the Divine Essence:
"For many of our conceptions about God, we are unable to express, as also many things we express, but have not strength to conceive of them."
— St. John ChrysostomExample: God is everywhere, has no beginning, all-powerful. We know by faith but cannot understand.
Oftentimes we think something and are not able to express it: since not even the word GOD is a name of substance, nor is it at all possible to find a name of that Substance.
Mathematical Concepts of Infinity (The Limits of Reason)
To illustrate the difficulty of grasping the infinite with a finite mind:
1. The Limit of One over Zero
lim(x→0) 1/x = ∞
In math, you can't really divide by zero. However, this formula says that as you divide a number by something smaller and smaller (closer to zero), the result gets bigger and bigger without end.
The Lesson: It represents how the closer we try to get to the "beginning" or the "essence" of God, the more we realize He is infinitely larger than our starting point.
2. The Sum of Numbers
Σ(i=1 to n) i = n(n+1)/2
This is a famous formula for adding up a list of numbers (like 1+2+3... up to 100).
The Lesson: Even when we add up finite, measurable things in this world, we eventually reach a point where the total is so large it's easier to describe with a formula than to count it one by one. It highlights the transition from what we can count to what we can only describe.
3. The Natural Logarithm
∫ 1/x dx = ln(x) + C
This involves "calculus," which is the study of change. The "ln" stands for a natural log, which describes how things grow in nature (like trees or populations).
The Lesson: It shows that there is a "Natural Law" or a "Wisdom" (Logos) built into the very fabric of how things grow and change, which points back to a Creator who set those rules.
4. Infinite Series and Convolutions
s(x) = Σ(k=0 to ∞) Fk xk
These formulas look at adding up an infinite number of small parts to create a single functioning whole.
The Lesson: This mirrors the Trinity. Just as a complex math problem has many parts that work together as one single truth, God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—three distinct "parts" that are one single, infinite Being.
The First Article
God the Father
"We believe in one God, God the Father the Pantocrator who created heaven and earth, and all things seen and unseen."
Lets break it down little by little
1. "We believe in one God, God the Father"
The term "Father" is not merely a metaphor; it is the proper name for the first Person of the Trinity. St. Cyril of Jerusalem explains that the name "Father" is used before the name "God" to emphasize the relationship between the Father and the Son.
"The Father is the source of all things... He is the Father of one only, our Lord Jesus Christ. And He is the Father of Him, not in time, but before all ages, for there was never a time when the Father was not a Father."
— St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 7.52. "The Pantocrator"
The Greek term Pantocrator (often translated as "Almighty") literally means "Ruler of All" or "He who holds all things together." This title signifies that God is not a "watchmaker" who created the world and left it; rather, He actively sustains every atom in existence.
"For the word 'Almighty' (Pantocrator) means that He has power over all things... He holds the circle of the earth, and those who dwell in it as grasshoppers; He established the heaven as a vault, and spread it out as a tent to dwell in."
— St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, Book II, 30.93. "Who created heaven and earth"
Orthodoxy maintains that God created the world ex nihilo (out of nothing). This distinguishes the Creator from His creation; the world is not an "overflow" of His essence, but a result of His free will and love.
"He brought all things into being out of nothing... Not because He had need of anything, but so that the creatures might have a share in His goodness, and that He might rejoice in His works."
— St. John of Damascus, An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book II, Chapter 24. "All things seen and unseen"
This phrase confirms that the spiritual world (angels and heavenly powers) is as much a part of God's creation as the physical universe. St. Basil the Great explains that the "unseen" creation was brought into being before the physical world, emphasizing that nothing exists independently of God's command.
"He is the Creator of the angels and the archangels, and of all the heavenly host... He is the Maker of the spiritual world and the material world, and of all that is in them."
— St. Basil the Great, On the Hexaemeron, Homily IGod's Economy (The Plan of Salvation)
To understand why the Creed moves from the Father to the Incarnation of the Son, we must understand the "Economy" or Plan of Salvation:
1
Creation
God created us in His Image (pure, innocent, able to reason, and able to speak to God openly).
2
The Fall of Adam and Eve
Through the temptation of Satan, they fell into disobedience. God said, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
3
The Result
Sin entered our nature and separated us from God who is sinless. We separated ourselves from the source of life, therefore we die; eternally. We were kicked out of paradise.
The Divine Dilemma & Humanity's Condition
(from On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius)
Corruption
Humanity corrupted the perfect image of God with which they were created.
Forgetfulness
Humanity began to forget about who God even was and began to worship things they can see (sun, moon, people, animals).
Debt
Humanity was in debt because of the sin Adam and Eve committed.
What was God to do?
Was he to abandon humanity and just destroy all of them? No, because humanity once had the image of His Son.
Was he to just forgive them and move on? No, because their fallen nature needed more than forgiveness but a recreation of the original Image of God.
The Second Article
The Son: Jesus Christ is God
"We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made..."
Proofs of our Lord Jesus Christ's Divinity
Scriptural Foundations:
John 1:1–5, 14, 18 (NKJV)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ... No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."
John 9:35–38 (NKJV)
"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, 'Do you believe in the Son of God?' He answered and said, 'Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?' And Jesus said to him, 'You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.' Then he said, 'Lord, I believe!' And he worshiped Him."
Mark 14:61–64 (NKJV)
"But He kept silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to Him, 'Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?' Jesus said, 'I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.' Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, 'What further need do we have of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?' And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death."
Matthew 16:13–17 (NKJV)
"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.'"
John 8:58 (NKJV)
"Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'"
(cf. Exodus 3:14 — "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.'")
John 14:8–11 (NKJV)
"Philip said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, "Show us the Father"? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.'"
Matthew 9:5–7 (NKJV)
"'For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Arise and walk"? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins'—then He said to the paralytic, 'Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.' And he arose and departed to his house."
John 11:4 (NKJV)
"When Jesus heard that, He said, 'This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'"
Christ calls His Glory the same as His Father's.
The Nature of the Begotten Son
Jesus Christ is the Word (Wisdom or Logos) or Power of God the Father.
Equal to God the Father in Divinity, Glory and Honor.
Begotten from Eternity: There was never a time when the Father did not beget Wisdom and power. He is not "born" in the human sense with a beginning.
Part IV
The Work of the Son: Incarnation and Redemption
"...Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became Man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried. And on the third day He rose from the dead..."
The Solution in Three Steps (St. Athanasius)
1
Renewal of Nature
Uniting our fallen humanity with His Divinity. The renewal of creation has been wrought by the Self-same Word Who made it in the beginning. (The Portrait of the Prince Illustration).
2
Redemption on the Cross
Surrendering His own temple to death in place of all, to settle man's account with death and free him from the primal transgression.
3
Revelation of God
Reminding and revealing the Father through His miracles and teachings, dealing with us as a good teacher uses simple means.
He Became Tangible
Eyewitness Testimony
Luke 1:1–4 (NKJV): "Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed."
1 Corinthians 15:6 (NKJV): "After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep."
Acts 1:1–3 (NKJV): "The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."
1 John 1:1–3 (NKJV): "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ."
True Leadership: He offered integrity, sincerity, and love in the face of corruption. He was refreshing to those who encountered Him.
Through the Senses: He took ignorance and offered revelation; storms and gave calm; infirmities and gave healing; despair and gave hope; carnality and gave the spiritual; hate and gave love; death and gave life.
The Perfect God-Man (St. Gregory the Great)
Christ was perfect in His Humanity and in His Divinity:
He was born—but He had been begotten.
He was wrapped in swaddling clothes—but He took off the swathing bands of the grave by His rising again.
He was laid in a manger—but glorified by Angels.
He hungered—but He fed thousands; He is the Bread of heaven.
He thirsted—but cried, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink."
He prays—but He hears prayer.
He dies—but He gives life, and by His death destroys death.
The Mystery of the Cross
The Necessity: Satan chose the kind of death Christ would suffer so that he would do his worst, and Christ still be found victorious.
The Fitness of the Cross: Outstretched arms to draw His ancient people with the one and the Gentiles with the other, joining both in Himself.
John 12:32 (NKJV)
"And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
Terminology: Ransom, Propitiation, Atonement, Reconciliation, and Redemption.
Old Testament Types: Abraham and Isaac, Moses and the Battle, Moses and the serpent, Passover, David and Goliath.
The Final Week: Betrayed, abandoned, spat on, beaten, whipped, mocked, crowned with thorns, nailed to the cross, stabbed with a spear.
The Third Article
The Holy Spirit
"Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Life-Giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets."
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Proceeding: "The Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father (eternally), but also belongs to the Son. He is even called the 'Spirit of Christ'... But His Only-begotten Son ministers It to the creation."
— St. Cyril of AlexandriaTheophany (Baptism of Christ): The Baptism of Christ showed us the Trinity in clear terms. The Holy Spirit descended upon Christ when He was in human flesh, meaning the Holy Spirit descends on humanity starting with Christ.
Human Analogy: Rough example of the human being (Intellect, body, spirit). When we drive or write, is it one or all three? Each and all at the same time.
The Fourth Article
The Church and Sacraments
"And in One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. We confess the one baptism for the remission of sins."
Characteristics of the Church
One
One in faith, dogma, thought, doctrine and spirituality. One Body. One Church on earth and in heaven.
Ephesians 4:4–6 (NKJV)
"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were 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."
John 10:16 (NKJV)
"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."
John 17:21–23 (NKJV)
"That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me."
Holy
1 John 1:7 (NKJV)
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
Galatians 3:27 (NKJV)
"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Ephesians 5:25–27 (NKJV)
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."
1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (NKJV)
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are."
Universal (Catholic)
Of all believers from all backgrounds, cultures, races, and times.
Apostolic
Shares the message that Christ taught, the Apostles preached, and the fathers kept.
One Baptism
Based on Faith, administered by a priest, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Fifth Article
Eschatology and Hope
"We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen."
The Resurrection of the Dead
Promise — John 5:28–29 (NKJV)
"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."
Old Testament Prophecy:
Isaiah 26:19 (NKJV)
"Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead."
Ezekiel 37:12–14 (NKJV) — The Valley of Dry Bones
"Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it," says the Lord.'"
Verification: Christ raised three people from the dead; so did His apostles.
The Age to Come
True Life
This is where our true life begins and our rewards are kept. Mercy and justice will shine forth.
Sojourners
We are only sojourners here on earth. Just visiting.
Peace
Looking to the age to come removes anxiety, seeing life's worst challenges as temporary clouds that will eventually blow away.
Part VIII
Conclusion: The Blessings of the Gospel
We Become Like Him (St. John Chrysostom)
Christ is the Head, we are the Body; He is the Foundation, we are the building; He is the Vine, we are the branches; He is the Bridegroom, we are the bride; He is the Shepherd, we are the sheep; He is the Life, we are the living; He is the Resurrection, we are the resurrected.
— St. John ChrysostomHow Do We Benefit?
God wants everyone to be saved, but not everyone will benefit. The road includes:
Sacraments
Partaking of the sacraments (baptism, communion, confession).
Deep-Rooted Faith
Deep-rooted faith in the teachings of the Church and spiritual guidance.
Practicing Faith
Practicing faith through "faith working through love."
Galatians 5:6 (NKJV)
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love."
Know Your High Place
Revelation 3:21 (NKJV)
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Gospel = Good News:
Forgiveness of sins, removal of punishment.
Righteousness, adoption, and inheritance of heaven.
God on Earth, man in heaven.
Reconciliation between God and us.
Devil brought to shame, death destroyed, and truth returned.