Explanation of the Creed

Contents

1. 1Nicetas describes the baptismal renunciation of the devil, his angels and his works, which precedes the profession of the creed.
2. 2Nicetas explains the first article: God the Father almighty is unbegotten, invisible, unchangeable and Creator, and is truly Father of his eternally begotten Son, through whom all was made.
3. 3Nicetas explains the article on Jesus Christ: “Jesus” means Saviour and “Christ” king; he came down and was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, becoming man while remaining God.
4. 4Nicetas teaches that Christ, born of the Virgin as Isaiah foretold, is truly incarnate (against those who make his body a phantom) and is both man and God, as his works show.
5. 5Nicetas explains the passion: Christ suffered in the flesh, not in his divinity, for our sins, under Pontius Pilate, whose name fixes the time against heretics who speak of other christs.
6. 6Nicetas explains the resurrection, ascension, session at the Father’s right hand and Christ’s coming to judge the living and the dead.
7. 7Nicetas explains the article on the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father, sanctifies all, distributes gifts, inspired prophets and apostles, sanctifies at baptism, and whose blasphemy is unforgivable.
8. 8Nicetas urges the candidates to keep firmly the faith in the Trinity, the rule received by the apostles with the command to baptize.
9. 9Nicetas tells candidates how to answer pagans, Jews and heretics who deny the one Father, the Son’s divinity or the Spirit’s glory: hold to the baptismal profession of the Trinity.
10. 10Nicetas explains the church as the one communion of all the saints and angels, distinct from heretical churches, then the forgiveness of sins in baptism, the resurrection of the flesh and eternal life.
11. 11Against heretics who deny bodily resurrection, Nicetas cites Isaiah, Christ and Paul; the soul awaits judgment in light or darkness until the resurrection, when the righteous will shine and the wicked go into darkness.
12. 12Nicetas illustrates the resurrection by the seed that dies and rises (1 Cor 15:36) and says eternal life is for the faithful who live chastely, not for pagans, unbelievers or vicious Christians.
13. 13Nicetas calls the creed a covenant with the Lord, a brief summary gathered from all Scripture like gems in a crown, for those who cannot read the Scriptures.
14. 14Nicetas ends by urging the candidates to keep the creed always in their hearts and to answer the devil’s temptations by renewing their baptismal renunciation.