The 16th Century Protestant Reformation wasn’t marked merely by the Ninety-Five Theses of Luther, the Five Solas, or the so-called Doctrines of Grace. It also highlighted the church’s creeds and confessions.
Many Christians and churches today have different views and suspicions on these historic creeds and confessions.
Isn’t the Bible enough and the only authority over faith and practice? Are these creeds and confessions a replacement for Scripture? Isn’t it legalism to be confessional? Which creed and confession should I believe in?
These are valid questions. After discussing the meaning, history, importance, and implications of creeds and confessions, we’ll learn how Christians and churches should view and use them today.
What are Creeds and Confessions
The word “creed” comes from the Latin word credo which simply means “I believe.” While the word “confession” is from the Latin word confessio which means “I acknowledge.” So the words are essentially similar and they go hand in hand. Creeds and confessions are statements or summaries of what a person believes.
Many who reject historical creeds and confessions, or at least are suspicious of them, hold on to the belief: “No creed but Christ” or “No creed but the Bible.” But although it sounds pious for a Christian to imply that nothing but Christ and the Bible are his authority in life—these statements raise certain challenges and contradictions.
To hold that you don’t need any creed but the Bible is already a creed in itself. “No creed but Christ/Bible”—that’s the truth you believe.
At the same time, if you affirm these statements and I ask you, “So what do you believe about Christ? What do you believe about the Bible? What is its message?”
Your answers to those questions are “creeds and confessions” to you.
So whether one realizes it or not, virtually every Christian and every church has a creed and confession of some sort. Whether it’s in your memory or a Statement of Faith, it’s what you believe to be true as your doctrinal standard.
The crucial question then is: “What kind of creed and confession do you have?”
The Historical and Biblical Background for Creeds and Confessions
Many think that creeds and confessions are merely a product of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th-17th century AD.
Partially, it’s true.
Creeds and Confessions in Church History
Early generations of the church used creeds and confessions against heresy and to publicly affirm their faith and identity as Christians.
For instance, the Nicene creed (also called the Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan Creed) was formulated during the fourth century during the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) and Council of Constantinople (381 A.D.).
“Councils” may not be familiar to many Christians today, but it was a crucial tradition/practice of the church in history. Whenever there are important issues about doctrine, church government, and practice, ministers and leaders from different regions would gather together to settle the matter.
But this isn’t a post-biblical-times idea of the church. In Acts 15, we read the account of the Jerusalem Council wherein the apostles and elders discussed the issue of whether they should acknowledge the believing Gentiles as Christians without requiring circumcision.
Back to the fourth-century councils, the early Christian church battled against heresies, particularly Arianism (by Arius)—which taught that Jesus is the Son of God, but not co-eternal with God the Father. To Arius, Jesus was created by God the Father rather than a co-equal divine person in the Trinity.
To reject this heresy, the Nicene Creed states, “Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God… very God of very God; begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.”
Thus, the Nicene creed was formed to make a clear affirmation of the truth and protect the church from heresy.
Another historical confession is the Belgic Confession, written by Guido de Brès who died as a martyr in 1567. It was written in 1561 as a petition to King Philip II, during the years of Protestant Reformation. The Christians who disagreed with the Roman Catholic faith received persecution. And the Roman Catholic church used political power against the Reformers.
Adherents of the Reformed faith affirmed that they’re law-abiding citizens and willing to obey the government in all lawful matters. But as Guido de Brès addressed King Philip II, they would “offer their backs to stripes, their tongues to knives, their mouths to gags, and their whole bodies to fire,” rather than deny the truth expressed in the confession.
Essentially, the reformed Christians were saying to the government, “We are being persecuted for our faith, but here’s our faith. Here’s what we believe. You be the judge whether we deserve such treatment.”
The confession served as a public declaration of their identity as believers who believe in Christ and the Scripture.
This short video of the late R.C. Sproul can also help us understand how the churches came up with these creeds and confessions.
Creeds and Confessions in the Bible
Now, while we see that the early church and Protestant Reformation widely used creeds and confessions, they already existed way back during the biblical times. Throughout generations, God’s people held on to some publicly professed beliefs and confessions.
For instance, in Deuteronomy 6:4, Moses said, “Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” In this statement, Moses is publicly confessing a theological belief about God. Unlike the surrounding nations that worshipped multiple false gods, Israel must understand and believe that there is only one true God.
Another concise statement is God’s revelation of Himself to Moses as, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…” (Exo. 34:6). Throughout the Old Testament, this served as a creed and confession—a standard way God’s people acknowledged His character and attributes (Num. 14:18; 2 Chron. 30:9; Neh. 9:17; Psa. 86:15; 103:8; 111:4; 112:4; 116:5; 145:8; Joel 2:13).
In the New Testament, we have the popular confession of Peter when Christ asked the disciples concerning Himself. Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). It was a short and important Christological confession on the person of Christ.
Further, in his letter to Timothy, Paul cites a confession. He says in 1 Timothy 3:16:
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
“He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.”
The arrangement and format of the confession Paul quoted are very similar to the Ecumenical creeds from the early church (e.g. the Apostles’ Creed). So the church during the apostle’s time already has a creed and confession. And it’s part of God’s inspired Word.
These few examples alone give evidence that having creeds and confessions is a biblical practice among God’s people throughout all history.
It’s not simply a necessary tradition of the universal, apostolic church. It’s a biblical practice of God’s people.
The Importance of Creeds and Confessions
After establishing its biblical and historical basis, let’s consider the usefulness of creeds and confessions, especially today.
1. It keeps the unity of the church
Many churches and professing Christians suggest that “doctrine divides, but love unites.” Talking about doctrinal issues will only destroy the church. What we need is simply to love one another regardless of differences.
But avoiding doctrine for the sake of love and the practice of good works is a false dichotomy. We can’t separate doctrine from practice. For doctrine informs our mind (understanding), and our understanding shapes our practice.
In Paul’s letters, the apostle commends the believers for their faith in Christ and love for one another (Eph. 1:15, 3:17, 2 Thess. 1:3). Faith is based on the truth we believe and confess (i.e. doctrine). And the good works we perform are a response to such faith.
As the saying goes, “Right doctrine leads to right living.” We live according to what we believe.
Elevating Christian deeds without doctrine is plain moralism—not Christianity. Our unity as believers is based on the truth. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul tells them to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). And in the next verses, he says:
“… there is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4.4-6).
Some New Testament scholars believe that these seven “articles” of the Christian faith were a creed of the early Christians during Paul’s time. Take one article away, and what’s left is no Christianity at all.
These verses make the point clear: There is no church unity apart from unity in the truth. That’s why Reformed churches have The Three Forms of Unity.
We need to hold to essential doctrines believed and confessed by the church at large. Not only in our generation but also in generations past. For there is only one “faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). When we affirm the same biblical faith confessed by the early church fathers and protestant Reformers, we demonstrate the reality that there’s only one universal church of Christ. So creeds and confessions help preserve the church’s unity in the truth, with one believing heart and one confessing tongue.
2. It protects the church from heresy
It’s a pattern in the history of God’s people that publicly confessed truth protects them from heresy and harm.
Consider again the great Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Jews recited this creed during Moses’ time. And it’s important because it kept the Israelites from the heresy of polytheism (the belief that there are many gods).
Coming out of Egypt and being surrounded by pagan nations, it’s easy for the Israelites to be drawn to the false religion of polytheism (which indeed happened throughout the Old Testament story).
In the New Testament, Paul dealt with a heresy among the Corinthian church that denies bodily resurrection. He then reminds them of a creed that they were already aware of or familiar with. Paul says:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scripture…” (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
This pattern is necessary for churches today. We need to respond to heresies by summarizing fundamental doctrines from the Bible.
The Scripture is clear that there will be false prophets and false teaching both from within and outside the church (Matt. 7:15, Acts 20:29). Especially in our generation where we are easily drawn to “personalities,” many people tend to believe just anything their pastor or leaders say. Creeds and confessions can keep us from this error. When church members are fully aware of doctrinal standards (i.e. creeds and confessions), it protects them from being driven away to falsehood.
Further, creeds and confessions protect us from ourselves. Each of us reads and studies the Bible with existing presuppositions and personal biases. That’s part of our fallen nature.
Although creeds and confessions don’t guarantee that we’ll have an infallible interpretation of the Scripture, they can serve as a safeguard. It’s like rails that keep the train on track. Whenever we read the Scripture, these doctrinal standards of the historic church will help guide our interpretation.
But those who refuse to run by the rails are more likely bound for disaster.
At the same time, creeds and confessions are efficient means to identify and avoid heresies today. Many cults teach that Jesus Christ is not God at all, particularly the Iglesia ni Cristo cult in the Philippines. But this is not a new teaching or heresy. The issue of the divinity of Christ was already settled during the early church and was clearly defined in the Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed. If only churches and Christians acknowledge and use them, it will be easier for us to recognize today’s errors inside and outside the church.
3. It provides instruction for the church concerning essentials
As summaries of God’s counsel throughout the Scripture, creeds and confessions help “connect the dots” of the Bible. They provide profound yet comprehensive instructions on the essential doctrines of Scripture.
The church should “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [Christ has] commanded” (Matt. 28.18-20).
The church also has the responsibility to teach apostolic doctrine which is the foundation for our Christian faith (Eph. 2:20). This is why we have the Apostles’ Creed. Although not written by the apostles themselves, the early church formed it as a summarized and faithful expression of what the apostles taught.
Additionally, this is why the Reformation gave us richly biblical catechism. The Heidelberg Catechism instructs us in what we must believe and why we believe it.
It’s structured as questions and answers and goes through the explanation of the gospel, the Apostle’s Creed, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord’s Prayer. It educates us about the law and the gospel, and how we should live in gratitude to God. Organized in 52 sections, called “Lord’s Days,” the entire catechism is designed to explain basic biblical truths in the churches once a year.
So creeds and confessions help the church and individual Christians grow in the faith.
The Implications of Not Using Creeds and Confessions
Since creeds and confessions are biblical and useful, it follows that not using them has negative results or implications. There are at least three.
1. A slippery slope toward individualism and a high risk of heresy
A church that disregards creeds and confessions “acts” in separation from the universal church. Instead of identifying with the church at large through unity in truth, this church tries to invent its own set of doctrinal standards. Instead of embracing a set of biblical doctrines studied and formulated by large assemblies of churches, a local church creates a unique statement of faith written by just the pastor and a few elders.
This is prevalent in our age. Influenced by the marketing-driven world, people are often hyped by “what’s new” or “what’s different.” So a church tries to be unique and stand out from the rest.
But in Christianity, being different isn’t always good. Being different in the gospel that you believe and preach makes you accursed! (Gal. 1:8-9)
Now a church may argue saying, “There are many different creeds and confessions, and some of them have contradictions. We might as well discern for ourselves which part is faithful to the Scripture and come up with our Statement of Faith closely similar to the historic creeds and confessions.”
The question is, what guarantees that your choice of doctrinal standards from different creeds and confessions is more faithful than what they are now? Should we claim that we are more intelligent and mature than the church at large throughout the past 2000 years?
Picking individual parts of different creeds and confessions is still individualism. And the more a church gets used to forming its own doctrinal standards, the more it’s prone to heresy.
Creeds and confessions provide “check and balance” for the church.
If you’re asking which creed and confession should you follow then? We’ll discuss that later below.
2. Failure to acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s work in the previous generations of the church
When we disregard the historic creeds and confessions, it also implies that we disregard how the Holy Spirit worked through the church for the last 2 millenniums. It’s like saying, “I don’t care what the early church believed and how the Holy Spirit protected the church in the truth. All that matters is what I want to believe today.”
I believe we don’t want to say that.
This video from Stephen Nichols can also help answer our doubts about creeds and confessions.
3. Missing the benefit of profoundly theological and biblical truths
In the providence of God, he guided the church throughout history so that they were able to form these pillars of doctrinal standards. It’s a blessing that these Christians in the past—despite the persecutions and martyrdom—labored rigorously to help us understand Scripture well. Shouldn’t we rather be thankful for these resources available to us?
And if anyone desires to mature in the faith, I’d say: These creeds and confessions will mature you in the faith.
None of us will be able to memorize the entire Scripture, but these creeds and confessions will help us understand the core message of the entire Scripture. And even if you can come up with a good Statement of Faith, these historic statements are already profoundly theological and biblical—if you will but read and study them.
Disregarding them will make you miss a lot of what God already provided for his people.
It’s not about legalism. It’s about maturity. And if you’re a true believer and a church who really desires to grow in the faith, you’ll humbly learn from these great ecumenical creeds and confessions that Christians from many centuries (not just a few years!) have embraced and fought for.
Now, one might ask, “Does it mean all true churches should embrace creeds and confessions? Does failure to embrace them make one a false believer or a false church?”
We’re not sure if churches from the most secluded areas in Africa for instance have access to these doctrinal truths. But I’d say that ordinarily, churches should subscribe to creeds and confessions. After all, if it’s within your reach… if you can read it online or in print—why would you disregard it?
It’s like finding a piece of gold but you still create your version and store it instead, leaving the real one behind.
Since creeds and confessions are necessary, we come to the next big question…
Which Creeds and Confessions Should We Use Then?
In reality, there are many creeds and confessions from the early church until the period of the Protestant Reformation. There are different “traditions” or “branches” of the Reformation, and different churches subscribed differently.
Most traditions subscribe to the Ecumenical creeds (Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, Athanasian Creed). The Lutheran Church has the Augsburg Confession (1530) and the Book of Concord (1580). The Continental Reformed Church has the Three Forms of Unity (Heidelberg Catechism [1563], Belgic Confession [1561], Canons of Dort [1619]). The Presbyterian Church has the Westminster Standards (1647) (Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Larger Catechism, Westminster Shorter Catechism). And with some tweaks on the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Confessional Baptist churches have the London Baptist Confession (1689).
The list goes on.
Now in this short video below, Stephen Nichols gives us an answer on why there are different creeds and confessions. And we’ll recognize that the few differences among these creeds and confessions shouldn’t make us blind to their unity in major doctrines of faith.
So which should you and your church use?
Stick to one.
If you’re a Continental Reformed church, then be united with the broader church through the Three Forms of Unity. If you’re a Presbyterian church, then subscribe to the Westminster Standards. If a Baptist church, to the London Baptist Confession. (For most Reformed and Presbyterian churches, we embrace both the Three Forms of Unity and the Westminster Standards as complementary).
Believe it. Practice it. Confess it publicly. Be a confessional church.
And like the Christians in the past, defend your credo (i.e. belief) at all costs.
Now, if we will embrace Reformed creeds and confessions, how should it look in our churches and individual Christian lives?
How We Should Use and Treat Creeds and Confessions
Although we maintain the necessity and importance of creeds and confessions, we can’t and shouldn’t view them the same way we view Scripture. They don’t have the same nature of Scripture.
Creeds and confessions are NOT:
- Inspired
- Infallible
- Inerrant
- Authoritative
- Sufficient.
They’re not Scripture. We still read, study, and preach Scripture as the primary means of grace in the church.
As the Belgic Confession itself says in Article 7:
We believe that this Holy Scripture contains the will of God completely and that everything one must believe to be saved is sufficiently taught in it. For since the entire manner of service which God requires of us is described in it at great length, no one—even an apostle or an angel from heaven, as Paul says—ought to teach other than what the Holy Scripture has already taught us.
For since it is forbidden to add to or subtract from the Word of God, this plainly demonstrates that the teaching is perfect and complete in all respects.
Therefore we must not consider human writings—no matter how holy their authors may have been—equal to the divine writings; nor may we put custom, nor the majority, nor age, nor the passage of time or persons, nor councils, decrees, or official decisions above the truth of God, for truth is above everything else. For all human beings are liars by nature and more vain than vanity itself.
Creeds and confessions are neither equal with Scripture nor replace Scripture. They merely supplement our understanding of Scripture, helping us grow mature in the faith.
As you embrace them as doctrinal standards, you can include them in your Sunday services. In our local Reformed church in the Philippines, for instance, we read as a congregation one of the Ecumenical creeds or a portion of the Heidelberg Catechism and Belgic Confession before the opening prayer.
If your church has a Sunday School class or evening service, you can use these creeds and confessions as a topic series. Share it with people desiring to become official members of the church. Encourage members to use it during family worship or Bible Studies.
Make every opportunity to make the believers immersed in these doctrinal standards. And the more we learn from them, the more mature and deeper our understanding of Scripture will be.
Conclusion
So as we conclude this brief study on creeds and confessions, we established that there’s no such thing as being a Christian or a church with “no creed and confession.” Every Christian and church has a creed.
The question is: What is your creed and confession? Is it unified with the rest of God’s people throughout history? Or is it just your own?
We should be thankful to God that in His providence, He provided us with these biblical and theologically rich statements that will help us understand Him and His Word better.
Let’s value and use them—for the building up of the church and His glory.
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