Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed

Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, also known as the Nicene Creed, is the foundational statement of Christian faith formulated at the First Council of Nicaea (325 AD) and expanded at the First Council of Constantinople (381 AD). It summarizes core Orthodox Christian beliefs about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Church.

Below is a breakdown of each major line or phrase with brief explanations and supporting Scriptural references.

I believe in one God

This affirms faith in a single, monotheistic God, rejecting polytheism and emphasizing personal commitment to the one true God revealed in Scripture.

Scriptural References: Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29, 32; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Isaiah 43:10; 2 Corinthians 4:13; John 3:18; John 14:1.

the Father Almighty

God is the eternal Father, all-powerful and sovereign, expressing His paternal relationship to creation and believers.

Scriptural References: Genesis 17:1–8; Exodus 6:3; Matthew 6:9; Ephesians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Malachi 2:10; Genesis 35:11.

Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and unseen

God is the Creator of all existence, physical (visible) and spiritual (unseen), affirming His absolute sovereignty and creative power.

Scriptural References: Genesis 1:1; Job 38:1–30; Colossians 1:15–16; John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11; Acts 14:15; Romans 11:36.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ

Christ is confessed as the one Lord, fully divine and uniquely appointed for the salvation of humanity.

Scriptural References: John 20:28; Acts 11:17; Acts 16:31; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:5; Jude 1:4.

the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages

Christ is eternally begotten, not created, affirming His divine pre-existence and eternal relationship to the Father.

Scriptural References: Matthew 3:17; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 16:16; John 1:14; John 3:16; John 1:1–2; Psalm 2:7; Proverbs 8:22–25 (LXX); Psalm 109:3 (LXX); John 17:5; Micah 5:2; Hebrews 7:3.

Light of Light, true God of true God

Christ shares the fullness of the Father's divine nature, countering Arianism by affirming His co-eternal deity.

Scriptural References: John 1:4, 1:9; John 8:12; Psalm 27:1; Matthew 17:2, 5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 1:3; 1 John 1:5; John 17:1–5; 1 John 5:20; Wisdom 7:26.

begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father

Christ is eternally generated, not created, and is homoousios (“one essence”) with the Father, ensuring true Trinitarian unity.

Scriptural References: John 1:1–2; John 16:28; John 1:18; John 10:30; Genesis 5:3 (LXX); John 5:19, 21, 26; John 16:15; Colossians 1:15.

through Whom all things were made

Christ is the divine agent of creation, working with the Father in the creation of all things.

Scriptural References: Hebrews 1:1–2, 10; John 1:3, 1:10; Colossians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Romans 11:36.

Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven

Christ descended from divine glory to save humanity, entering the world for deliverance from sin and death.

Scriptural References: 1 Timothy 2:4–5; Matthew 1:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Colossians 1:13–14; John 3:13, 3:31; John 6:33–35, 38; Matthew 9:13; Luke 19:10.

and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man

Christ truly became human by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, uniting divine and human natures in one Person.

Scriptural References: Luke 1:30–35; John 1:14; Hebrews 2:14.

And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried

Christ’s passion, crucifixion, suffering, and burial were real historical events accomplished for the salvation of humanity.

Scriptural References: Mark 15:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4; 1 Peter 2:24; Mark 15:15; Mark 8:31; Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:53; Isaiah 53:4–5; Mark 10:45; 1 Peter 2:21–24; John 19:38–42.

And the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures

Christ’s resurrection fulfills prophecy and demonstrates His victory over death and His divine identity.

Scriptural References: Mark 9:31; Mark 16:6, 16:9; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4; Luke 24:1, 45–47; Psalm 16:10; Jonah 1:17; Hosea 6:1–2.

And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father

Christ ascended bodily into heaven, taking His place of divine authority and intercession at the Father’s right hand.

Scriptural References: Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9–11; Mark 16:19; Acts 7:55–56; Psalm 110:1.

And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead

Christ will return visibly in glory as the righteous Judge of all humanity.

Scriptural References: Matthew 24:27; Mark 13:26; John 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Acts 10:42; Matthew 25:31; 2 Timothy 4:1.

Whose kingdom shall have no end

Christ’s reign is eternal and unending, fulfilling the prophecies of the everlasting Kingdom of God.

Scriptural References: 2 Peter 1:11; Hebrews 1:8; Daniel 7:13–14; Luke 1:33.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life

The Holy Spirit is fully divine, the giver of all life, and co-equal within the Holy Trinity.

Scriptural References: John 14:26; Acts 1:8; Acts 5:3–4; Genesis 1:2; John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6.

Who proceeds from the Father

The Spirit’s eternal origin is from the Father alone, according to Orthodox Trinitarian theology.

Scriptural References: John 15:26.

Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified

The Holy Spirit is worshiped together with the Father and the Son, demonstrating full divine equality.

Scriptural References: Matthew 3:16–17.

Who spoke by the prophets

The Holy Spirit inspired the prophets of the Old Testament and reveals divine truth throughout salvation history.

Scriptural References: 1 Samuel 19:20; Ezekiel 11:5; 1 Peter 1:10–11; Ephesians 3:5.

In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

The Church is one, sanctified, universal, and founded on Apostolic teaching and succession.

Scriptural References: Matthew 16:18; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; Ephesians 2:19–22; Acts 2:42; Romans 12:4–5; 1 Corinthians 10:17.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins

Baptism is the singular sacrament of initiation and forgiveness, uniting believers to Christ and the Church.

Scriptural References: Ephesians 4:5; Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 2:12–13; Acts 22:16.

I look for the resurrection of the dead

Believers await the final resurrection, when the dead will rise bodily at the consummation of the age.

Scriptural References: John 11:24; 1 Corinthians 15:12–49; Romans 6:4–5; 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

and the life of the world to come

The Creed ends with hope in eternal life in the renewed creation, promised by God.

Scriptural References: Mark 10:29–30; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1.

Amen

An affirmation of the truth and final assent to the faith professed in the Creed.

Scriptural References: Psalm 106:48.