Creed
A short, formal summary of Christian belief, recited in worship — the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds are the oldest and are shared by nearly all Christians.
What they actually mean
“"The official 'here's what we believe,' in a paragraph you can say out loud."”
Heard in the wild
“We recite the Nicene Creed every Sunday.”
“No creed but the Bible.”
The Lighter Side
The parts of the service that are 1,700 years old and still said from memory. A "confession" here isn't admitting anything — it's a statement of belief, though the Westminster one is long enough to feel like a penance.
The longer version
What it means
A creed is Christianity's belief in a nutshell: a short, fixed text that says what the church holds about God, Jesus, the Spirit, the church, and the life to come. Two are used almost everywhere. The Apostles' Creed is the shorter one — "I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth…" — and the Nicene Creed is the longer, more precise one, written to settle arguments about whether Jesus is fully God. Both are recited aloud in worship, often every week, and both have been in use for over 1,500 years.
Creeds do three things: they teach (this is what we believe), they unite (we all say the same words), and they draw a line (this is what Christianity is, and that isn't).
Why people say it
Because belief needs a shape. The creeds give Christians a way to say the whole faith together in a minute, to hand it to their children, and to recognize each other across denominations — a Catholic, a Lutheran, and a Presbyterian can all say the Nicene Creed and mean it. Reciting a creed also connects a congregation to every Christian who's ever said those words.
How to respond
If you're in a service and the congregation stands to say the creed, you can read along from the bulletin or screen, say it if you mean it, or stand quietly if you don't. Nobody will check. If you hit the line "the holy catholic church," it means the universal church, not Rome. If a Christian tells you their church has "no creed but the Bible," they're telling you they distrust fixed formulas, not that they have no beliefs.
If you hear it in different churches
Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches recite the creeds regularly. Orthodox and Catholics differ on one word in the Nicene Creed (the filioque). Baptists, Pentecostals, and many non-denominational churches don't recite creeds, though most have a "statement of faith" that says much the same thing in their own words. Some evangelical churches have recently begun reciting the historic creeds again.
Where does “Creed” come from?
The New Testament contains creed-like summaries — "Jesus is Lord," 1 Corinthians 15:3–5, the hymn in Philippians 2. The Apostles' Creed grew from the baptismal questions used in Rome by around AD 200 and reached its final form in the 700s. The Nicene Creed was written at the Council of Nicaea (325) to affirm that the Son is "of one being with the Father," and expanded at Constantinople (381). The Athanasian Creed, from around 500, details the Trinity. The Reformation produced longer "confessions" — Augsburg (1530), Belgic (1561), Heidelberg (1563), Westminster (1646). "No creed but the Bible" arose among American Restorationist and Baptist groups in the 1800s.
Good to know
"Creed" is from the Latin *credo*, "I believe" — the first word. A "confession" (of faith) is a longer, more detailed statement from the Reformation era, like the Westminster or Augsburg Confessions; a "statement of faith" is a modern church's own summary. Churches that say "no creed but the Bible" still have beliefs; they just decline to write them in a fixed form.
You might also hear
Trinity
Bible & TheologyThe Christian belief that God is one God who exists eternally as three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — equal, distinct, and inseparable.
“"One God, three persons. Yes, it's supposed to be hard to wrap your head around."”
Catholic (lowercase c)
Bible & Theology"Universal" — as in the creeds' "holy catholic church," meaning the whole church of all times and places. Not the same as the Roman Catholic Church.
“"Worldwide, all-of-us. Not Rome, necessarily."”
Doctrine
Bible & TheologyA church's official teaching on a topic — what it holds to be true about God, Jesus, salvation, the Bible, and the rest — organized, stated, and passed on.
“"Beliefs, organized into an outline with Roman numerals."”
Catechism
Catholic & OrthodoxA summary of Christian teaching in question-and-answer form, used to instruct new believers and the young (catechism); and a person being instructed in preparation for baptism (catechumen).
“"Q&A flashcards for the faith — and the person who's studying them to join."”
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Common questions
What's the difference between the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed?+
The Apostles' Creed is shorter and older in origin, used especially at baptism. The Nicene Creed is longer and more precise about Jesus' divinity, written to settle a fourth-century dispute. Both are shared by nearly all Christians.
Do I have to say the creed if I visit?+
No. Stand with the congregation and read along or stay quiet. It's a statement of belief, so only say it if you mean it — and nobody will notice either way.
What's a "confession" of faith?+
A longer, more detailed statement of belief, mostly from the Reformation era — Augsburg for Lutherans, Westminster for Presbyterians. Not to be confused with confessing sins.
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Written by Rev. Christopher D.F. Warrington, Ordained Minister, M.Div. · Updated September 2026
This entry was compiled with AI assistance and has not yet been reviewed by an ordained pastor.