What Are Creeds?


The word "creed" derives from the Latin credo, "I believe." The form is active, denoting not just a body of beliefs but confession of faith. This faith is trust: not "I believe that" (though this is included) but "I believe in." It is also individual; creeds may take the plural form of "we believe," but the term itself comes from the first person singular of the Latin: "I believe."

Creeds of the early church

Apostles' Creed, officially accepted by Charlemagne in the 8th century CE, but almost completely a product of the early church of the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

Nicene Creed accepted by the Council of Nicea in 325 CE, along with the Apostle's creed still accepted by the Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches of today.

Confessions and Catechisms of the Reformation:

Scots Confession, written by John Knox and ratified in 1560 by the Parliament of Scotland.

The Heidelberg Catechism, written by Ursinus and Olevianus in 1562.

The Second Helvetic Confession, written by Bullinger in Zurich in 1561.

Westminster Standards accepted by the English Parliament in 1649

The Westminister Confession of Faith

The Shorter Catechism

The Larger Catechism

The Theological Declaration of Barmen, an appeal to the German churches in 1934 to stand firm against the German Christian accomodation to National Socialism.

The Confession of 1967 Concerned with the problems of the day, the church calls for reconcilation with God and with one another.

A Brief Statement of Faith-Presbyterian Church(U.S.A.) A confessional document adopted in 1991 by the Presbyterian Church (USA) designed to reflect the common faith of all Presbyterians.