From the early days of Christianity, believers crafted brief summaries of their faith, known as creeds, derived from the Latin “credo,” meaning “I believe and trust.” Two key creeds emerged in the early Church—the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed—which remain central to worship today, with the Apostles’ Creed linked to the teachings of Jesus’ twelve apostles and used in baptismal rites.

The Apostles’ Creed, developed as a concise statement for those preparing for baptism, encapsulates the Church’s core beliefs, reflecting the collective faith of Christians rather than personal convictions. Reciting it unites believers across time, traditions, and regions, connecting them to a global community of faith past and present.

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.