Apostles' Creed

Harnack considered creeds such as the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed superfluous to Christian practice. For him, the creeds represented theological systems (particularly those colored by ancient Greek philosophy) wholly irrelevant to living out a life of faith. Harnack’s book examines the Apostles’ Creed historically—its composition, how it entered into church practice, who used it, when people used it, etc. Harnack’s perspective and research has remained influential both in academic theology and in the practices of many Protestant churches.

Kathleen O’Bannon
CCEL Staff