§ 141. Variations of the Apostles’ Creed.

We present two tables which show the gradual growth of the Apostles’ Creed, and its relation to the Ante-Nicene rules of faith and the Nicene Creed in its final form.⁹⁶⁴⁹⁶⁴    The second table is transferred from the author’s Creeds of Christendom, vol. II. 40 and 41 (by permission of the publishers, Messrs. Harpers). In the same work will be found other comparative illustrative and chronological tables of the oldest symbols. See vol. I. 21 and 28 sq.; and vol. II. 54, 55.64

II. COMPARATIVE TABLE OF THE APOSTLES’ CREED,

Showing The Different Stages Of Its Growth To Its Present Form. The Additions Are Shown In Brackets.

Formula Marcelli Ancryani
About a.d. 340

Formula Roma
From the 3rd or 4th Century

Formula Aquileiensis
From Rufinus (400)

Formula Recepta
Since the 6th or 7th Century
(Later additions in brackets)

The Received Text

Πιστεύω εἰς θεὸν παντακράτορα

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem.Credo in Deo Patre omnipotente,
[invisibili et impassibili],

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem,
[Creatorem coeli et terrae],

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
[Maker of heaven and earth].

Καὶ εἰς Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν μονογενῆ, τὸν κύριον ἡμῶν,

Et in Christum Jesum, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum;Et in Christo Jesu, unico filio ejus, Domino nostro;

Et in Jesum Christum, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum;

And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord;

τὸν γεννηθέντα ἐκ Πνεύματος ἁγίου καὶ Μαρίας τῆ ς παρθένου,

qui natus est de Spiritu Sancto et Maria Virgine;qui natus est de Spiritu Sancto ex Maria Virgine;

qui [conceptus] est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine;

who was [conceived] by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;

τὸν ἐπὶ Ποντίου Πιλάτου σταυρωθέντα καὶ ταφέντα

cruicifixus est sub Pontio Pilato, et sepultus; cruicifixus sub Pontio Pilato, et sepultus;[passus] sub Pontio Pilato, cruicifixus, [mortuus], et seupultus;[suffered] under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, [dead], and buried.

[descendit ad inferna];

[descendit ad inferna];

[He descended into Hades];

καὶ τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ ἀναστάντα ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν,

tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;

the third day He rose from the dead;

ἀναβάντα εἰς τοὺς οὐρανοὺς

ascendit in cŒlus;ascendit in cŒlus;ascendit in coelos;

He ascended into heaven;

καὶ καθήμενον ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ πατρὸς,

sedet ad dexteran Patris;sedet ad dexteram Patris;

sedet ad dexteram Patris [omnipotentis];

and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father [Almighty];

ὅθεν εῤ́χεται κρίνειν ζῶντας καὶ νεκρούς

inde venturus judicare vivos et mortuos.

inde venturus est judicare vivos et mortuos.

inde venturus judicare vivos et mortuos.

from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Καὶ εἰς Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα

Et in Spiritum Sanctum;

Et in Spiritu Sancto.

[Credo] in Spiritum Sanctum;

[I believe] in the Holy Ghost;

ἁγίαν ἐκκλησίαν

Sanctam Ecclesiam;

Sanctam Ecclesiam;

Sanctam Ecclesiam [catholicam], [Sanctorum communionem];

the holy [catholic] church, [the communion of saints];

ἀφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν

remissionem peccatorum;

remissionem peccatorum;

remissionem peccatorum;

the forgiveness of sins;

σαρκὸς ἀνάστασιν ̓́ζωὴν αἰώνιον̓̀

carnis resurrectionem.

[hujus] carnis resurrectionem.

carnis resurrectionem; [vitam aeternam. Amen].

the resurrection of the body; [and the life everlasting Amen].

Comparative Table of the Ante-Nicent Rules of Faith,
as related to the apostles’ creed and the nicene creed.

The Apostles' Creed. (Rome.) About a.d. 340.
Later additions are in italics.

Irenaeus (Gaul.) a.d. 170.

Tertullian (North Africa.) a.d. 200.

Cyprian (Carthage) a.d. 250.

Novatian (Rome.) a.d. 250.

Origen (Alexandria.) a.d. 230.

I believe

We believe

We believe

I believe

We believe

[We believe in]

1. In God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

1. ... in one God the Father Almighty, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is;

1 ... in one God, the Creator of the world, who produced all out of nothing ...

1. in God the Father;

1. in God the Father and Almighty Lord;

1. One God, who created and framed every thing…
Who in the last days sent

2. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;

2. And in one Christ Jesus, the Son of God [our Lord];

2. And in the Word, his Son, Jesus Christ;

2. in his Son Christ;

2. in the son of God, Christ Jesus, our Lord God;

2. Our Lord, Jesus Christ…born of the Father before all creation…

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost born of the Virgin Mary;

3. Who became flesh [of the Virgin] for our salvation;

3. Who through the Spirit and power of God the Father descended into the Virgin Mary, was made flesh in her womb, and born of her;

3. born of the Virgin and the Holy Ghost…

4. suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

4. and his suffering [under Pontius Pilate];

4. Was fixed on the cross [under Pontius Pilate], was dead and buried;

4. suffered in truth, died;

5. He, descended into Hades; the third day he rose from the dead;

5. and his rising from the dead;

5. rose again the third day;

5. rose from the dead;

6. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

6. and his bodily assumption into heaven;

6. was taken into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father;

6. was taken up…

7. from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

7. and his coming from heaven in the glory of the Father to comprehend all things under one head, ... and to execute righteous judgment over all.

7. He will come to judge the quick and the dead.

8. And I believe in the Holy Ghost;

8. And in the Holy Ghost ...

8. And in the Holy Ghost the Paraclete, the Sanctifier, sent by Christ from the Father.

8. in the Holy Ghost;

8. in the Holy Ghost (promised of old to the Church, and granted in the appointed and fitting time).

8. the Holy Ghost, united in honor and dignity with the Father and the Son.

9. the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints;

10. the forgiveness of sins;

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body;

11. And that Christ shall come from heaven to raise all flesh … and to adjudge the impious and unjust ... to eternal fire,

11. And that Christ will, after the restoration of the flesh, receive his saints

12. and the life everlasting.⁹⁶⁵⁹⁶⁵    The Roman Creed, according to Rufinus (390), ends with carnis resurrctionem; but the Greek version of the Roman Creed by Marcellus (341) with ζωὴν αἰώνιον65

12. and to give to the just and holy immortality and eternal glory.

12. into the enjoyment of eternal life and the promises of heaven, and judge the wicked with eternal fire.

12. and eternal life through the holy Church

The Apostles' Creed.

Gregory (Neo-Caesarean.) a.d. 270.

Lucian (Antioch.) a.d. 300.

Eusebius (Caesarea, Pal.) a.d. 325.

Cyril (Jerusalem.) a.d. 350.

Nicæno-Constantinoplitan Creed. a.d. 325 and 381.

I believe

[We believe in]

[We believe in]

We believe

We believe

We [I] believe

1. in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth;

1. One God the Father;

1. one God the Father Almighty;

1. in one God the Father Almighty;

1. in one God the Father Almighty;

in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible;

2. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord;

2. One Lord…God of God, the image and likeness of the Godhead,…the Wisdom and Power which produces all creation, the true Son of the true Father…

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ his Son, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Wisdom, Life, Light …

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ his Son, begotten of the Father before all ages, God of God, Light of Light, Life of Life, the only-begotten Son, the first-born of every creature, begotten of God the Father before all ages; by whom all things were made;

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages, veru God, by whom all things were made;

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; [God of God], Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father (ὁμοούσιον τῷ Πατρί), by whom all things were made;

3. who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary;

3. who was born of a Virgin, according to the Scriptures, and became man…

3. who for our salvation was made flesh and lived among men;

3. who was made flesh and became man;

3. who, for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and [of, ex] the Virgin Mary, and was made man;

4. suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;

4. who suffered for us;

4. who suffered;

4. was crucified and was buried;

4. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried;

5. He descended into Hades; the third day be rose from the dead;

5. and rose for us on the third day;

5. and rose on the third day

5. rose on the third day;

5. and on the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures;

6. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father, Almighty;

6. And ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father;

6. and ascended to the Father;

6. and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father

6. and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;

7. from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

7. and again is coming with glory and power , to judge the quick and the dead;

7. and will come again with glory, to judge the quick and the dead.

7. and will come again in glory to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end;

7. and he shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end;

8. And I believe in the Holy Ghost.

8. One Holy Ghost,…the minister of sancitifcation, in whom is revealed God the Father, who is over all things and through all things, and God the Son who is through all things — a perfect Trinity, not divided nor differing in glory, eternity, and sovereignty…

8. And in the Holy Ghost, given for consolation and sanctification and perfection to those who believe …

8. We believe also in the Holy Ghost

8. and in one Holy Ghost, the Advocate, who spake in the Prophets.

8. And [I believe] in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son, Filioque], who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spake by the Prophets

9. the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints;

9. and in one baptism of repentance for the remission on sins;

9. And [I believe] in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;

10. the forgiveness of sins;

10. and in one holy Catholic Church;

10. we [I] acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;

11. the resurrection of the body;

11. and in the resurrection of the flesh;

11. and we [I] look for the resurrection of the dead;

12. and the life everlasting.

12. and in life everlasting (ζωὴν αἰώνιον).

12. and the life of the world to come (ζωὴν τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος).

The words in italics in the last column are additions of the second Œcumenical Council (381); words in brackets are Western changes.