Confessions Of Faith

Confessions Of Faith Ancient Creeds The Apostles' Creed - This creed arose out of the early Western church and should be thought of as a summary of the Apostles' teaching rather than directly attributable to them. Originally it was essentially a baptismal confession and had several variations. The form in use today dates from the eighth century. The Nicene Creed - This creed was first formulated at the First Ecumenical Council, held at Nicea in 325, as a response to the Arian heresy, which denied the divinity of Christ. It was revised at the Second Ecumenical Council, held at Constantinople in 381 as a response to the Macedonian or Pneumatomachian heresy, which denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.

The Western church later made a few additional changes which were not accepted in the Eastern church. It states the doctrine of the Trinity. The Athanasian Creed - This creed is attributed to Athanasius, the fourth century bishop of Alexandria who was the strongest defender at that time of the doctrines of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ. However, It seems to have come from the Western church and to have been an anonymous work with its present form dating no earlier than the ninth century. It defines the doctrine of the Trinity in very concise language.

The Definition of Chalcedon - This creed was adopted at the Fourth Ecumenical Council, held at Chalcedon in 451, as a response to certain heretical views concerning the nature of Christ. It established the orthodox view that Christ has two natures (human and divine) that are unified in one person. Creeds of the Reformation The Belgic Confession of Faith - This Reformed confession was prepared in 1561 by Guy de Bres (who was later martyred) and others, and then slightly revised by Francis Junius of Bourges. First written in French, it was soon translated into Dutch and Latin. The Synod of Dort (1618-1619) made a revision but did not change the doctrine.

It covers the spectrum of theological topics. The Heidelberg Catechism - This catechism was written by Zacharias Ursinus and Caspar Olevianus in Heidelberg, Germany and published in 1563 in German. It was endorsed by the Synod of Dort and embraced by Reformed Churches in many different countries. The Canons of Dort - These were produced by the Synod of Dort (1618-1619) as a response to Arminianism. The Five Points of Calvinism produced in the Canons were in response to five points presented by the Arminians.

The Synod was an international body and so made the Canons of Dort the most international of the Reformed documents. The Westminster Confession of Faith - This confession was produced by the Westminster Assembly of Divines, which had been created by the English Parliament in 1643 to settle various theological and ecclesiastical issues in the British Isles. It was presented to Parliament in 1646 and with scripture proofs in 1647. It was essentially an English Puritan document that didn't take hold in England but was embraced enthusiastically in Presbyterian Scotland and so later the English-speaking Presbyterian world as well. It covers the spectrum of theological topics and is similar to the Belgic Confession.

The Larger Catechism - This was also a product of the Westminster Assembly and was presented to Parliament in 1647 and with scripture proofs in 1648. It was designed to be used in the pulpit. It has strong similarities to the Heidelberg Catechism. The Shorter Catechism - This was also a product of the Westminster Assembly and was presented to Parliament in 1647 and with scripture proofs in 1648. It was designed for the instruction of children.

Less detailed than the Larger Catechism, it has strong similarities to the Heidelberg Catechism.