Apostles Creed
The Symbolum Apostolorum was developed between the second and ninth
centuries. It is the most popular creed used in worship by Western Christians.
Its central doctrines are those of the Trinity and God the Creator. Legend has
it that the Apostles wrote this creed on the tenth day after Christ's ascension
into heaven. That is not the case, though the name stuck. However, each of the
doctrines found in the creed can be traced to statements current in the
apostolic period. The earliest written version of the creed is perhaps the
Interrogatory Creed of Hippolytus (ca. A.D. 215). The
current form is first found in the writings of Caesarius
of Arles (d 542).
The creed was apparently used as a summary
of Christian doctrine for baptismal candidates in the churches of
Latin Text (ca. A.D. 700)
Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem; Creatorem coeli et terrae. Et in Jesum
Christum, Filium ejus unicum, Dominum nostrum; qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria virgine; passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus; descendit ad inferna; tertia die resurrexit a mortuis; ascendit ad coelos; sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis; inde venturus (est) judicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum; sanctam ecclesiam catholicam; sanctorum communionem;
remissionem peccatorum; carnis resurrectionem; vitam oeternam. Amen.
Traditional English
Version
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the
dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the
quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost;
the holy catholic Church;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Modern English Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 again 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.