Athanasian Creed
(Fifth Century A.D.)
- Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith:
- Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
- And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
- Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance [Essence].
- For there is one Person of the Father: another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost.
- But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal.
- Such as the Father is: such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost.
- The Father uncreate [uncreated]: the Son uncreate [uncreated]: and the Holy Ghost uncreate [uncreated].
- The Father incomprehensible [unlimited]: the Son incomprehensible [unlimited]: and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible [unlimited, or infinite].
- The Father eternal: the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal.
- And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
- As also there are not three uncreated: nor three incomprehensibles [infinites], but one uncreated: and one incomprehensible [infinite].
- So likewise the Father is Almighty: the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
- And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.
- So the Father is God: the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God.
- And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.
- So likewise the Father is Lord: the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord.
- And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
- For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord:
- So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion: to say, There be [are] three Gods, or three Lords.
- The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
- The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created: but begotten.
- The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten: but proceeding.
- So there is one Father, not three Fathers: one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
- And in this Trinity none is afore, or after another: none is greater, or less than another [there is nothing before, or after: nothing greater or less].
- But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal.
- So that in all things, as aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshiped.
- He therefore that will be saved, must [let him] thus think of the Trinity.
- Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly [faithfully] the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
- God, the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds: and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world.
- Perfect God: and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
- Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood.
- Who although he be [is] God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ.
- One: not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking [assumption] of the Manhood into God.
- One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]: but by unity of Person.
- For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and Man is one Christ;
- Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell [Hades, spirit-world]: rose again the third day from the dead.
- He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father God [God the Father] Almighty.
- From whence [thence] he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
- At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;
- And shall give account for their own works.
- And they have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
- This is the Catholic Faith: which except a man believe faithfully [truly and firmly], he can not be saved.
