The Athanasian Creed

(Fifth Century A.D.)

  1. Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith:
  2. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
  3. And the Catholic Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;
  4. Neither confounding the Persons: nor dividing the Substance [Essence].
  5. For there is one Person of the Father: another of the Son: and another of the Holy Ghost.
  6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one: the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal.
  7. Such as the Father is: such is the Son: and such is the Holy Ghost.
  8. The Father uncreate [uncreated]: the Son uncreate [uncreated]: and the Holy Ghost uncreate [uncreated].
  9. The Father incomprehensible [unlimited]: the Son incomprehensible [unlimited]: and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible [unlimited, or infinite].
  10. The Father eternal: the Son eternal: and the Holy Ghost eternal.
  11. And yet they are not three eternals: but one eternal.
  12. As also there are not three uncreated: nor three incomprehensibles [infinites], but one uncreated: and one incomprehensible [infinite].
  13. So likewise the Father is Almighty: the Son Almighty: and the Holy Ghost Almighty.
  14. And yet they are not three Almighties: but one Almighty.
  15. So the Father is God: the Son is God: and the Holy Ghost is God.
  16. And yet they are not three Gods: but one God.
  17. So likewise the Father is Lord: the Son Lord: and the Holy Ghost Lord.
  18. And yet not three Lords: but one Lord.
  19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity: to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord:
  20. So are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion: to say, There be [are] three Gods, or three Lords.
  21. The Father is made of none: neither created, nor begotten.
  22. The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created: but begotten.
  23. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten: but proceeding.
  24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers: one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
  25. 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].
  26. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal.
  27. So that in all things, as aforesaid: the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshiped.
  28. He therefore that will be saved, must [let him] thus think of the Trinity.
  29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation: that he also believe rightly [faithfully] the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  30. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess: that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
  31. God, the Substance [Essence] of the Father; begotten before the worlds: and Man, of the Substance [Essence] of his Mother, born in the world.
  32. Perfect God: and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
  33. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead: and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood.
  34. Who although he be [is] God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ.
  35. One: not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh: but by taking [assumption] of the Manhood into God.
  36. One altogether; not by confusion of Substance [Essence]: but by unity of Person.
  37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man: so God and Man is one Christ;
  38. Who suffered for our salvation: descended into hell [Hades, spirit-world]: rose again the third day from the dead.
  39. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the Father God [God the Father] Almighty.
  40. From whence [thence] he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
  41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;
  42. And shall give account for their own works.
  43. And they have done good shall go into life everlasting: and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
  44. This is the Catholic Faith: which except a man believe faithfully [truly and firmly], he can not be saved.