The Great Creeds
The Creeds The Catholicity of the Anglican Church
In the early centuries the word “catholic” was used for those whose faith was defined by the Ecumenical Creeds. This word derives from the Greek words kath’ holike,| “according to the whole” and was explained as “that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all”. [1]
Historically, those who deviated from these “catholic” beliefs were deemed “heretics” (the original word hairesis meant “self-chosen opinion”) and “schismatics” (the original word schizein meant “to split”). The words “heresy” and “schismatic” are old fashioned and rather confrontational yet, they express the reality that the “catholic” faith is a defined faith that calls for convinced commitment from church members. Accordingly, the creeds are instruments of godly unity. Those who deviate from them do so wilfully and idiosyncratically, based on their better judgements and in consequence they divide the body of Christ.
Evangelism, Baptism and the Creeds
It is evident from the New Testament that evangelism, instruction and baptism were a continuum. Before he departed Jesus gave this instruction.
Make disciples from all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you… Matt 28:19-20
Jesus calls for three connected activities: first, “going, make disciples”; second, baptizing them in the triune name; and, third instructing them in Jesus’ teachings.2 Just as Jesus “made disciples” and “instructed” them, so they in turn were to do, with his promise, “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age”.
By early second century we see the emergence of doctrinal summaries that (a) referred to the three persons within the Godhead, and (b) expanded the section about the Son with items taken from the gospels.
For example, early in the second century Ignatius affirmed the deity, humanity and Messiahship of Jesus in these words.
For our God Jesus Christ was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan of the seed of David and of the Holy Spirit…
By the mid-second century the triadic “shape” with expanded second Christological section was confirmed, e.g., by Justin Martyr.
…we worship the Creator of this universe…and that with good reason honour him who taught us these things and was born for this purpose, Jesus Christ,who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea in the time of Tiberius Caesar, having heard that he is the Son of the true God and holding him in second rank, and the prophetic Spirit… Apology 1.13
The Apostles’ and Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creeds of later years had their beginnings in these early creed-like statements that were based on the embryonic trinitarianism of the New Testament and its explicit Christology (e.g., 1 Cor 8:6; 1 Pet 1:2; Rev 1:4-7).
For more, see:
http://paulbarnett.info/2011/06/the-great-creeds/
In the early centuries the word “catholic” was used for those whose faith was defined by the Ecumenical Creeds. This word derives from the Greek words kath’ holike,| “according to the whole” and was explained as “that which has been believed everywhere, always and by all”. [1]
Historically, those who deviated from these “catholic” beliefs were deemed “heretics” (the original word hairesis meant “self-chosen opinion”) and “schismatics” (the original word schizein meant “to split”). The words “heresy” and “schismatic” are old fashioned and rather confrontational yet, they express the reality that the “catholic” faith is a defined faith that calls for convinced commitment from church members. Accordingly, the creeds are instruments of godly unity. Those who deviate from them do so wilfully and idiosyncratically, based on their better judgements and in consequence they divide the body of Christ.
Evangelism, Baptism and the Creeds
It is evident from the New Testament that evangelism, instruction and baptism were a continuum. Before he departed Jesus gave this instruction.
Make disciples from all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you… Matt 28:19-20
Jesus calls for three connected activities: first, “going, make disciples”; second, baptizing them in the triune name; and, third instructing them in Jesus’ teachings.2 Just as Jesus “made disciples” and “instructed” them, so they in turn were to do, with his promise, “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age”.
By early second century we see the emergence of doctrinal summaries that (a) referred to the three persons within the Godhead, and (b) expanded the section about the Son with items taken from the gospels.
For example, early in the second century Ignatius affirmed the deity, humanity and Messiahship of Jesus in these words.
For our God Jesus Christ was conceived by Mary according to God’s plan of the seed of David and of the Holy Spirit…
By the mid-second century the triadic “shape” with expanded second Christological section was confirmed, e.g., by Justin Martyr.
…we worship the Creator of this universe…and that with good reason honour him who taught us these things and was born for this purpose, Jesus Christ,who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea in the time of Tiberius Caesar, having heard that he is the Son of the true God and holding him in second rank, and the prophetic Spirit… Apology 1.13
The Apostles’ and Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creeds of later years had their beginnings in these early creed-like statements that were based on the embryonic trinitarianism of the New Testament and its explicit Christology (e.g., 1 Cor 8:6; 1 Pet 1:2; Rev 1:4-7).
For more, see:
http://paulbarnett.info/2011/06/the-great-creeds/
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