1 - Thought from Me

When does Jesus’ story begin? Matthew and Luke tell us the story beginning with the events surrounding his birth, but also trace his genealogy back to the beginning of the human race. John goes back even further, telling us that the Word was with God in the beginning, and He tells that he was in the beginning with God, nothing that has been made was made without him.

This contrast between where the story starts is one way to understand the difference between the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. Both contain the basics of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension and return, but the Nicene Creed starts in eternity past. It tells us:

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
The only Son of God,
Eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.

For many contemporary evangelical churches, even reading the Apostles’ Creed in a service is a stretch. But churches ought to consider using the Nicene Creed as well as a statement of faith affirmed by all major segments of the worldwide church. This creed teaches us that Jesus was eternally begotten of the Father. There has never been a time when the second person of the Trinity has not existed. The Son and the Spirit are just as much God as the Father is.

2 - Quotes from Others

I.
“The Nicene Creed has remained for nearly seventeen centuries a secure foundation for the church’s theology, worship, and prayer.” Mark Noll (Source)

II.
“A dead creed is of no use; we must have our creed baptized with the Holy Ghost.” Charles Spurgeon (Source)

3 - Resources on the Nicene Creed

I.
Song: The God We Love (Nicene Creed) by Matt Redman & City Alight

II.
Book: The Nicene Creed: What You Need to Know about the Most Important Creed Ever Written by Kevin DeYoung

III. Video: The Nicene Line by Fred Sanders

p.s. Matt Boswell and Keith & Kristyn Getty have a forthcoming song on the Nicene Creed, expected 2026.