Why Is the Nicene Creed Significant in Christianity?
There are many divisions within Christianity, from the variations between Protestant denominations to the significant differences between Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants. Despite this range of differences, the core of the Christian faith remains the same, and we see this in the popularity of traditional creeds, such as the Nicene Creed. Christians from all walks of life recite the Nicene Creed, and we can see the Scriptural support behind this creed in our King James Bible. Keep reading to learn why the Nicene Creed is significant in Christianity, its history, and what Scripture inspired it.
Nicene Creed Significance
The Nicene Creed is significant to Christianity because it clearly states the core of the Christian faith. It summarizes the belief in God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and their distinct roles within the Trinity as the Creator, Savior, and Giver. At the end of the creed, reciters mention the importance of the worldwide Church, baptism, resurrection, and the impending New Heavens and New Earth.
Summarizing these key beliefs serves as a reminder for believing Christians, so we never forget the essential parts of our faith and what sets us apart from other world religions. It also unifies the Church since almost all sects of Christianity, from Catholicism to many Protestant denominations, agree with and recite the Nicene Creed regularly.
Nicene Creed History
Christians have recited the Nicene Creed since its creation by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The council created the creed to combat Arianism, which claimed that Jesus was only a Heaven-sent servant of God and not God Himself. While the Apostles Creed, already a popular recitation at the time, calls Jesus the Son of God and summarizes His saving work, the council wanted to further expand on Him and His divinity with the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed also expands on the role of the Holy Ghost, explaining that He proceeds from the Father and Son.
Inspirational Scripture
While the history behind this popular creed is significant, we should know that the KJV Bible inspires it. The KJV Bible is the closest to the original languages of the Bible and the original Greek of the Nicene Creed, so we trust it as the source of our theological understanding.
Most of the Scripture that inspired the Nicene Creed comes from the New Testament, such as Ephesians 4:6, helping us understand God as “Father Almighty” and the coming New Heavens and New Earth from 1 Corinthians 15:12 and 21-22. It is a Biblical creed that we can understand through Scripture.
The Nicene Creed is significant in Christianity because it unifies Christians around the basics of our faith. This creed also has a fascinating history and excellent Scriptural support. If you want to easily read that Scriptural support, along with the rest of Scripture, consider a large print KJV Bible.