Classic Christianity 103

When it comes to upholding the biblical doctrine of the Trinity in the face of spiritual opposition, few names deserve the honors which we accord to Athanasius of Alexandria (an Egyptian city which sits upon the Mediterranean Sea). This distinguished Church Father battled head-to-head against Arius himself, the raging heretic who denied the eternal deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Athanasius terminated false doctrine of this foul sort with extreme prejudice. His readiness to go to bat for the doctrine of God anytime, anywhere, against anyone, inspired the famous saying, Athanasius contra mundum, or Athanasius against the world.

Like it’s predecessor the Apostles’ Creed, the Athanasian Creed was not penned by the champion whose name it bears. But it preserves for the church the rich essence of the doctrine of the Trinity as the great saint held it with a clear conscience. Its basic premise is that one must believe in the triune God in order to be saved. This stands to reason, seeing that our Savior is no mere creature, but the God-Man. Therefore, to deny his deity is to deny him. And who can do that and yet be saved?

It is much lengthier than the Apostles’ and Nicene creeds, yet it commands our thoughtful perusal. Truly our triune God is wondrous in his being and works.

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith [The word “catholic” means “universal,” and it is in this sense employed by the Athanasian creed, thus signifying the universal church of all Trinitarian believers worldwide.]

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.

For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

And yet they are 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 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 Spirit 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 Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

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 worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly 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 of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance 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 is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

One altogether, not by confusion of substance, 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, rose again the third day from the dead;

He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;

From 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 of their own works.

And they that 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 he cannot be saved.