The Apostles’ Creed is a short summary of Christian belief that churches have recited for well over a thousand years. Presbyterians, including the PCEA, say it in worship because it states the heart of the faith in three parts: God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit with the church and the life to come. The creed does not replace the Bible; it sums up what the Bible teaches.
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
— Mark 9:24
Many of us can recite the Apostles’ Creed faster than we can explain it. Here is what each line actually says, and why a church that puts Scripture first still stands to say these words together.
Why Say a Creed at All?
The word creed comes from the Latin credo, “I believe.” The Apostles’ Creed was not written by the twelve apostles; it grew from the short statements of faith that early Christians declared at baptism, and it summarises what the apostles taught. Presbyterians hold that Scripture alone is the final authority, and so we value the creed because it agrees with Scripture, not because it stands above it. The PCEA affirms both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed.
Part 1: God the Father
“I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” Notice that it starts with believe in, which is trust, not only agreement. God is Father, so we are not alone; Almighty, so he is not weak; Maker, so the world is not an accident (Genesis 1:1).
Part 2: Jesus Christ the Son
- “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” Jesus is the unique Son of God, and our Lord, which means he has the final say in our lives (John 1:14).
- “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” Fully God and fully human (Luke 1:35).
- “Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.” A real man died a real death at a real time in history. Pilate’s name is there to anchor the faith in history.
- “He descended to the dead.” (Older English versions say “into hell.”) Christians have understood this line in different ways. Many in the Reformed tradition read it as Christ entering fully into death, and into the suffering of our judgement, on our behalf. Whatever the reading, it says that Christ’s death was no pretence.
- “On the third day he rose again.” The resurrection is the centre of the faith (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
- “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” Christ reigns now, and he intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25).
- “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” History is going somewhere, and justice will be done.
Part 3: The Holy Spirit, the Church and the Life to Come
- “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” The third person of the Trinity, who gives life, faith and power. Read Pentecost Is Not a Birthday Party.
- “The holy catholic church.” Catholic here means universal, the whole worldwide body of Christ, not the Roman Catholic Church. A PCEA member and a believer in another country are part of the same church.
- “The communion of saints.” All believers are united in Christ, across place and time. It does not mean praying to the departed; Presbyterians pray to God alone, through Christ.
- “The forgiveness of sins.” Through Christ, not through our own effort (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- “The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.” The Christian hope is not a ghostly afterlife but a renewed life in a renewed creation (Revelation 21:1-4).
Praying the Creed Personally
Try saying it slowly this week, one line a day, and ask: what does this mean for my Monday? “Maker of heaven and earth” calms anxiety about provision. “Forgiveness of sins” lifts shame. “Life everlasting” changes how we grieve (see What to Say to Someone Grieving).
Frequently Asked Questions
Did the apostles write the Apostles’ Creed?
No. It developed from early baptismal statements of faith and takes its name because it summarises apostolic teaching.
Is the Apostles’ Creed in the Bible?
Not word for word, but every line rests on Scripture.
What does ‘catholic’ mean in the creed?
It means universal. It refers to the whole Christian church throughout the world.
Do Presbyterians have to recite the creed?
It is not a rule for salvation. Reciting it together is a way of affirming shared faith in worship.
Final Thoughts
The creed is not a test to pass but a shared confession to lean on, especially on days when your own faith feels small. Say it with the whole church, and let it carry you.
Checked against the PCEA doctrine standard (Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, Westminster Confession; Scripture alone as authority; prayer to God alone). Scripture: Genesis 1; Luke 1; John 1; Mark 9; 1 Corinthians 15; Hebrews 7; Ephesians 2; Revelation 21. Compiled by the Editorial Desk.