“Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’” — Matthew 16:16 (BSB)
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” — 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (BSB)
“Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” — 2 Timothy 1:13 (BSB)
“Beloved, although I wanted to write to you about our common salvation, I felt it necessary to write and urge you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” — Jude 1:3 (BSB)
Anglicans historically hold to three ecumenical creeds: the Apostles’ Creed, used in daily worship and baptismal rites; the Nicene Creed, confessed weekly at Holy Communion; and the Athanasian Creed, which clearly articulates Trinitarian and Christological orthodoxy. The Thirty-Nine Articles (Article VIII) affirm: “The three Creeds… ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.”
Canon Dr. John Stott, a widely respected evangelical Anglican, once wrote: “The creeds are not Scripture, but they are faithful to Scripture. They summarize what God has revealed and what the Church must always proclaim.” Creeds not only teach, they also protect. They shield the Church from error by clearly setting forth the truths we must affirm—especially concerning the person and work of Christ.
The Rev. Dr. Ashley Null notes, “The creeds connect us to the Church of all ages. They are not inventions of theology professors, but the distilled wisdom of the people of God, guided by the Holy Spirit.” When we recite the Nicene Creed together in the liturgy, we join our voices with countless saints throughout history, confessing the same unchanging Gospel. This unity of belief builds up the Body of Christ and defends the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).
Finally, the creeds are not just doctrinal tools—they are devotional guides. They shape our hearts and minds, teaching us not only what to believe, but whom to trust. As Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali has said, “To confess the creed is to rehearse the drama of salvation and to take our place within it.” In a world of spiritual confusion, the creeds continue to bear witness to the truth that sets us free.
Irenaeus testifies to the early Church’s universal confession of faith, the forerunner of formal creeds.
Tertullian (c. 155–220 AD) referred to early creeds as a “rule of faith”: “This rule has come down from Christ by means of His apostles… to believe in one God, the Creator… in the resurrection of the flesh, and the life everlasting.” — Prescription Against Heretics, 13
Tertullian shows how early Christians codified core teachings for defense against heresy.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) taught: “This summary of faith was not composed at human whim, but from the whole of Scripture, and it is necessary that you memorize it line by line.” — Catechetical Lectures, 5.12
Cyril emphasized the creeds as faithful summaries of biblical teaching, essential for catechesis.
St. Athanasius (c. 296–373 AD) contended: “Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith… this is the faith which, except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved.” — Athanasian Creed (Quicunque Vult)
Athanasius insists on the importance of clear and orthodox belief as a condition of salvation.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “In the creed you have what to believe, in the Lord’s Prayer what to ask, and in the Ten Commandments what to do.” — Sermon 58.13
Augustine saw the creeds as foundational for Christian instruction and spiritual formation.
An Anglican Catechism (Expanded) offers over 350+ Scripture-based answers to the core truths of the Christian faith. Each entry includes biblical texts, theological insight, and reflections from historic and contemporary Anglican voices. Rooted in the classical tradition, it is designed for teaching, discipleship, and spiritual formation.
An Ancient Worship Movement invites readers into the rich, historic worship of the early Church rediscovered through the Anglican tradition. This book calls believers into a deeper, Spirit-filled encounter with Christ through timeless practices.
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St. Thomas Church is a Church planting movement in ancient tradition.
