“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…” — Matthew 28:19 (BSB)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.” — John 1:1–3 (BSB)
“…while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” — Titus 2:13 (BSB)
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:14 (BSB)
It is called “Nicene” because of its origin in the city of Nicaea (modern-day İznik, Turkey), where the Church gathered to clarify and confess what it had always believed. The Creed articulates the faith of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church and is used in Anglican worship every Sunday, particularly during the celebration of the Eucharist. John Stott called it “the most universally accepted summary of Christian doctrine in the world.” It reflects not new invention, but faithful preservation.
In Anglican theology, the Nicene Creed holds a foundational role. Article VIII of the Thirty-Nine Articles declares: “The Three Creeds, Nicene Creed, Athanasius’s Creed, and that which is commonly called the Apostles’ Creed, ought thoroughly to be received and believed: for they may be proved by most certain warrants of Holy Scripture.” The Book of Common Prayer affirms this creed at the heart of corporate worship, shaping the Church’s confession of the triune God and the saving work of Christ.
Bishop J.C. Ryle emphasized, “In an age of confusion, we must hold fast to creeds which clearly declare the deity of Christ and the unity of the Godhead. The Nicene Creed guards us from error and strengthens us in truth.” Similarly, Michael Ramsey, 100th Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote, “The Nicene Creed binds us to Christ as He truly is—eternal God and incarnate Lord. Without it, Christianity dissolves into sentiment or myth.” It remains a bulwark of orthodoxy, guarding the faith once delivered to the saints.
When we confess the Nicene Creed, we stand with the Church throughout the centuries. We proclaim our belief in the Father who creates, the Son who redeems, and the Spirit who sanctifies. We join in the unbroken song of the saints, boldly declaring that our faith is not our invention, but our inheritance. In times of confusion and compromise, the Nicene Creed anchors us in unchanging truth.
Athanasius was the chief champion of the Creed against Arian heresy.
St. Gregory of Nazianzus (c. 329–390 AD) said: “This faith we confess: one God, three Persons; one essence, three names. This is the Nicene faith, and it shall never be changed.” — Theological Orations, 5.9
Gregory helped shape the expanded Creed at Constantinople in 381.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313–386 AD) taught: “Guard the faith, O believer. Recite the creed daily. This is the faith of the Church universal, confirmed by councils and grounded in the Scriptures.” — Catechetical Lectures, 5.12
Cyril emphasized the Creed as a daily confession of the whole Church.
St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) wrote: “Hold fast the faith contained in the creed. Learn it, teach it, love it. It contains the Gospel in summary, and the mystery of the Trinity revealed.” — Sermon 212
Augustine viewed the Creed as the faithful summary of Scripture and Gospel truth.
St. Basil the Great (c. 330–379 AD) affirmed: “In confessing the Trinity, the Creed upholds the unity of our salvation and the harmony of divine love. Let every Christian learn and defend it.” — On the Holy Spirit, 9
Basil insisted that the Nicene faith defends not only doctrine, but salvation itself.
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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