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49-713: The Maasai Creed is a creed composed in 1960 by the Maasai people of East Africa in collaboration with missionaries from the Congregation of the Holy Ghost . An early publication of the Maasai Creed appears in Fr. Vincent J. Donovan, "Christianity Rediscovered", in which Donovan tells of his work among the Maasai through which they came to their own understandings of Christianity. We believe in

98-713: A basis for fellowship among churches of the same denomination. Many Christian denominations did not try to be too exhaustive in their confessions of faith and thus allow different opinions on some secondary topics. In addition, some churches are open to revising their confession of faith when necessary. Moreover, Baptist "confessions of faith" have often had a clause such as this from the First London Baptist Confession (Revised edition, 1646): Also we confess that we now know but in part and that are ignorant of many things which we desire to and seek to know: and if any shall do us that friendly part to show us from

147-558: A creed. This stance is often referred to as "non-creedalism". Anabaptism , with its origins in the 16th century Radical Reformation , spawned a number of sects and denominations that espouse "No creed, but the Bible/New Testament". This was a common reason for Anabaptist persecution from Catholic and Protestant believers. Anabaptist groups that exist today include the Amish , Hutterites , Mennonites , Schwarzenau Brethren ( Church of

196-468: A difference between the sign and thing signified of the sacraments, and thus the dependance of the efficacy of the sacraments upon God's faithfulness rather than the minister's ( ex opere operato ). Chapter 21 states that the body of Christ is in heaven, and therefore our worship must be directed towards heaven, although Christ is spiritually present in us, and thus condemns the Eucharistic adoration of

245-704: A favorable hold on the Swiss churches, who had found the First Confession too short and too Lutheran. However, 'the Basel clergy refused to sign the confession, stating that although they found no fault with it, they preferred to stand by their own Basel Confession of 1534.' Due to this near-universal approval in Reformed Switzerland, Frederick presented it to the Diet of Augsburg of 1566 as an authoritative document representing

294-415: A man by the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari, doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing that the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day he rose from

343-399: A sufficient testimony of being written in the book of life if we live in communion with Christ, and if in true faith He is ours and we are His.' The chapter references Philippians 2:13 , For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Chapter 11, besides confessing the hypostatic union of Christ's human and divine nature, accepts 'believingly and reverently

392-699: Is ʿaqīdah ( عقيدة ). The word creed is particularly used for a concise statement which is recited as part of liturgy . The term is anglicized from Latin credo "I believe", the incipit of the Latin texts of the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed . A creed is sometimes referred to as a symbol in a specialized meaning of that word (which was first introduced to Late Middle English in this sense), after Latin symbolum "creed" (as in Symbolum Apostolorum =

441-476: Is averse to formal creeds which of necessity limit and restrain thought" and asserted in his book Basic Judaism (1947) that "Judaism has never arrived at a creed." The 1976 Centenary Platform of the Central Conference of American Rabbis , an organization of Reform rabbis, agrees that "Judaism emphasizes action rather than creed as the primary expression of a religious life." Still, the opening lines of

490-718: Is canonized along with the King James Version of the Bible , the Book of Mormon , the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price , as a part of the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In Islamic theology, the term most closely corresponding to "creed" is ʿaqīdah ( عقيدة ). The first such creed was written as "a short answer to the pressing heresies of

539-518: Is the sign, regeneration and adoption the reality; in the Supper the bread and wine are signs, communion of the body and blood of the Lord is the spiritual reality'. Finally, Articles XXIV-XXVIII treat of public worship, ceremonies, marriage and schism. The Second Helvetic Confession (Latin: Confessio Helvetica posterior ) was written by Bullinger in 1562 and revised in 1564 as a private exercise. It came to

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588-458: The communication of properties , which is deduced from Scripture and employed by the universal ancient Church in explaining and reconciling passages apparently in contradiction.' Chapter 14 describes the Protestant doctrine of penitence . It is sufficient to confess our sins to God in private and in the public service; it is not necessary to confess to a priest, for this is nowhere commanded in

637-672: The Anabaptists who maintain that a Christian should not hold a civil office, that the magistrate has no right to punish any one by death , or to make war or to demand an oath.' The chapter further states that ' Wars are only justifiable in self-defence and after all efforts at peace have been exhausted.' The Second Helvetic Confession was adopted by the Reformed Church not only throughout Switzerland but in Scotland (1566), Hungary (1567), France (1571), and Poland (1578). Along with

686-599: The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed , the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed . Some Christian denominations do not use any of those creeds . The term creed is sometimes extended to comparable concepts in non-Christian theologies. The Islamic concept of ʿaqīdah (literally "bond, tie") is often rendered as "creed". The earliest known creed in Christianity , " Jesus is Lord ", originated in

735-653: The Roman Catholic mass , 'The Mass—whatever it may have been in ancient times—has been turned from a salutary institution into a vain show and surrounded with various abuses which justify its abolition.' Chapter 24 states that the Sabbath is 'observed in Christian freedom, not with Jewish superstition.' Liturgical feasts in honour of saints are rejected. Fasting and self-denial are encouraged and seen as spiritually profitable so long as they are prompted by humility and not by

784-519: The Swiss Reformed Churches , there was a quarrel about the Apostles' Creed in the mid-19th century. As a result, most cantonal reformed churches stopped prescribing any particular creed. In 2005, Bishop John Shelby Spong , retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, has written that dogmas and creeds were merely "a stage in our development" and "part of our religious childhood." In his book, Sins of

833-832: The Thirty-nine Articles , the Westminster Confession of Faith , the Scots Confession and the Heidelberg Catechism is one the most generally recognized confessions of the Reformed Church . According to Dezső Buzogány, 'the Confession had a vital part in [ Hungarian Reformed ] church life in the 17th and 18th centuries. While the Heidelberg Catechism played a major role in educating the congregation and

882-494: The Trinity , is often taken as a fundamental test of orthodoxy by many Christian denominations , and was historically purposed against Arianism . The Apostles' Creed, another early creed which concisely details the trinity, virgin birth, crucifixion, and resurrection, is most popular within western Christianity , and is widely used in Christian church services . In Islamic theology, the term most closely corresponding to "creed"

931-597: The original sin of Adam, and God's eternal plan of salvation for fallen man. Articles XI-XIV teach that we are saved by God's grace through Christ through faith alone . Articles XV-XX treat of the Church, its authority and the office of the ministry. Articles XXI-XXIII are distinctly Reformed in sacramentology , regarding baptism and the Lord's supper as 'holy symbols of high mysteries, not mere or empty signs, but significant signs accompanying spiritual realities; in Baptism, water

980-596: The " Apostles' Creed ", a shorter version of the traditional Nicene Creed), after Greek symbolon "token, watchword". Some longer statements of faith in the Protestant tradition are instead called "confessions of faith", or simply "confession" (as in e.g. Helvetic Confession ). Within Evangelical Protestantism , the terms "doctrinal statement" or "doctrinal basis" tend to be preferred. Doctrinal statements may include positions on lectionary and translations of

1029-612: The Bible , particularly in fundamentalist churches of the King James Only movement . The first confession of faith established within Christianity was the Nicene Creed by the Early Church in 325 . It was established to summarize the foundations of the Christian faith and to protect believers from false doctrines. Various Christian denominations from Protestantism and Evangelical Christianity have published confession of faith as

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1078-606: The Brethren ), River Brethren , Bruderhof , and the Apostolic Christian Church . The Religious Society of Friends , the group known as the Quakers , was founded in the 17th century and is similarly non-creedal. They believe that such formal structures, “be they written words, steeple-houses or a clerical hierarchy,” cannot take the place of communal relationships and a shared connection with God. Similar reservations about

1127-617: The Confession. The first draft was written in Latin and the Zurich delegates objected to its Lutheran phraseology. However, Leo Jud's German translation was accepted by all, and after Myconius and Grynaeus had modified the Latin form, both versions were agreed to and adopted on February 26, 1536. Bucer and Capito brought the Confession to Martin Luther as a symbol of Reformed-Lutheran unity, but he ultimately rejected it. The first five articles affirm

1176-918: The National Conference of the American Unitarian Association passed a resolution in 1894 that established the denomination as non-creedal. The Unitarians later merged with the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Instead of a creed, the UUA abides by a set of principles, such as “a free and responsible search for truth and meaning”. It cites diverse sources of inspiration, including Christianity, Judaism, Humanism , and Earth-centered traditions . Helvetic Confession The Helvetic Confessions are two documents expressing

1225-449: The Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura , viewing Holy Scripture as its own interpreter, containing all that is necessary to know for salvation (sufficiency) and supremely authoritative over all other human writings. Article VI treats of the Trinity of persons in one divine essence. Articles VII-X discuss God's creation of man in his image; the most noble of creatures, which fell into sin by

1274-626: The Scripture , Spong wrote that "Jesus seemed to understand that no one can finally fit the holy God into his or her creeds or doctrines. That is idolatry." Within the sects of the Latter Day Saint movement , the Articles of Faith are contained in a list which was composed by Joseph Smith as part of an 1842 letter which he sent to "Long" John Wentworth , editor of the Chicago Democrat . It

1323-573: The Scriptures; although we may seek counsel and comfort from a minister of the gospel in times of distress and trial (cf. Jas. v. 16). The keys of the kingdom of heaven, out of which the Papists forge swords, sceptres, and crowns, are given to all legitimate ministers of the Church in the preaching of the Gospel and the maintenance of discipline (Matt. xvi. 19; John xx. 23; Mark xvi. 15; 2 Cor. v. 18, 19). We condemn

1372-471: The Word of God that we see not, we shall have cause to be thankful to God and to them. Excommunication is a practice of the Bible to exclude members who do not respect the Church's confession of faith and do not want to repent. It is practiced by most Christian denominations and is intended to protect against the consequences of heretics' teachings and apostasy . Some Christian denominations do not profess

1421-463: The characteristically Reformed doctrine of divine providence , while allowing for secondary causes operating within God's sovereignty; 'we disapprove of the rash words of those who say that our efforts and endeavours are vain.' Chapters 7-9 teach that man consists of two substances: body and soul ( bipartite view ); the latter of which is said to be immortal, 'We condemn those who deny immortality, or affirm

1470-666: The children in matters of faith, the Second Helvetic Confession was significant in the formation and instruction of future clergymen.' The Hungarian Reformed Synod of Buda of 1791 formally rejected the Enlightenment and the Counter-Reformation , as well as the teachings of Christian Wolff , ordering schools to teach the Helvetic Confession as part of the official curriculum. The Second Helvetic Confession

1519-615: The common belief of Reformed churches, especially in Switzerland , whose primary author was the Swiss Reformed theologian Heinrich Bullinger . The First Helvetic Confession (1536) contributed to the confessional unity of the Protestant cantons of Switzerland against the Roman Catholic cantons, whereas the Second Helvetic Confession (1566) contributed to the confessional unity of Reformed churches across Europe , particularly due to

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1568-570: The deity of Christ and the Holy Ghost.' Chapter 4 expresses iconoclasm and condemns images of God or Christ. Chapter 5 rejects the invocation of saints , 'nevertheless we neither despise nor undervalue the saints, but honour them as the members of Christ and the friends of God who have gloriously overcome the flesh and the world; we love them as brethren and hold them up as examples of faith and virtue, desiring to dwell with them eternally in heaven and to rejoice with them in Christ.' Chapter 6 establishes

1617-665: The desire for merit. Chapter 27, in alignment with the regulative principle of worship , states that 'the more of human rites are accumulated in the Church, the more it is drawn away from Christian liberty and from Christ Himself, while the ignorant seek in ceremonies what they should seek in Christ through faith.' Chapter 30 confesses the legitimacy of the civil magistrate as God's appointed servant, 'to preserve peace and public order, to promote and protect religion and good morals [...] to punish offenders against society, such as thieves, murderers, oppressors, blasphemers, and incorrigible heretics (if they are really heretics). [...] We condemn

1666-433: The doctrine of Scripture as the sole infallible authority ( sola scriptura ), regarding it as its own interpreter, and subjecting all other human writings (traditional or Patristic) to the standard of the Bible. Chapter 3 confesses the Trinity of persons in the one divine essence and accepts the Apostles' Creed , condemning 'Jews and Mohammedans and all who blaspheme this holy and adorable Trinity,' and 'all heretics who deny

1715-571: The existence of the Holy Spirit and the Trinity . The Latin text described Mary as diva , indicating her rank as a person, who dedicated herself to God. In Chapter 9, the Jesus Christ is said to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born without the participation of any man. The Second Helvetic Confession accepted the 'Ever Virgin' notion from John Calvin , which spread throughout much of Europe with

1764-456: The grave. He ascended to the skies. He is lord. We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry about their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live by the rules of love and share the bread together, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen. Creed Many Christian denominations use three creeds:

1813-415: The international Reformed faith. According to W. A. Curtis, 'In theological ability and in doctrinal interest few Confessions can bear comparison with it [...] it would be difficult to conceive of a theological manifesto, or compendium of doctrine, more attractive in form and matter, more lucid, effective, and shrewd, more loyal to Scripture, or more instinct with common sense.' Chapters 1 and 2 treat of

1862-641: The lucrative Popish doctrines of penance and indulgences, and apply to them Peter's word to Simon Magus, Thy money perish with thee . Chapter 16 describes the nature of faith as no mere opinion or persuasion, but rather a free gift of God and the source of good works. Chapter 17 explicitly espouses the doctrine of the Church invisible , 'The Church may be called invisible , not that the men composing it are invisible, but because they are known only to God, while we are often mistaken in our judgment: those who separate from that true Church cannot live before God. [...] As there

1911-467: The notice of Elector Palatine Frederick III , who had it translated into German and published. The Confession was attractive to some Reformed leaders as a corrective to what they saw as the overly Lutheran statements of the Strasbourg Consensus . An attempt was made in early 1566 to have all the churches of Switzerland sign the Second Helvetic Confession as a common statement of faith. It gained

1960-447: The one High God of love who created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created man and wanted man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe in the world. We have known this God in darkness, and we now know God in the light. God promised in his book the Bible that he would save the world and all the nations and tribes. We believe that God made good on his promise by sending his son, Jesus Christ,

2009-767: The patronage it received from Frederick III, Elector Palatine , who had it translated into German. The First Helvetic Confession ( Latin : Confessio Helvetica prior ), known also as the Second Confession of Basel , was drawn up in Basel in 1536 by Heinrich Bullinger and Leo Jud of Zurich, Kaspar Megander of Bern , Oswald Myconius and Simon Grynaeus of Basel, Martin Bucer and Wolfgang Capito of Strasbourg , with other representatives from Schaffhausen , St Gall , Mühlhausen and Biel . Bucer and Capito in particular aimed to reconcile Reformed and Lutheran doctrine through

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2058-425: The prayer Shema Yisrael can be read as a creedal statement of strict monotheism : "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One" ( Hebrew : שמע ישראל אדני אלהינו אדני אחד ; transliterated Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad ). A notable statement of Jewish principles of faith was drawn up by Maimonides as his 13 Principles of Faith . Following a debate that lasted more than twenty years,

2107-642: The sleep of the soul, or teach that it is a part of God.' The creation of man by God as upright is detailed, along with the original sin and the total depravity for all of humanity which it entails. Only those who are regenerate are considered free from, 'being moved by the Spirit of God to do of themselves what they do', although the unregenerate remain wilful slaves to unrighteousness. Chapter 10 on predestination has been interpreted as 'moderate Calvinism' or Augustinianism, and emphasises Christians' assurance of predestination through communion with Christ, 'We shall have

2156-631: The time" is known as Al-Fiqh Al-Akbar and ascribed to Abū Ḥanīfa . Two well known creeds were the Fiqh Akbar II "representative" of the al-Ash'ari , and Fiqh Akbar III , "representative" of the Ash-Shafi'i . Iman ( Arabic : الإيمان ) in Islamic theology denotes a believer's religious faith. Its most simple definition is the belief in the six articles of faith , known as arkān al-īmān . Rabbi Milton Steinberg wrote that "By its nature Judaism

2205-410: The two sacraments as 'sacred rites instituted by God as signs and seals of His promises [cf. Romans 4:11 ] for the strengthening of our faith, and as pledges on our part of our consecration to Him.' Of the five 'Popish' innovations, confirmation and extreme unction are dismissed while repentance, ordination and marriage are said to be divine institutions rather than sacraments. The chapter makes

2254-822: The use of creeds can be found in the Restoration Movement and its descendants, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) , the Churches of Christ , and the Christian churches and churches of Christ . Restorationists profess "no creed but Christ". The Seventh-day Adventist Church also shares this sentiment. Jehovah's Witnesses contrast "memorizing or repeating creeds" with acting to "do what Jesus said". Several creeds originated in Christianity . Protestant denominations are usually associated with confessions of faith, which are similar to creeds but usually longer. In

2303-463: The writings of Paul the Apostle . One of the most significant and widely used Christian creeds is the Nicene Creed , first formulated in AD 325 at the First Council of Nicaea to affirm the deity of Christ and revised at the First Council of Constantinople in AD 381 to affirm the trinity as a whole. The creed was further affirmed in 431 by the Chalcedonian Definition, which clarified the doctrine of Christ. Affirmation of this creed, which describes

2352-432: Was also included in the United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. 's Book of Confessions, in 1967, and remains in the Book of Confessions adopted by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) . Mary is mentioned several times in the Second Helvetic Confession, which expounds Bullinger's mariology . Chapter 3 quotes the angel's message to the Virgin Mary, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee ( Luke 1:35 ), as an indication of

2401-426: Was no salvation out of the ark of Noah, so there is no certain salvation out of Christ, who exhibits Himself to the elect in the Church for their nourishment.' Chapter 18 espouses presbyterian polity in claiming that the offices of presbyter and bishop were one in the Apostolic Church. Ministers are expected to be learned although 'innocent simplicity may be more useful than haughty learning.' Chapter 19 defines

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