This section of the Creed explains the divine and human union in the person of Christ, affirming His real incarnation and suffering as the means of redemption. The Nicene Creed was a strong doctrinal response against heresies that denied these truths and clearly defended the divinity of Jesus. Finally, it emphasizes that the cross is the center of our faith and a symbol of surrender, humility, and redeeming love.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
      the Father almighty,
      maker of heaven and earth,
      of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
      the only Son of God,
      begotten from the Father before all ages,
           God from God,
           Light from Light,
           true God from true God,
      begotten, not made;
      of the same essence as the Father.
      Through him all things were made.
      For us and for our salvation
           he came down from heaven;
           he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary,
           and was made human.
           He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate;
           he suffered and was buried.
           The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures.
           He ascended to heaven
           and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
           He will come again with glory
           to judge the living and the dead.
           His kingdom will never end.

And we believe in the Holy Spirit,
      the Lord, the giver of life.
      He proceeds from the Father and the Son,
      and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.
      He spoke through the prophets.
      We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
      We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
      We look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
      and to life in the world to come. Amen.

The Divinity and Humanity of Christ

At the moment of conception, the divine nature of the Son was united to a human nature: this is called the hypostatic union.
Christ is fully God and fully man: not half and half.
This union is mystical, like the Trinity: it cannot be proven humanly, but it can be affirmed by faith.
The two natures are united without division, separation, mixture, or change.

The Nicene Creed: Formation, Declarations, and Defense of the Faith

The Apostles’ Creed was formulated between the 1st and 2nd centuries; the Church Fathers recited it as a symbol of faith.
In the 4th century, heresies such as Arianism arose, denying the divinity of Christ.
In response, the Council of Nicaea was convened, where the Nicene Creed was drafted, expanding and reinforcing the message of the Apostles’ Creed.

Key declarations of the Nicene Creed:

“Only Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages” → establishes that Christ is eternal, not a created being.
“God from God… Light from Light… True God from True God” → affirms His full divinity and equality with the Father.
“Begotten, not made” → He was not produced by God but eternally proceeds from the Father.
“Of the same nature as the Father” → shares the same essence (homoousios).
“Through whom all things were made” → the Father created everything through the Son.
“He became incarnate… and was made man” → underlines a real, not symbolic, incarnation.

Heresies that the Nicene Creed confronted:

Origenism: taught that even demons would be saved — refuted with Matthew 25:41.
Manichaeism: claimed that Christ did not have real flesh, only an appearance — refuted with Luke 24:39 (“touch me and see…”).

The Suffering of Christ

“Under Pontius Pilate He suffered” → Christ truly suffered as a sacrifice for our sins.
Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter: by His wounds we were healed.
Jesus is the mediator who unites God with humanity through His body and blood.

Christ Identifies with Our Pain

Christ suffered in body, mind, and spirit: He understands our suffering.
Hebrews 4:15: we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize.
His suffering was not in vain: it glorified the Father.

Christ Identifies with Our Pain

Galatians 6:14 and 2:20: Paul glories only in the cross.
The cross represents extreme humility and personal love.
Jesus chose to die in a painful way to redeem us.
Paul calls us to be crucified with Christ: to live for Him and die to the world.

The Apostle's Creed - Jesus Christ Pt. 2