The
Athanasian Creed
Written
against the Arians.
Whosoever
will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic
faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt
he shall perish everlastingly.
And
the catholic faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in
Unity; Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is
one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But
the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the
glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and
such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy
Ghost uncreate. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the
Holy Ghost incomprehensible. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy
Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal. As there
are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one
Incomprehensible. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the
Holy Ghost almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. So
the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are
not three Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and
the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are
compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be
God and Lord, So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, There be
three Gods, or three Lords.
The
Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father
alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and
of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding. So there is
one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not
three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before or after other; none is
greater or less than another; But the whole three Persons are coeternal
together, and coequal: so that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in
Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped. He, therefore, that will be
saved must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore,
it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the
incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right faith is, that we believe
and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God of
the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the
substance of His mother, born in the world; Perfect God and perfect Man, of a
reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father as touching His
Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood; Who, although He be
God and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ: One, not by conversion of the
Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God; One altogether; not by
confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and
flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation;
descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead; He ascended into
heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from whence He
shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise
again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they
that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done
evil, into everlasting fire.
This
is the catholic faith; which except a man believe faithfully and firmly, he
cannot be saved.