The Athanasian Creed

On the Church’s liturgical calendar, June 15 is Holy Trinity Sunday.  On this day, we will use the Athanasian Creed in worship.  Like the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the Athanasian Creed confesses the catholic–or Christian–faith.  The word “catholic” means that it is the true Christian Church's confession at all times and in all places. However, at least partly due to its length, we tend not to use this Creed as often as the other two. It is, nonetheless, a true confession of the Holy Trinity and the incarnation of Christ.

“Now this is the catholic faith: We worship one God in trinity, and the Trinity in unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the divine being.”

In the Athanasian Creed, we confess that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are uncreated, infinite, eternal, almighty, God, Lord, coeternal, and coequal; one God, yet three persons.  That is the Holy Trinity. 

Put simply, none of the three persons ever acts or speaks independently of the others.  

Jesus, Son of God, says, “All that the Father has is mine” (John 16:15). The Father is the one who gives His promise to His Son, who became flesh.  In fact, the promise He gives is the Son Himself: ”the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).  And, Jesus says the Holy Spirit, “will take what is mine and declare it to you” (John 16:15).

So the Father speaks, the Word He speaks is His Son, and the Holy Spirit opens your ears to hear this Word for you.  By giving you the promise of Christ for the forgiveness of your sin, God makes you a child of the Father.  He first gave you this promise in your Baptism, which He sealed and guaranteed by putting His own name on it: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

“This is the catholic faith.”

Happy Holy Trinity Sunday,

Pastor Raleigh