05/08/2026
APOSTLES’ CREED VS NICENE CREED:
WHY ARE THERE TWO CREEDS IN THE CHURCH?
“Many Catholics pray both Creeds, but few truly know why the Church has two.”
Some Catholics notice that during the Rosary we usually pray the Apostles’ Creed, while at Sunday Mass we recite the Nicene Creed. This often raises a quiet question:
Why are there two Creeds in the Church?
Did one replace the other?
Is one more correct than the other?
The answer is beautiful and deeply historical.
The Catholic Church preserves both Creeds because both express the same Christian faith, though in different ways and for different purposes.
1. WHAT IS A CREED?
The word “Creed” comes from the Latin word Credo, meaning “I believe.”
A Creed is a public profession of faith; a summary of what Christians believe about God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, salvation, and eternal life.
From the earliest centuries, Christians used Creeds to:
• teach the faith,
• defend true doctrine,
• prepare converts for Baptism,
• and unite believers in one profession of faith.
The Creeds are not random prayers; they are foundational declarations of Christianity itself.
2. THE APOSTLES’ CREED
The Apostles’ Creed is the shorter and older form in structure.
It developed gradually from the early Baptismal professions of the Church and faithfully reflects the teachings handed down from the Apostles.
Although the Apostles themselves did not sit together and compose it word for word, the Creed contains Apostolic teaching and became widely used in the early Church, especially during Baptism.
The Apostles’ Creed is simple, direct, and deeply personal. It focuses on the essential truths of the Christian faith:
• belief in God the Father,
• belief in Jesus Christ,
• belief in the Holy Spirit,
• forgiveness of sins,
• resurrection,
• and eternal life.
Today, Catholics commonly pray the Apostles’ Creed during the Rosary and in certain devotional settings.
3. THE NICENE CREED
The Nicene Creed came later and was developed during a major crisis in the Church.
In the 4th century, false teachings began spreading about the identity of Jesus Christ. One major heresy, called Arianism, claimed that Jesus was not truly God in the fullest sense.
Because of this confusion, the Church gathered at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD and later at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD to defend and clarify the true faith.
The result was the Nicene Creed.
This Creed explains more clearly and more deeply the divinity of Christ. That is why it contains powerful expressions such as:
• “God from God, Light from Light,”
• “true God from true God,”
• and “consubstantial with the Father.”
These statements were written specifically to protect the truth that Jesus is fully and eternally God.
4. WHY THE CHURCH USES BOTH CREEDS
The Church does not see the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed as competitors.
Both express the same Catholic faith, but each serves a slightly different role.
The Apostles’ Creed is:
• shorter,
• simpler,
• strongly connected to Baptism,
• and commonly used in personal devotion.
The Nicene Creed is:
• longer,
• more doctrinally detailed,
• and primarily used during Sunday Mass because it publicly proclaims the fullness of the Church’s faith.
The Roman Missal permits both Creeds in certain liturgical contexts, though the Nicene Creed is normally used on Sundays and solemnities.
5. WHAT BOTH CREEDS TEACH US
Despite their differences in wording and length, both Creeds proclaim the same central truths:
• God is Creator,
• Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior,
• the Holy Spirit sanctifies the Church,
• sins are forgiven through Christ,
• and eternal life awaits believers.
Both Creeds unite Catholics across nations, cultures, and centuries in one shared profession of faith.
6. THE CREED IS MORE THAN WORDS
One danger is that Catholics can become so familiar with the Creed that they recite it mechanically without reflection.
Yet every line carries spiritual depth.
When we say:
“I believe in God,”
we declare trust in the Creator.
When we profess:
“He suffered under Pontius Pilate,”
we remember that Christ truly entered human suffering for our salvation.
When we proclaim:
“I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,”
we declare hope stronger than death itself.
The Creed is not merely memorized; it is meant to be believed, lived, and prayed.
7. THE TWO CREEDS SIDE BY SIDE
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.
THE NICENE CREED
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
IN SUMMARY: TWO CREEDS, ONE FAITH
The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed are both treasured by the Catholic Church because both faithfully express the Christian faith handed down from the Apostles.
The Apostles’ Creed reminds us of the simplicity and personal nature of faith.
The Nicene Creed reminds us of the Church’s duty to defend and clarify truth.
Together, they show that the Church does not only preserve prayer, but also preserves doctrine.
Today, reflect:
When I recite the Creed at Mass or during prayer, do I truly understand the faith I am professing?
“The Creed is not simply a text to repeat; it is a truth to live.”
If this reflection helped you understand the difference between the two Creeds, spread it and tell us:
Which Creed do you hear more often in your Catholic journey?
SOURCE:
Sacred Scripture (Matthew 28:19, Romans 10:9)
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 185–197)
Council of Nicaea (325 AD)
Council of Constantinople (381 AD)
Roman Missal
Be Prayerful. Be Inspired
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