Appendix C - Creeds of the
Early Church
1st -5th Centuries AD
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
(DATE UNKNOWN)
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; the third day He
rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at 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 Spirit, the Holy Catholic
Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection
of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
THE DER-BALIZEH PAPYRUS
(C. LATE 2nd CENTURY AD)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, and in His only-begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, and in the Holy Spirit, and in the resurrection of the flesh, and in
the Holy Catholic Church.
THE CREED OF ST. IRENAEUS OF LYONS
(Against Heresies 1, 10, 1)
(C. 180 AD)
For the Church, although dispersed throughout the whole world even to
the ends of the earth, has received from the Apostles and from their
disciples the faith in one God, Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven
and earth and sea and all that is in them; and in one Jesus Christ, the Son
of God who became flesh for our salvation; and in the Holy Spirit, who
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