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Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed, also known as Pseudo-Athanasian Creed or Quicunque Vult (also Quicumque Vult), is a Christian statement of belief focused on Trinitarian doctrine and Christology.
- Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith.
- Which faith unless 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 Essence.
- 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 uncreated;
the Son uncreated;
and the Holy Ghost uncreated.
- The Father unlimited;
the Son unlimited;
and the Holy Ghost unlimited.
- The Father eternal;
the Son eternal;
and the Holy Ghost eternal.
- And yet they are not three eternals;
but one eternal.
- As also there are not three uncreated;
nor three infinites, but one uncreated;
and one infinite.
- 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 are 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 another;
none is greater, or less than another.
- But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid;
the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped.
- He therefore that will be saved, let him 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
[Essence]
of the Father;
begotten before the worlds;
and Man, of the Substance
[Essence]
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 is God and Man;
yet he is not two, but one Christ.
- One;
not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh;
but by assumption of the Manhood into God.
- One altogether;
not by confusion of Substance
[Essence];
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 God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
- At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies;
And shall give account for 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 truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.
See also
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