Athanasian Creed
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 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.
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