# The Athanasian Creed

*[1]* Whoever desires to be saved should above all hold to the catholic<sup>1</sup> faith. *[2]* Anyone who does not keep it whole and unbroken will doubtless perish eternally.

*[3]* Now this is the catholic faith: that we worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity, *[4]* neither confounding their persons nor dividing the essence. *[5]* For the person of the Father is a distinct person, the person of the Son is another, and that of the Holy Spirit still another. *[6]* But the divinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. *[7]* Such as the Father is, such is the Son and such is the Holy Spirit. *[8]* The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, the Holy Spirit is uncreated. *[9]* The Father is immeasurable, the Son is immeasurable, the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.
*[10]* The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, the Holy Spirit is eternal. *[11]* And yet there are not three eternal beings; there is but one eternal being. *[12]* So too there are not three uncreated or immeasurable beings; there is but one uncreated and immeasurable being. *[13]* Similarly, the Father is almighty, the Son is almighty, the Holy Spirit is almighty. *[14]* Yet there are not three almighty beings; there is but one almighty being. *[15]* Thus, the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. *[16]* Yet there are not three gods; there is but one God. *[17]* Thus, the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord. *[18]* Yet there are not three lords; there is but one Lord. *[19]* Just as Christian truth compels us to confess each person individually as both God and Lord, *[20]* so catholic religion forbids us to say that there are three gods or lords. *[21]* The Father was neither made nor created nor begotten from anyone. *[22]* The Son was neither made nor created; he was begotten from the Father alone. *[23]* The Holy Spirit was neither made nor created nor begotten; he proceeds from the Father and the Son. *[24]* Accordingly, there is one Father, not three fathers; there is one Son, not three sons; there is one Holy Spirit, not three holy spirits. *[25]* None in this Trinity is before or after, none is greater or smaller; *[26]* in their entirety the three persons are coeternal and coequal with each other. *[27]* So in everything, as was said earlier, the unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in unity, is to be worshipped. *[28]* Anyone then who desires to be saved should think thus about the Trinity.

*[29]* But it is necessary for eternal salvation that one also believe in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ faithfully. *[30]* Now this is the true faith: that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is both God and man, equally. *[31]* He is God from the essence of the Father, begotten before time; and he is man from the essence of his mother, born in time; *[32]* completely God, completely man, with a rational soul and human flesh; *[33]* equal to the Father as regards divinity, less than the Father as regards humanity. *[34]* Although he is God and man, yet Christ is not two, but one. *[35]* He is one, however, not by his divinity being turned into flesh, but by God’s taking humanity to himself. *[36]* He is one, certainly not by the blending of his essence, but by the unity of his person. *[37]* For just as one man is both rational soul and flesh, so too the one Christ is both God and man. *[38]* He suffered for our salvation; he descended to hell;<sup>2</sup> he arose from the dead on the third day; *[39]* he ascended to heaven; he is seated at the Father’s right hand; *[40]* from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. *[41]* At his coming all people will arise bodily *[42]* and give an accounting of their own deeds. *[43]* Those who have done good will enter eternal life, and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire.

*[44]* This is the catholic faith: that one cannot be saved without believing it firmly and faithfully.

<sup>1</sup> "Catholic" means universal; that is, there is one church across all times, places, and peoples
(Belgic Confession, art. 27; Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 54).

<sup>2</sup> See Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 44; Canons of Dort, 2.4.