The Apostle's Creed - Part 1

 

The Apostle's Creed - Part 1

The Apostle's Creed contains twelve sections that compose the complete Creed. However, these twelve sections can be organized into three primary groups, each dealing with one Person of the Most Holy Trinity. Part one pertains to God the Father, part two to God the Son, and the third part pertains to God the Holy Ghost. Each of the three parts will have their own page to cover the material contained within.

Part One - God the Father

"I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth."

In truth, this is the smallest part of the Apostle's Creed—the largest portion pertains to God the Son, namely Jesus Christ. However, the brevity of this section should not lead you to think that it is less important than the other two parts of the Creed. It comes first for a very good reason.

This portion of the Creed is crucial because it signifies and clarifies four important truths for us as believers:

• Monotheism - Belief in a single God
• The Person of the Father - The first Person of the Most Holy Trinity
• The Omnipotence of the Father - God's all-powerful nature
• God's Eternal Presence in Creation - His ongoing sustaining of all that exists

While monotheism today may not seem as revolutionary as it once was, in ancient times it certainly went against the prevailing religious practices of the surrounding cultures. When the ancient Hebrew people distinguished themselves from neighboring civilizations, they did so in the most drastic way imaginable at that time: they declared that there is only one God. This monotheistic foundation continues in all Abrahamic religions today—religions that are either a continuation of or based upon the religion and covenant established between God and Abraham.

"The Father"

This phrase makes a clear distinction regarding the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity. This statement identifies that there is a principal Person of the Most Holy Trinity—God the Father. We will examine the Trinity in greater depth in both the Second Module "An in-depth look at the Creeds" and in the Third Module "Philosophical Explanation of Dogma."

"Almighty"

This declares one of the Divine Attributes that we have come to know about God through Divine Revelation—that is, God revealing Himself through Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and Public Revelation. The term "Almighty" affirms God's omnipotence, His unlimited power over all creation.

"Creator of Heaven and Earth"

This creative act is attributed to God the Father, even though the Trinity acts as one through their shared Divine Will. We attribute the act of creation to God the Father just as we attribute the Divine Attribute of Omnipotence to Him, Wisdom to God the Son, and Goodness to God the Holy Ghost—though all three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity possess all Divine Attributes equally and eternally.

With God the Father Almighty having created Heaven and Earth, His interaction with creation does not cease there. He created not only the supernatural realm—Angels and souls—but also the natural world—the planet, nature, and the laws of science such as gravity. The manner in which He acts, which we will explore more deeply in Module Three, is from eternity because He Himself is Eternal. Therefore, when He created Heaven and Earth, He continues to sustain Heaven and Earth through His eternal presence and power.