The Athanasian Creed "Quicumque", on the Most Holy Trinity
The Athanasian Creed
"Quicumque" on the Most Holy Trinity
Understanding Christianity's Most Detailed Statement on God's Nature
The Athanasian Creed represents one of Christianity's most comprehensive attempts to explain the mystery of the Trinity and the nature of Christ. While less familiar than the Apostles' or Nicene Creeds, this ancient text provides the most detailed theological explanation of core Christian beliefs about God's nature that has shaped Christian understanding for over 1,500 years.
🏛️ Historical Background and Authorship
The authorship of this creed remains historically uncertain. Traditionally attributed to St. Athanasius, the great defender of Trinitarian orthodoxy, modern scholarship suggests it was likely composed by a Western theologian influenced by Athanasian theology, possibly a direct disciple. The creed demonstrates Western theological methodology—more philosophical and systematic in structure—while maintaining Eastern Trinitarian insights.
The Church has adopted this creed for liturgical use, particularly in the Liturgy of the Hours for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity (the Sunday after Pentecost). It's also known as the "Credo Quicumque" from its opening Latin words meaning "Creed" and "Whoever."
📜 The Creed's Purpose and Context
This creed emerged during a period when the Church needed precise language to distinguish orthodox Christian belief from various theological errors that were confusing the faithful. It addresses two crucial areas:
- The Trinity: How God can be both one and three
- The Incarnation: How Christ can be both God and man
The creed's detailed explanations helped Christians understand these mysteries more clearly and provided a standard for orthodox teaching.
The Credo Quicumque
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 Substance.
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 incomprehensible; the Son incomprehensible; and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
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 incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated; but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.
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 afore, or after other; 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; must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe rightly 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 of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Substance 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 be God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ.
One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by taking of the Manhood into God;
One altogether; not by confusion of Substance; 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.
The Trinity Explained
🎯 Trinitarian Distinctions
The creed addresses common misunderstandings about the Trinity:
- Against Tritheism: The creed repeatedly emphasizes that while there are three persons, there is only one God. Each person is fully God, but they are not three separate gods.
- Against Modalism: The creed insists there are truly three distinct persons—the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, etc.
- Against Arianism: The creed teaches that all three persons are equally divine, eternal, and omnipotent.
The Incarnation Explained
🎯 Christ's Dual Nature
The second part addresses how Christ can be both God and man:
- Two Complete Natures: Christ has a complete divine nature (equal to the Father) and a complete human nature (rational soul and human body).
- One Person: Despite having two natures, Christ is one person, not two beings somehow joined together.
- Unity Without Confusion: His divine and human natures remain distinct—his humanity doesn't become divine, and his divinity doesn't become human. They are united in his one person.
🌍 Contemporary Significance
- Doctrinal Clarity: In an age of theological confusion, the Athanasian Creed provides precise language for understanding core Christian beliefs. It helps distinguish orthodox Christianity from various theological errors that still appear today.
- Ecumenical Importance: This creed is accepted by Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches. It represents shared Christian heritage and fundamental beliefs that unite Christians across denominational lines.
- Liturgical Significance: The Church uses this creed liturgically on Trinity Sunday, emphasizing that understanding God's nature is central to Christian worship and life.
- Practical Faith: While highly theological, the creed addresses practical questions: Who do we worship? What kind of salvation has Christ accomplished? How do we understand God's nature?
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the language so repetitive?
The repetitive structure serves a teaching purpose—it systematically addresses every possible misunderstanding about the Trinity and Incarnation.
Is this creed necessary for salvation?
The creed reflects the historical Christian understanding that certain core beliefs are essential to the faith. Different Christian traditions interpret this emphasis with varying degrees of strictness.
How does this relate to Scripture?
While the specific philosophical language isn't biblical, the creed attempts to systematize what Scripture teaches about God's nature, particularly passages about the Trinity and Christ's divine-human nature.
Why don't all Christians use this creed?
Some Christian traditions prefer simpler statements of faith or emphasize Scripture alone. However, the theological content is generally accepted across traditional Christianity.
📚 Deepening Understanding
- Trinitarian Doctrine: The creed provides the most systematic explanation of Trinitarian belief in Christian literature. Its careful distinctions help believers understand how God can be simultaneously one and three.
- Christological Precision: The explanation of Christ's two natures in one person (the "Hypostatic Union") became the standard Christian understanding and helped resolve centuries of theological debate.
⚔️ Defense Against Heresy
The creed specifically counters several theological errors:
- Unitarianism: Denying the Trinity
- Modalistic Monarchianism: Believing God simply appears in three modes
- Partialism: Believing the persons are parts of God rather than each being fully God
- Nestorianism: Believing Christ is two separate persons
- Monophysitism: Believing Christ has only one nature
🙏 Embracing the Divine
The Athanasian Creed acknowledges that we're dealing with divine mystery beyond complete human comprehension. Its purpose isn't to explain away the mystery but to provide faithful language for approaching it.
The Trinity remains a mystery—we can't fully understand how God is simultaneously one and three. Similarly, the Incarnation remains mysterious—we can't completely grasp how Christ is simultaneously God and man. The creed gives us faithful ways to speak about these mysteries without falling into error.
💡 Key Takeaways
The Athanasian Creed represents "faith seeking understanding"—the Christian conviction that while God ultimately exceeds human comprehension, we can grow in faithful understanding of divine revelation.
For contemporary Christians, this ancient text offers:
- Doctrinal grounding in essential Christian beliefs
- Liturgical richness in worship and prayer
- Intellectual framework for understanding God's nature
- Historical connection to centuries of Christian faith
- Ecumenical bond with Christians across traditions
While challenging in its theological precision, the Athanasian Creed serves as a valuable resource for deepening Christian understanding of the God who is Trinity and the Christ who is both God and man—central mysteries of the Christian faith that continue to shape how believers worship, pray, and live.
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