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13th century artist depiction of claimed origin of the “Apostles’ Creed”

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Protestant Mike Gendron had the following in his newsletter today:

December 1, 2015

Is the Apostles’ Creed a Test for True Conversion?

The answer to this important question is adapted from Dr. John MacArthur’s book Reckless Faith.

Creeds were never formulated to establish fundamental doctrines but rather to defend them. They are repudiations of false doctrines that condemned new error by affirming established truth. As time passed, new errors required new affirmations; thus church creeds and Christian confessions have become longer and more complex. Ancient statements of Christian doctrine, such as the Apostles’ Creed, tend to be far simpler and more narrow in their focus. The Apostles’ Creed is one of the earliest and simplest statements of faith in the history of creeds. It is not an exhaustive statement of faith, although it does summarize some of the major points of apostolic doctrine. It was a brief, rudimentary confession designed to distinguish Christianity from Judaism or pagan religions.

But in recent times there has been no shortage of evangelical leaders who seem determined to use the Apostles’ Creed not as a wall of defense for an exclusive faith, but as a generous gate for an inclusive religion. Perhaps the most popular and persuasive defender of this view was Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, and a highly respected leader within evangelicalism. Colson implied that the true non-negotiables of Christianity were all settled by the Apostles’ Creed. He suggested that all evangelicals should be willing to embrace, as brothers and sisters in Christ, everyone who gives assent to this ancient creed. The problem with this view is that the creed was not written for the purpose of establishing unity but to confront error.

The creed is by no means a complete statement of all the fundamental doctrines that are essential to genuine Christianity. For example, since there is no statement about the deity of Christ, a Jehovah’s Witness, who denies Christ’s deity, could give full assent to the Creed and still be lost. Arguing for the Apostles’ Creed as the arbiter of fundamental Christian doctrine has only added further confusion to an evangelical movement already suffering from perpetual erosion of doctrinal truth.

Mike’s Comment: One of the major attacks on the Christian faith today is the attack on the exclusivity of the Gospel. Many evangelical leaders are declaring that anyone who names the name of Christ or believes the Apostles’ Creed should be embraced as a brother or sister in Christ. This is a most grievous mistake that is destroying the sanctity of our Lord’s Church. As a devout Catholic for over 30 years, I repeated the Apostles” Creed every week and believed every doctrine it asserted. However, I remained unconverted and still trapped in religious deception. 

The falsely claimed “Apostles’ Creed” was not part of original Christianity, nor is the version that is commonly used now even the original form–and it also contains doctrinal errors (see also What Was the Original Apostles’ Creed? What is the Nicene Creed?).

Here is information related to some false legends about the origins of the creed:

Throughout the Middle Ages it was generally believed that the Apostles, on the day of Pentecost, while still under the direct inspiration of the Holy Ghost, composed our present Creed between them, each of the Apostles contributing one of the twelve articles. This legend dates back to the sixth century (see Pseudo-Augustine in Migne, P.L., XXXIX, 2189, and Pirminius, ibid., LXXXIX, 1034) (Thurston, Herbert. “Apostles’ Creed.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 21 Jul. 2011 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01629a.htm>)

The legend was that the creed took shape at the dictation of the Twelve Apostles, each of whom contributed a special article. Thus, Peter, it was alleged, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, commenced, “I believe in God the Father Almighty”; Andrew (or according to others, John) continued, “And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord”; James the elder went on, “Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,” etc. This legend is not older than the 5th or 6th centuries, and is absurd on the face of it. (Orr J. The Apostle’s Creed. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Vol. 1. Original by 1923. Kindle Version viewed 07/21/11)

So, no, the original apostles did not each make a statement that became the “Apostles’ Creed” that many declare today.

The version used today is also NOT the first known/suspected creed.  To learn more about the ‘creed,’ check out the article What Was the Original Apostles’ Creed? What is the Nicene Creed?

Because of ecumenical compromise, more and more Protestant and Eastern Orthodox leaders are turning for an improper ‘Babylonian’ relationship with Rome (see Revelation 17).  But this is something which the Bible warns against (cf. Revelation 18).

The so-called “Apostles’ Creed” contains doctrinal errors and was NOT given by the original apostles.  Those who use it ecumenically are unknowingly demonstrating some of the fallacies of the ecumenical movement.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Church History, Prophecy, Religious News.

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