Commentary on the Apostles' Creed

Contents

Translation in progress.

Reading pages: 1–12 · 13–30 · 31–44 · 45–48

1. 1Rufinus, at the request of Bishop Laurentius, undertakes to explain the Creed simply for beginners.
2. 2The Creed was composed by the apostles before they separated, as a token (symbolum) of their common preaching, to be kept in the heart and not in writing.
3. 3Rufinus notes the Roman and Aquileian forms of the Creed and explains why it begins with 'I believe'.
4. 4On 'God the Father': God is beyond understanding, and the Father's begetting of the Son is to be believed, not pried into, as even created analogies show.
5. 5'One God' means one without any other; 'almighty' applies also to the Son; 'invisible and impassible' were added at Aquileia against the Patripassians.
6. 6The names Jesus (Saviour) and Christ (Anointed) are explained, and why he is called the only Son and our Lord.
7. 7The Son's generation is not fleshly; analogies are imperfect, but he is truly and uniquely Son and Lord, unlike sons by adoption.
8. 9Christ's birth from the Virgin by the Holy Spirit, foretold by Isaiah and figured in Ezekiel's shut gate, shows the Trinity working together.
9. 11Rufinus answers pagan mockery of the virgin birth by pointing to the phoenix, bees, and the pagans' own myths of strange births.
10. 12Christ was not defiled by being born of a woman, any more than a rescuer by mud or the sun by shining into a pit; what God made is not foul by nature.
11. 13The Word was united to the flesh through a human soul, as light is received by the eye; nothing shameful or weak attaches to this birth.
12. 14The cross, with its height, breadth and depth, was chosen as the form of Christ's death because it was a triumph over the powers of heaven, earth and hell.
13. 15The cross stripped the rebellious powers who ruled mankind of their bond over sinners and gave believers an example of obedience unto death.
14. 16The incarnation was like bait on a hook: the devil seized Christ's flesh in death and was caught by the hidden Godhead.
15. 17Christ went down into death not as its captive but as a king entering a prison to set the prisoners free.
16. 18The Creed names Pontius Pilate to fix the time; 'he descended to hell', missing in the Roman and Eastern creeds, means the same as 'buried'; Scripture testimonies follow.
17. 19The cross is a stumbling block to Jews, folly to Gentiles, and the power of God to believers, as the prophets foretold the faith passing to the Gentiles.
18. 20The prophets foretold Judas's betrayal with a kiss, the thirty pieces of silver, and Christ's being bound.
19. 21The prophets foretold that the Lord would be judged, scourged, spat upon, and sent bound as a 'gift' between Pilate and Herod.
20. 22The prophets foretold the crowd's cry, Christ's silence, the crown of thorns which undid the curse on the ground, and his hanging on the wood.
21. 23The water and blood from Christ's side signify cleansing and condemnation, the two baptisms of water and martyrdom, and the new Eve from the second Adam's side.
22. 24The darkness at the crucifixion was foretold by Amos and Zechariah, whose 'cold' even matches Peter warming himself at the fire.
23. 25The dividing of Christ's garments and the scarlet robe of mockery were foretold in Ps 22 and Isa 63.
24. 26The gall and vinegar given to Christ were foretold in the Psalms, by Moses, and in the Song of Songs.
25. 27Christ's death and burial behind a great stone were foretold in the Psalms, Lamentations, Isaiah and Genesis.
26. 28Christ's descent into hell is shown from the Psalms, from John the Baptist's question, and from 1 Peter's preaching to the spirits in prison.
27. 29Christ's resurrection reveals the glory hidden in his weakness; he rose victorious, led out the dead, and set our flesh at God's right hand.
28. 30Testimonies to the resurrection from the Psalms, Hosea's 'third day', Isaiah, and the Song of Songs on the women who sought him.
29. 31The ascension is to be understood worthily of God: the Word made flesh entered heaven as victor, bringing back the captives and giving the Spirit.
30. 32Christ's sitting at the Father's right hand belongs to the flesh he assumed, as the Psalms, the Gospels, Peter and Paul show.
31. 33Christ's coming to judge should make us watchful daily; 'the living and the dead' means souls and bodies.
32. 34The prophets foretold Christ's coming to judge and his endless kingdom, and warned of Antichrist, who will imitate his coming.
33. 35With the Holy Spirit the Trinity is complete; the three persons are distinguished by their relations, and the same 'in' is used for each to show one Godhead.
34. 36The Creed says 'in' only of the three persons, not of the church, forgiveness, and resurrection; the Spirit inspired the Scriptures, whose books are now listed.
35. 37Rufinus lists the books of the Old and New Testament canon as handed down by the fathers.
36. 38Rufinus distinguishes 'ecclesiastical' books, read in church but not used to establish doctrine, from apocryphal books not to be read at all.
37. 39The one holy church keeps the whole faith; Rufinus warns against the 'councils of vanity' of Marcion, Ebion, Mani, Paul of Samosata, Arius and others.
38. 40Forgiveness of sins rests on God's promise, and it is reasonable, since guilt lies in the will, which God can change from evil to good.
39. 41The resurrection of the flesh, denied by Valentinus and the Manichees, is taught by Isaiah, Daniel, and Christ, and brings the pure into the angels' fellowship.
40. 42Against unbelievers, the resurrection of scattered flesh is shown by Paul's seed and by the craftsman who finds hidden metals in the earth.
41. 43Each body will be restored as its own, like seeds sown together; hence Aquileia's Creed says 'this flesh', and Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians and 1 Thessalonians confirms it.
42. 44Ezekiel and Job also foretold the resurrection, Job by contrasting the tree that sprouts again with man.
43. 45'This flesh' is confirmed by Job and by Paul's 'this corruptible': the same body will rise, changed in quality, for the righteous to glory and for sinners to punishment.
44. 46The glorified bodies of the righteous will be caught up to meet Christ, conformed to his glorious body, shining like the sun, spiritual bodies fit for the angels' company.
45. 47As earth became a natural body, the natural body can become spiritual; sinners too will rise incorruptible, but to lasting shame.
46. 48Rufinus sums up the Creed's teaching and closes with a prayer to keep the faith and rise to eternal life.