The Apostles’ Creed is one of the oldest and most widely used statements of Christian belief. Many churches still recite it in worship, but many wonder if it is actually biblical. While the creed itself is not a direct quote from Scripture, its teachings are largely rooted in the Bible.
The Apostles’ Creed was written to clearly summarize the core beliefs of the Christian faith. Each line reflects truths found throughout Scripture. For example, the opening statement, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,” is based on Genesis 1:1, which declares that God created everything. It also resembles passages like Matthew 6:9, where Jesus teaches believers to pray to “Our Father in heaven.”
The creed’s statements about Jesus Christ are especially biblical. It affirms that Jesus is God’s only Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. These truths are clearly taught in Matthew 1:18-23 and Luke 1:26-35. The creed also declares that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. These are historical facts recorded in all four Gospels. It goes on to proclaim His resurrection and ascension, which are central to the Christian faith and are taught in passages like 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 and Acts 1:9.
The Apostles’ Creed also speaks of the Holy Spirit, the church, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and eternal life. Each of these beliefs is supported by Scripture. For example, the work of the Holy Spirit is taught in John 14:16-17, forgiveness of sins is promised in 1 John 1:9, and eternal life is clearly described in John 3:16.
Two areas, however, have included some controversy among interpreters. First, the creed says Jesus “descended into hell” after His death. Not all interpreters agree upon this view, noting that Jesus told the thief on the cross that he would be with Jesus “today” in paradise, or heaven (Luke 23:43). Instead, a more accurate view is that Jesus descended into the “lower parts,” or the grave (Ephesians 4:9).
A second area is the mention of, “I believe… in the holy catholic church.” The Apostles’ Creed was written before the later development of the Roman Catholic Church and is generally understood as the holy universal church consisting of all true believers. In this sense, the creed is accurate.
In summary, the Apostles’ Creed does not replace the Bible, and it does not add new doctrine. Instead, it serves as a brief summary of essential biblical teachings. Christians should always test any creed or statement against Scripture, as Acts 17:11 encourages believers to do.
If you’d like to learn more about the Apostle’s Creed, be sure to download my free e-book “My Relationship with God (and 12 truths from the Apostles’ Creed) here.
