Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

The Apostles knew that there is a “pattern of sound teaching” and they spent time writing to the churches in order to confront unsound teaching. The church must know what she believes (2 Timothy 2:2; 3:14; Romans 6:17; 2 Thess. 2:15).

Our ancient creeds and confessions of faith serve the purpose of being statements of belief written by early believers in response to heretics, false teachers, and error. They help summarize the gospel in a way that is easy to remember. These creeds and confessions serve 3 purposes:

1. Confessions of Faith serve to unite believers with their historical roots (2 Timothy 1:13-14; 2:2; 3:14).

2. Confessions serve to clarify the distinct beliefs of various groups of Christians.

3. Confessions serve as a standard and starting point for disciple making (Matt. 28:18-20).

CREEDS

Apostles Creed – The Creed is historic, written around 300 years after the time of Christ. It is easy to memorize and many churches quote it in their liturgy, and it is widely and easily available for people to find and read.

Nicene Creed – Written in 325 AD (revised 381), to address the heresy of Arianism, which teaches that Jesus is not divine, but a created being.

Athanasian Creed – Written in response to the heresy of Sabellianism, or modalism, a serious misunderstanding of the nature of God as it denies the doctrine of the Trinity.

Chalcedonian Creed – Adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 in Asia Minor as a response to certain heretical views concerning the person and natures of Christ.

CONFESSIONS

While many in Reformed circles today stress the differences between our churches, the overwhelming level of agreement within these confessions is a testament to the history and legacy we share in our understanding of the gospel and the Scriptures.

First London Baptist Confession, 1646 – “A confession of faith of seven congregations or churches of Christ in London, which are commonly, but unjustly, called Anabaptists; published for the vindication of the truth and information of the ignorant; likewise for the taking off those aspersions which are frequently, both in pulpit and print, unjustly cast upon them. Printed in London, Anno 1646.”

Second London Baptist Confession, 1689 – Spurgeon wrote of the 1689 Baptist Confession, “This ancient document is the most excellent epitome of the things most surely believed among us. It is not issued as an authoritative rule or code of faith, whereby you may be fettered, but as a means of edification in righteousness. It is an excellent, though not inspired, expression of the teaching of those Holy Scriptures by which all confessions are to be measured. We hold to the humbling truths of God’s sovereign grace in the salvation of lost sinners. Salvation is through Christ alone and by faith alone.”

Westminster Confession – The Confession of Faith derives its name from the Westminster Assembly, which met in London’s historic Westminster Abbey from 1643-1652. The Assembly was an ecclesiastical council appointed by “the Long Parliament” of 1640–48 to recommend reforms in the doctrine and practice of the Church of England.

Belgic Confession – Written in 1561 this confession owes its origin to the need for a clear and comprehensive statement of Reformed faith during the time of the Spanish inquisition.

Canons of Dort – The Judgment Concerning Divine Predestination Which the Synod Declares to Be in Agreement with the Word of God and Accepted Till Now in the Reformed Churches, Set Forth in Several Articles.

CATECHISMS

Catechisms were used since the time of the Reformation to impart biblical truth to children and new believers. Disciples of Jesus Christ are taught by rote memorization the things they (should) believe, with the understanding that belief affects behavior. What we believe influences how we live.

Heidelberg Catechism – Published in 1562, was divided into 52 sections so that one could be memorized and recited each Sunday of the year.

Westminster Shorter Catechism and Westminster Larger Catechism – Published in 1648, served to instruct younger (Shorter) and older (Larger) believers in their times of family worship during the week.

The Baptist Catechism – William Collins and Benjamin Keach produced The Baptist Catechism in 1677, revised in 1693, borrowing from the Westminster and adding Baptist distinctives. This catechism was used in Baptist churches in England and America for well over 200 years.

The Puritan Catechism – Charles Spurgeon blended The Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Baptist Catechism into The Puritan Catechism and introduced that to his church in 1855.