How are the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed similar to yet different from each other?

Answer 1

The only difference is that the Apostle's Creed is like a summary of the Nicene creed.

Among Anglican churches, the Apostle's Creed is considered the Baptismal Covenant-the person who is to be Baptised (or the person's proxy, i.e.Godparent)is charged to learn, know, and understand the Apostles' Creed. The Apostles' Creed tells Who God is, Who Jesus is and what He did, and of the belief in the Holy Spirit.The Nicene Creed was the outcome of the conference of Nicea in 324, where the bishops of the churches throughout the world came together to solidify the true faith and erradicate heresies that had crept into the church.The Nicene Creed is the belief statement of the major religious denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church, the Lutheran Church, the Methodist Church, and the Presbyterian Church.

Catholic AnswerThe Apostles' Creed is an ancient baptismal formula that catechumens had to learn and recite before being baptized. Tradition ascribes the creed to the Apostles themselves, there are twelve articles. The Nicene Creed came out of the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D., it was an expanded version of the Nicene Creed which came out of the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. It is a statement of belief in the Christian Church which has been used at Mass since the fourth century.

The Apostles' Creed is considered to be a faithful summary of the faith of the Apostles and the Nicene Creed is the profession of the faith, common to the churches of the East and the West, which came from the 1st two ecumenical councils (Nicaea and Constantinople: 325 a.d and 381 a.d) and all of the this information is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Peace be with you.

The Nicene Creed originated as a test of orthodoxy of bishops. It contains quite technical language that was difficult for most people to understand.

The Apostle's Creed was more easily understood. However, it can be seen to reproduce the structure of the Nicene Creed, while adding a few other items.

After the Nicene Creed was written, the "I believe" form (from the Latin word credo, "I believe") gradually replaced the old statements of belief, such as the baptismal questions previously used in Rome.

For an other aspect on this question, see, "Is the Nicene Creed based on the Apostles' Creed?"

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from

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

194

The Apostles' Creed is so called because it is rightly considered to be a faithful summary of the apostles' faith. It is the ancient baptismal symbol of the Church of Rome. Its great authority arises form this fact: it is "the Creed of the Roman Church, the See of Peter, the first of the apostles, to which he brought the common faith." (St. Ambrose, Expl symb. 7: J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina {Paris: 1841-1855} 17, 1196)

195

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creeddraws it great authority from the fact that it stems from the first two ecumenical Councils (in 325 and 381). It remains common to all the great Churches of both East and West to this day.

Answer 2

They are very similar. In fact, the Nicene creed is essentially a lengthened version of the Apostles' creed containing everything that the Apostles' creed has in it. There is only one exception where the Apostles' creed has new information: the Apostles' creed states that Jesus descended into the dead before rising in three days whereas the Nicene creed does not mention the descending of Jesus into the dead. Both creeds are used in Masses said around the world as an acceptable prayer that occurs after the Homily at the start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is up to the local Bishop's preference. In the United States, the Nicene creed is used most typically. The Apostles' creed is typically used when saying a Rosary.

Answer 3

They are very similar. In fact, the Nicene creed is essentially a lengthened version of the Apostles' creed containing everything that the Apostles' creed has in it. There is only one exception where the Apostles' creed has new information: the Apostles' creed states that Jesus descended into the dead before rising in three days whereas the Nicene creed does not mention the descending of Jesus into the dead. Both creeds are used in Masses said around the world as an acceptable prayer that occurs after the Homily at the start of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is up to the local Bishop's preference. In the United States, the Nicene creed is used most typically. The Apostles' creed is typically used when saying a Rosary.

Answer 4

the nicene creed was made in 325ce, and the apostles creed around 700ce. the nicene creed was edited in 451ce. the nicene creed was created by the church, while the apostes creed was created by the apostles themselves. the most important part is that the nicene creed is a prayer of communal celebration while the apostles creed is a prayer of personal celebration. they have many of the same or similar lines and most messages are the same. the nicene creed begins with we believe, and the apostles creed begins with i believe.

Answer 5

Protestants and Catholics claim the Apostles' Creed is older than the Nicene Creed. Eastern Orthodox churches claim the Nicene Creed is older and therefore more authentic. Which Creed is older? I don't know, you don't know, no one knows for sure. We do know that the wording of the Nicene Creed was set down by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D. And we know that Rufinus claims that the Apostles' Creed had been handed down by the apostles. This he stated in a commentary he wrote in 400 A.D. If Rufinus was right, then the Apostles' Creed is older. Yet, we also know that the Nicene Creed was written primarily to silence Arias and followers of his school of thought concerning the creation of Jesus. He believed that Jesus was a created being and not God. The Council of Nicea was called to define a matter of what was to be called heresy and what would be considered as orthodox.

The Nicene Creed (Original)

(I have numbered the lines for our convenience: Notice that part four is often omitted anymore; part four is the part that was written to silence Arias and his school.)

1. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

2. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

3. Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

4. And those that say, 'There was when he was not,' and 'Before he was begotten he was not,' and that, 'He came into being from what-is-not,' or those that allege, that the Son of God is 'of another substance or essence' or 'created' or 'changeable' or 'alterable,' these the Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes.

5. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

6. And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

(The lines are traditionally numbered one through twelve because it was believed that each of the Twelve disciples of Christ contributed one line.)

1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

11. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.

Differences:

1. The Apostles' Creed is simpler, attributed to the apostles (not proven), accepted by both Protestants and Catholics, and was not created to settle an issue of heresy.

2. The Nicene Creed is more formal, attributed to a council of bishops (fact), accepted by the Eastern Orthodox churches, and was created to settle an issue of heresy.