Legend has it that the Apostles wrote the "Apostles Creed." Well, this is simply a legend.

There
is some research that indicates that St. Ambrose of 4th century coined the term "Apostle's
Creed" to refer to the 12 articles of the Christian faith upon which the Apostles (who originally
numbered 12) preached and baptized.
However, we do not know who exactly wrote the Apostle's Creed. We also do not know when
exactly it was written, but we know that chunks of the Creed were being quoted as early as the
2nd century.
We also know that the early Christians required some form of declaration of faith prior to
baptism. Some of these declarations, or creeds, consisted of one sentence, e.g. "I acknowledge
Jesus" or "I choose to follow Jesus." Later on, the creeds developed to contain more and more
doctrines as these became clearer to the early Church theologians.
During the early Christians, we could not avoid controversies regarding many aspects of our
faith. You and I are clear now about many of our Catholic doctrines, e.g. that "Jesus is both
human and divine." But early theologians struggled with this concept and developed different
theories about the nature of Jesus.
One such person is Arius, who postulated that God is Father and at a certain moment, He begot
the Son, and therefore the Son was created and is subordinate to the Father. Jesus is not divine
or "less divine" than the Father. This heresy was known as Arianism.
To combat this heresy, the Council of Nicea was convened in 325 and the Nicene Creed was
developed. You will understand therefore why the Nicene Creed contains the words: We
believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God
from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the
Father.
Written by Chris Mallion, edited by Manny Blas II

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 from 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." CCC 194

The Niceno-Constantinopolitan or Nicene Creed draws its 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. CCC 195
In line with the celebration of the year of faith, let us review the profession of faith

2 versions: the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed

In the Holy Scriptures, we find God revealing himself to us. By His revelation, according to the
document of the Church Dei Verbum, the invisible God, from the fullness of His love, addresses
men and women as His friends, and moves among them in order to invite and receive them into
his own company. We respond to this invitation with FAITH: PANANALIG AT PAGTITIWALA.

Faith is God’s gift, but also a personal act, our personal adherence to God who reveals himself
to His creation.

The Church’s faith precedes, engenders, supports and nourishes the faith of each one of us.
Believing, individually and collectively as a Church is indeed an Ecclesial Act. Jesus Himself says,
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” Mark 16:16. Hence, the Catechism teaches
that faith is necessary for salvation.

Now, our creed has three parts based on the TRINITY.

“I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.”

Our profession of faith begins with God, who is the Fisrt and the last, the beginning and the end
of all creation, the Alpha and the Omega. If we will turn to the Scriptures, we will find that He
has revealed Himself as “HE WHO IS” THE one abounding in love and steadfast faithfulness, the
truth and love.

We believed that God is ONE IN THREE PERSONS, FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. OUR CREED
BEGINS WITH OUR PROFESSION OF FAITH TO GOD THE FATHER, the first person of the Holy
Trinity. And we declare our faith in him with His work of creation, the beginning and
foundation of His holy work.

Two important attributes in our Creed:

God the Father Almighty

God the Creator of Heaven and Earth

God is almighty, God is OMNIPOTENT, pinakamakapangyarihan sa lahat. His might is universal,
He created everything and rules everything. He can do everything and the King of Israel David
and also Solomon said of Him: “He does whatever He pleases” Psalm 115:3. “You are merciful
to all, for You can do all things” (Wisdom 11:23). But let us remember that His power is of
LOVE. He is indeed our father. Do we remember His Word to the Israelites? “I will be a father
to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty (2 Cor 6:18). And He
shows forth His almighty power by converting us from Sin and restoring us to his friendship and
His grace, culminating in the sending of His only begotten Son to the world.

His power is mysterious and can be discerned only by faith. Because His power is love it is
made perfect in weakness.

We remember that afternoon in Golgotha, akala ng iba nagapi na ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos.
But in Jesus’ resurrection, the Father shows, according to the apostle Paul, the immeasurable
immensity of His greatness to us who believed. Truly, what seems to be His foolishness is wiser
than men and women and what seems to be His weakness is stronger than men and women.
Only faith can embrace the mysterious ways of His almighty power.

God is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen. Ang lumikha sa langit at
lupa, at nang lahat nang nasa langit at sa lupa. If we will notice, the Holy Scriptures began with
the Word “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The act of Creation is
given such importance because it is the foundation of all God’s saving plans, the beginning of
the “history of salvation” which culminates in Jesus Christ.” (CCC 280).

“The World was made for the Glory of God.” (Dei Fillius)

“God created all things, not to increase His Glory, but to show it forth, and to communicate it.”
-St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor.

The Glory of God consists in the realization of this manifestation and communication of His
Goodness for which the world is created and the ultimate purpose of creation is that God who
is the creator of all things may at last become all in all, thus simultaneously assuring His own
glory and our beatitude (CCC 294).

How did God create all things?

God created all freely and out of nothing. No necessity or outside force coerced Him to create.

God created all according to His wisdom and by His love. He wanted to make us Hid creatures
share in His being, wisdom and goodness.
In his wisdom:

God created an ordered and good world. He arranged all his beloved creatures according to
their unique characteristics. And he called each of them by their name. Since creation came
from His goodness, it definitely shares in His goodness.

And it is also good to note that God transcends creation but God is certainly present to it. He is
infinitely greatest of all and of all His works. His glory is above the heavens. His greatness is
unsearchable.

“God is higher than my highest and and more inward than my innermost self” -St. Augustine of
Hippo

He is present in His creation for God upholds and sustains it. He never abandons us. He gives
us being and existence and upholds and sustains us in our being, enabling us to reach him to
final end.

Isn’t it to the Father that we pray for our daily bread? Jesus invites us to filial trust to
providence of the Father, reminding us that the Heavenly Father knows our needs and He is
there to provide for us, all we have to do is seek His kingdom.

Let us always keep in mind, that God the Father is almighty whose might is beyond compare,
who made us for his own and lovingly calls us sons and daughters, He is the creator of all who
sustains us with His Fatherly providence, O what an amazing Father we have who is love!