Athanasian Creed

The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of faith. It is also often referred to as Quicumque vult (can be translated as Whoever wants, the first two words of the statement in Latin). It is the first known creed to mention the Trinity. The creed has been in use since the 6th century, mainly in Western Christoanity. It is no longer used very much since the Nicene Creed has largely replaced it.

From about the 9th century, people thought that Athanasius had written it, who lived in the 4th century in Egypt. Today, that view is largely seen as false for the following reasons:

  1. The original text is in Latin. Athanasius wrote mainly in Greek.
  2. Neither Athanasius nor other people who lived at the same time as him mentioned it.
  3. It menions problems that were discovered only after Athanasius' death.[1]

Today, most people think it came from Gaul around the year 500. Its positions are similar to those taken by Ambrose of Milan, Augustine of Hippo and Vincent of Lérins. J.N.D. Kelly, a contemporary patristics scholar, believes that Vincent of Lérins was not its author, but he suggests that it may have come from the same bacground, namely the area of Lérins, in southern Gaul.[2] Caesarius of Arles is one of the possible authors.

The oldest surviving manuscripts of the Athanasian Creed date from the late 8th century.[3]

Martin Luther said there were three statements of faith: the Nicene Creed (Credo in unum deum, I believe in one god..), the Te Deum (Te Deum Laudamus,..., Thee, O Lord, we praise), and the Athanasian Creed.

The Athanasian Creed starts:

“ Quicumque vult salvus esse, ante omnia opus est, ut teneat catholicam fidem: quam nisi quisque integram inviolatamque servaverit, absque dubio in aeternum peribit. ”
“ Whoever wants to be saved should above all cling to the catholic faith. Whoever does not guard it whole and inviolable will doubtless perish eternally. ”

It explains the Trinity in such a way to stand against positions such as Arianism. It has the Filioque clause.

It ends:

“ Haec est fides catholica; quam nisi quisque fideliter firmiterque crediderit, salvus esse non poterit. ”
“ This is the catholic faith. One cannot be saved without believing this firmly and faithfully. ”

References

  1. ↑ Concordia Triglotta, Historical Introduction, St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1921, p. 13.
  2. ↑ J.N.D. Kelly, The Athanasian Creed, NY: Harper and Row, 1964.
  3. ↑ Celia Chazelle (October 1997). "Archbishops Ebo and Hincmar of Reims and the Utrecht Psalter". Speculum. 72 (4): 1056.

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