Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of faith that is often recited during church services. The spelling of this word can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription as "əˈθænəsiən krid". The stress falls on the second syllable of "Athanasian" and the third syllable of "Creed." It includes a schwa sound at the beginning of "Athanasian" and a short "i" sound in the second syllable. "Creed" is spelled as pronounced with a "k" sound instead of a "c" and a long "i" sound in the second syllable.
The Athanasian Creed is a Christian statement of faith originating from the early centuries of the Church. It is named after the Church Father Athanasius, although its authorship is uncertain. The creed is considered one of the three major creeds of Christianity, alongside the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed.
The Athanasian Creed is characterized by its concise and systematic structure, often presented in a formulaic manner. It outlines essential theological beliefs, particularly focusing on the orthodox Christian understanding of the Holy Trinity. It affirms the belief in one God existing as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The creed emphasizes the co-equality and co-eternity of the three persons, opining that they are each fully divine and yet one God.
Additionally, the Athanasian Creed addresses the belief in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, asserting his true divinity and true humanity. It further states the belief in the salvation of humanity through faith in Jesus Christ and the necessity of following biblical doctrine for salvation.
The Athanasian Creed has been widely accepted and revered within Western Christianity and has served as an important liturgical and theological text for the catholic and protestant traditions. While it is not as frequently recited as the other major creeds, it remains a significant declaration of faith for many Christians, affirming core tenets of Trinitarian theology and the nature of Christ.
The word "Athanasian Creed" derives from its association with Athanasius, an influential figure in early Christianity. The creed itself, however, is not directly attributed to Athanasius. It was likely composed in the late 5th or early 6th century, long after Athanasius' time. The creed primarily emphasizes the doctrine of the Trinity and was named "Athanasian" to honor the theological principles embraced by Athanasius and the early Church Fathers who defended the concept of the Trinity against various heresies in the early centuries of Christianity.