A modern translation of the Nicene Creed follows:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
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; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
(Note that the word “catholic” in the creed means universal, not specifically “Roman Catholic.”)
What Are the Parts of the Creed?
There are four primary parts of the Nicene Creed:
First is the declaration of belief in God the Father, who made all things.
The second part proclaims that Jesus is the only Son of God and is fully divine and a part of God — that is, one with God and, therefore, creator of all things. The second part also confirms that Jesus came from heaven and was born as a human as the product of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary specifically for our salvation. He was executed for our sake but rose from the dead and now reigns in heaven.
The third part affirms belief in the Holy Spirit as a part of the triune God: Father, Son, and Spirit, three in one.
The last part is an affirmation of the universal church, including baptism and our ultimate resurrection.
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