What did the Nicene Creed say?

Journal article

This article examines the origin of and controversies surrounding the Nicene Creed and discusses its limitations as a statement of faith. It points out, for example, that the Creed fails to affirm either the unity of the three persons in one God or even the divinity or personhood of the Spirit. It neither affirms the creation of the world from nothing nor denies that the Son is a creature. The article then seeks to answer the following three questions: (1) why is the Creed so indecisive even on points that were under debate at the Council of Nicaea?; (2) if there was so little that could be defined, what did those who promulgated the Creed hope to accomplish?; and finally (3) where should we look for a trustworthy statement of the ecumenical teaching of the Church on creation, the Trinity and the mission of the Son?

Authors: Edwards, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Journal: Ecclesiastical Law Journal: An international journal for the comparative study of law and religion
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 106-116
• Publication date: 2026-03-04
• DOI: 10.1017/s0956618x25101105
• EISSN: 1751-8539
• ISSN: 0956618X, 0956-618X
• Language: English
• Keywords: Nicene Creed; creation; theology